Assessment of Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential Under Agroforestry in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria

This study assesses the soil carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry systems compared to sole cropping and natural woodland in Plateau State, located in Nigeria's North Central geopolitical zone. Agroforestry, integrating trees and crops on the same land, is increasingly promoted as a climate-smart land use that can simultaneously improve food production and sequester atmospheric carbon in soil organic matter. Using a cross-sectional comparative design, soil organic carbon stocks were measured at three Soil Sciencehs (0 to 10, 10 to 20, and 20 to 40 cm) under three land use systems: Faidherbia albida-based agroforestry, sole cereal cropping, and natural woodland, across 12 sites in Barkin Ladi and Shendam local government areas. Bulk density was measured to convert concentration data to mass-based stocks. Carbon stock differences between land uses at equivalent Soil Sciencehs were compared statistically using one-way ANOVA. Findings revealed that agroforestry soils contained 38 percent higher total soil organic carbon stocks to 40 cm Soil Scienceh than sole cropping plots, and 71 percent of woodland carbon stocks. The deepest sampling layer (20 to 40 cm) showed the smallest difference between land uses, suggesting that carbon enrichment from agroforestry was concentrated in the surface horizon. The Faidherbia albida parkland system was particularly effective, as tree nitrogen fixation and leaf litter inputs contributed simultaneously to both nutrient cycling and organic matter accumulation. The study supports promotion of agroforestry as a dual carbon sequestration and food security strategy in Plateau State. Keywords: carbon sequestration, agroforestry, Plateau State, soil organic carbon, climate-smart agriculture.