Abstract
AbstractSilvopasture systems (SPSs) provide an opportunities for efficient use of lands, apportioning risk under adverse climate and giving higher returns than other systems. SPSs improve biomass production; however, yield sustainability, nutrient cycling capability and carbon capture capacity of SPSs have remained unexplored in semiarid India. For these, 10‐year old SPS of Ficus infectoria, Morus alba, Acacia nilotica, and Madhuca latifolia comprising of three perennial grasses namely, Cenchrus ciliaris, Chrysopogon fulvus, Panicum maximum, and two perennial legumes namely, Clitoria ternatea and Stylosanthes seabrana in each system were evaluated. Among grasses, Panicum maximum had significantly (p < 0.05) higher mean yield than Chrysopogon fulvus and Cenchrus ciliaris (44% and 153%, respectively). Significantly, Stylosanthes seabrana had 2‐times higher mean productivity than Clitoria ternatea. Among the trees, fodder availability from F. infectoria was ~8.65‐ and 1.07‐times greater than M. latifolia and M. alba, respectively and similar to A. nilotica. Total tree carbon stock of A. nilotica was ~1.52‐, 5.88‐, and 2.16‐times greater than F. infectoria, M. latifolia, and M. alba, respectively. Environmental benefits in terms of soil nutrient status and carbon sequestration were significantly greater under A. nilotica based SPS than others. A. nilotica and M. alba based SPSs had a discounted benefit–cost ratio ~2.2 and internal rate of return >12%. Overall, A. nilotica and M. alba based SPSs could augment yield sustainability, economic profitability and environmental benefit over other SPSs in semiarid India. Hence, they can be recommended as nature based solutions to restore degraded lands in semi‐arid India.
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