Carbon emission, sequestration, credit and economics of wheat under poplar based agroforestry system

The present study was conducted to compare the carbon sequestration potential, carbon emission, and cost benefit ratio of wheat varieties under open farming and poplar based agroforestry system. Field experiment was carried out at Agroforestry Research Center, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India. The experimental plots were laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with two associate farming systems, open farming and poplar based agroforestry system, and four varieties of wheat, PBW-373, PBW-343, UP-262 and VL-907, with three replications. Above ground, below ground and total biomass, carbon stock, carbon sequestration, carbon credit, and carbon price all were significantly higher in wheat under poplar based agroforestry system (22.949, 2.753, 25.702, 11.460, 42.049 tonnes/ha, 40.049 and $744.270/ha) while net emission was significantly lower (−40.998 tonnes/ha) in two years, as compared to open farming (−37.263 tonnes/ha). Net return and Benefit Cost (B:C) ratio ($876.29/ha and 1.83) was also higher in agroforestry system than open farming system ($700.91/ha and 1.82). Among wheat varieties VL-907 recorded maximum net return and B:C ratio ($914.52/ha and 2.12) followed by PBW-343.