This document discusses the design and development of agroforestry systems in low rainfall regions of India to combat climate change. It begins by outlining the challenges facing arid lands such as soil erosion from wind and water, vegetation degradation, salinization, and land degradation from overgrazing, deforestation, and poor irrigation practices. It then discusses how agroforestry systems can help sequester carbon and provide economic benefits through various tree-crop-livestock integrated models. Specifically, it evaluates traditional agroforestry systems in Rajasthan that integrate trees like Prosopis cineraria with crops and livestock. It concludes that agroforestry interventions have promise for providing consistent economic returns along with environmental benefits

1. Design and Development of Agroforestry
Systems in Low Rainfall Regions of India for
Combating Climate Change
M. M. Roy
Central Arid Zone Research Institute,
Jodhpur (Raj.) 342003 INDIA

2. Low Rainfall Regions in India

3. Challenges before arid lands
Bad irrigation
practices
Over-cultivation
DESERIFICATION
Overgrazing
Deforestation
•Soil Erosion (Wind & Water)
•Vegetation Degradation
•Salinization
•Mined Spoiled Degradation

4. THE CHALLENGES
Periodic droughts debilitate and destabilize poor
societies, and contribute to desertification by reducing
vegetative cover and water supplies, triggering a
desperate exploitation of the remaining resources in
order to survive
Bad irrigation practices
Over-cultivation
DESERIFICATION
Deforestation
Map showing ground water
withdrawals as percentage ofOvergrazing
ground water recharge based on
state level estimates of annual
withdrawals
(Source NASA/Matt Rodell)

5. Depletion of ground water
Year
Year
Year
Year
203
200
150
1984
1998
2002
2004
135
100
102
86
80 82
49
50
34
25
10
41
2127
26
11
12
0
Safe
Drawl as % of
Recharge
Semi-critical
<= 70%
70-90%
Critical
Over exploited
90-100%
>100%

6. Climatic Risks
Light to moderate rainfall
events (5-100 mm)
Heavy rainfall events (>10cm)
Very heavy rainfall events (>15cm)
Increase in temperatures, hot
days, hot nights, and heat
waves
Increasing frequency of heavy
precipitation events - more
droughts and floods

7. Rajasthan: Land use and water
resources

8. Extent of distribution
- 60% area of arid western Rajasthan
Prosopis cineraria based
traditional agroforestry system
Rainfall
Zone (mm)
>400
Traditional Agro forestry
Systems in Hot Arid Regions
Agro Forestry System
Trees /
Shrubs % Density of
(no. /
Prominent
ha)
Species
P. cineraria - A. nilotica based (11)* 31.40
81
300 - 400 P. cineraria based (8)
14.20
80
Ziziphus spp. - P. cineraria based
200 - 300 (6)
91.70
91
Ziziphus spp. - P. cineraria <200
Salvadora spp. based (7)
12.70
87
*Values in parentheses are total number of trees &/or shrub species in the
system

9. Economics of Traditional Agroforestry Systems
of Arid Western Rajasthan
AF system
P. cineraria-A. nilotica
based
P. cineraria based
Z. spp. - P. cineraria
based
Z. spp. - P. cineraria Salvadora spp. based
(Base year 2000)
Expenditure
(Rs/ha)
Returns (Rs/ha)
Gross
Net
Net
Fuel Leaf returns Returns B:C
Crops
wood fodder (Rs/ha) (Rs/ha) ratio
1850
4103
1230
870
6203
4353
2.3
1550
3670
600
420
4690
3140
2.0
1550
1506
620
600
2726
1176
0.7
1500
1400
500
500
2400
900
0.6

10. Designing agroforestry systems for multiple benefits
in hot arid regions of India
Type
Row
Example
Wind break
Contour
strips
Multi-storey
Cropping
Benefits
This may be for protecting farm or field, livestock and
farmsteads. Carefully designed field windbreaks reduce
wind velocity for controlling wind erosion, increase crop
quality and production, and improve water use efficiency,
control energy loss and feed intake by livestock, protect and
improve human habitat
Plantings consisting of tree/shrub rows on the contour or
cross-slopes. This reduces sheet and rill water erosion,
increase sediment deposition and convey excess water at a
controlled grade.
System consisting of an over-story of trees or shrubs with an
understory of crops or pastures. Well-designed systems yield
additional tree based products, improve microclimatic
conditions, improve recycling of soil nutrients, reduce excess
sub-surface water.

11. Designing agroforestry systems for multiple benefits
in hot arid regions of India
Type
Block
Example
Energy
plantation
Benefits
Trees are planted in a block as a separate
field within an agricultural or livestockproduction operating unit. The tree to tree
distance is decided based on product
(wood, firewood, top feed etc.) and
rotation cycle (generally less than 10-15
years). The primary purpose is to get tree
products in close proximity to agricultural
or pasture areas to diversify the farm
products.
A block planting of closely spaced trees
Waste water and/or shrubs placed downslope from
agricultural water or waste sources. The
utilization
primary purpose is to use excess water by
plant uptake, and/or intercept and utilize or
sequester waste and other pollutants
transported in specific situations.

