Carbon Sequestration and Agro-forestry

Degrading agroforestry systems have the potential to store large amounts of carbon if they are properly maintained. The most common C pool considered in studies of soil C status changes in these ecosystems is labile C. Alterations to land use and soil management influence the proportion of soil organic matter that is easily decomposed to that which is more stable (SOM). The effects of land use on soil C storage over the long term can only be understood by analyzing stable C pools. The SOM's subsequent interaction with minerals and incorporation into soil aggregates both contribute to the SOM's stability. Substituting stubborn compounds for the inert SOM fraction (like lignin and chitin). Macroaggregates reflect the influence of plant roots and coarse intra-aggregate particulate SOM (POM) more so than the effects of fine inter-aggregate POM, clay concentration, and humified SOM percentage. It is often the case that precipitable organic matter (POM) is more sensitive to alterations in soil management than total SOM. Mycorrhizal fungi produce a chitin-based protein called globalin to shield their hyphae. Further study is needed before any conclusions can be reached about the impact of glomalin on C sequestration in agroforestry soils. Roots' CO2output must be lowered, and stubborn root C must be fortified, to name only two of the many difficulties.