Carbon Storage In Traditional Grassland-Orchard Agroforestry Systems In Central Europe: A Potential That Needs To Be Considered.

Grassland-orchard systems (GOS) are traditional & widely distributed land-use systems in Germany and other parts of temperate Europe. This unique agroforestry system was used for fruit production, seasonal animal shelters and high value timber production. Apart from economic value, GOS are also credited for their environmental services such as biodiversity conservation. With the presence of the tree component, GOS are also believed to have high carbon sequestration potential, but, no scientific data is available to support this claim. Today many GOS are abundant or are in the process of getting replaced by crop fields.  However, with the scientific evidence on carbon sequestration potential, GOS may have the potential to be transformed into biomass feedstock production units, which is an increasing land-use pattern in Central Europe. We conducted a study in Central Germany to estimate the carbon storage potential of GOS. Three study sites in Göttingen district were identified and soil (up to 50cm), vegetation & necromass samples and necessary allometric data were collected to calculate the carbon stock both in soil and above & belowground vegetation. Soil carbon stocking of GOS are compared to other common agricultural land-use systems in the region, such as rapeseed (Brassica napus), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and pasture fields. The soils are analyzed both for whole & organic carbon and the ground vegetation samples are analyzed for their carbon percentage & C: N ratio. The allometric analysis estimates the amount of carbon in the tree component, including both aboveground vegetation & belowground roots. The results of this study will give an idea about the carbon storage in total land-use systems under GOS in Göttingen district, but, may also be up-scaled for additional regions in Central Europe with similar agro-climatic conditions. Findings of this study will not only provide valuable information on climate change engineering potential (carbon capture & storage) of the GOS, but, may also be significantly important for agro-environmental policy, as well as land-use and land-use change issues in Germany and Central Europe.