Articles | Volume 2, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-13-2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-13-2016
Original research article
 | 
18 Jan 2016
Original research article |  | 18 Jan 2016

On the rebound: soil organic carbon stocks can bounce back to near forest levels when agroforests replace agriculture in southern India

H. C. Hombegowda, O. van Straaten, M. Köhler, and D. Hölscher

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ED: Publish as is (01 Dec 2015) by Asmeret Asefaw Berhe
ED: Publish as is (07 Dec 2015) by Johan Six (Executive editor)
AR by HC Hombegowda on behalf of the Authors (14 Dec 2015)  Author's response   Manuscript 
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Short summary
Incorporating trees into agriculture systems provides numerous environmental services. In this chronosequence study conducted across S. India, we found that agroforestry systems (AFSs), specifically home gardens, coffee, coconut and mango, can cause soil organic carbon (SOC) to rebound to forest levels. We established 224 plots in 56 clusters and compared the SOC between natural forests, agriculture and AFSs. SOC sequestered depending on AFS type, environmental conditions and tree diversity.