Methodological Challenges in Estimating Carbon Sequestration Potential of Agroforestry Systems

The methods used to estimate carbon sequestration in agroforestry systems (AFS) vary widely. Consequently, there is enormous inconsistency in the available datasets. Moreover, the estimations entail several assumptions, some of which are erroneous. A serious one is that C in the biomass and soil are equated to sequestered C. The amount of C stored in root biomass is also subject to widely variable estimations. Large-scale global models that are based on extrapolation of field measurements from sample plots, as used for C sequestration estimates in forestry, are thus likely to result in serious under- or overestimations of total C stock. These methodological problems that are common to most land use systems are of a higher order of magnitude in AFS compared with agricultural systems because of the integrated nature of AFS and the lack of rigorous data on the area under the practice. While there are no easy, fast, and pragmatic solution to these complex issues in the short term, agroforestry researchers could, at the very minimum, include accurate description of the methods and procedures they use while reporting results. That will help researchers at large to examine the datasets even at a later time and possibly incorporate the reported results in larger databases and help agroforestry earn its deserving place in mainstream efforts. Missing the opportunity to capitalize on the environmental services of agroforestry for the lack of rigorous research and consistent procedures for data reporting will be a serious setback to the development of agroforestry.