Comparative Analysis of Soil Carbon Stock Under Agroforestry and Conventional Cassava Farming Systems: Case of Teso South Sub-county in Busia County in Kenya

Davis Simiyu Masibo; Paul Makenzi; Dickson L. Makanji

doi:10.37284/eajfa.8.1.4207

Davis Simiyu Masibo Egerton University
Paul Makenzi, PhD Egerton University
Dickson L. Makanji, PhD Egerton University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37284/eajfa.8.1.4207

Keywords: Carbon Sequestration, Climate Change Mitigation, Climate Change, Agroforestry

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Abstract

Soil plays a vital role in climate change mitigation by functioning as a carbon (C) sink. Agroforestry has emerged as a sustainable farming approach that can help mitigate climate change while promoting sustainable agriculture. This study was conducted to compare the soil carbon stocks of two cassava farming systems—agro-silvicultural and conventional systems. In the field, one sampling point was selected along two diagonal line transects that crossed the experimental plot where the transects intersected. Soil samples were collected at depths of 5 to 10 cm and 10 to 15 cm from the centre of each land parcel within the respective cassava production systems. Fifteen soil samples per system were obtained using a soil auger and stored in collection bags before being analysed for carbon content in the laboratory. The loss-on-ignition method was used for soil carbon analysis. The two-sample t-test revealed a statistically significant difference in soil carbon stocks between the two systems (p < 0.034), with soils from agro-silvicultural systems exhibiting a significantly higher average soil carbon stock than those from conventional systems. The study also found that soil carbon levels declined with increasing depth in both systems. The agro-silvicultural system showed a weak negative correlation (R2 = 0.003), whereas the conventional system exhibited a slightly stronger correlation between soil carbon levels and soil profile depth (R2 = 0.036). The agro-silvicultural system recorded an average soil carbon stock of 31.95 kg, which was higher than the 21.4 kg observed in the conventional system. This difference suggests that soils under agro-silvicultural practices retain more carbon than those under traditional management. The results were presented in tables showing descriptive statistics and graphs illustrating the correlation. The study revealed a trade-off between carbon sequestration and economic returns; it emphasises that sustainable agrisilvicultural land farming practices can balance the ecological benefits and financial feasibility. The study offers actionable insight to land owners, policy makers and climate advocates on designing proper agricultural systems aiming to enhance climate change mitigation and adaptation. The study could help farmers to increase their adoption rate of the Agri-silvicultural farming system as a forward sustainable farming approach, which helps improve the soil health, soil moisture retention capacity, soil fertility improvement and conservation of essential soil microorganisms.

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