12. WINDBREAK-SHELTERBELT
A windbreak or shelterbelt is a plantation usually made up of one or
more rows of trees or shrubs planted in such a manner as to provide
shelter from the wind and to protect soil from erosion. They are
commonly planted around the edges of fields on farms. Five-row and
three-row shelterbelts with staggered planting and in pyramidal
shape across the wind direction. Suitable trees and shrubs are
Acacia nilotica, Acacia tortilis, Cassia siamea and Prosopis juliflora.
Windbreak reduces the wind velocity by 20-40% and soil loss by
76%.

13. After 10 years
Khejri + Bajra +
Mung
TC= 20.31 t C/ha
(depth 1 m)
Agroforestry systems
(10 year rotation)
Khejri
+Mung

14. Horti-agri system
Ber + Mung
TC = 18.28 t C/ha (depth 1 m)
(after 10 years)

15. Silvopastoral system
(12 year rotation)
Khejri + Cenchrus ciliaris
Carbon assimilation
Tree : 12.37 t C/ha
TC : 35.68 t C/ha (depth 1 m)
Above ground : 19.56 t C/ha

16. Silvopastoral system
(12 year rotation)
Mopane + Cenchrus ciliaris
Carbon assimilation
Tree : 7.96 t C/ha
TC : 28.59 t C/ha (depth 1 m)
Above ground : 18.24 t C/ha

17. Silvopastoral system
(12 year rotation)
Hardwickia binata + C. ciliaris
Carbon assimilation
Tree : 8.78 t C/ha
TC : 32.14 t C/ha (depth 1 m)
Above ground : 21.36 t C/ha

18. Ziziphus based horti-pastures
(Spread on 90,000 ha in 350-450 mm rainfall) )))
Ber + Cenchrus ciliaris
Dry Grass : 1.55 t/ha
Fuel wood : 2.64 t/ha
Leaf Fodder : 1.87 t/ha
Fruit : 2.77 t/ha
Net return: 15,000/ha
B:C ratio: 2:1
TC=24.41 t C/ha
(after 10 years)
(depth 1 m)

19. Economics of Improved Horti-pasture
(Ziziphus mauritiana + Cenchrus ciliaris)
Expenditure Gross returns Net returns
Product
(Rs/ha)
(Rs/ha)
(Rs/ha)
Grass
1500
3102
1600
Fuel wood
1000
6400
1640
Leaf
2250
5610
3360
fodder
Ber fruits
13500
22160
8660
Total
(Base year 2000)
18250
37272
15260

20. System/Crop Diversification Models
• Arable cropping (15%), Agroforestry (35%), Agrihorticulture (20%), Agri-pasture (10%), Silvi-pasture
(20%)
• Crop Diversification:
– Pearl millet (40%), Pulses (30%), oilseed (10%), cluster
bean (20%)
• Farm size (Aarea)
7 ha
• Family size
4-5 adults
• Livestock
2
Cows + 2 Calf
+ 8 Sheep + 8 Goat = 7ACU

21. The Returns (per ha)
Component
Gross returns
Expenditure Net income
B.C.
ratio
Plant
1,85,550
63,000
1,22,550
-
Animal
1,57,700
35,000
1,22,700
-
50,000
-
Other
Total
50,000
3,93,250
98,000
(Base year 2011); WPI = 212.72 (2000)
2,95,250
4.01

22. C Sequestration Potential and Rate in different regions
of India under crop production with INM
C sequestration Potential and Rate
8.00
7.00
6.00
Potential (Mg C ha-1)
Rate (Mg C ha-1 Yr-1)
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
Northern India Western India Central India Southern India Eastern India
After Pathak et al (2011)

23. Carbon status in arid zone soils
35.00
Organic C (tons ha-1)
30.00
25.00
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
665.00
400.00
360.00
327.00
232.90
200.00
Rainfall (mm)
Organic carbon up to 45 cm deep soil profile was estimated in crop
land + natural rangeland + forest area with long term average rainfall
from 665 mm to 200 mm yr-1(Average of all three systems).

24. Sirohi
Annual Rainfall (mm) 591.8
Total C Stock
33.4
(0-60 cm) t ha-1
Pali
Annual Rainfall (mm) 539
Total C Stock
33.4
(0-60 cm) t ha-1
Jodhpur
Annual Rainfall (mm) 360
Total C Stock
10.9
(0-60 cm) t ha-1
Barmer
Annual Rainfall (mm) 277
Total C Stock
10.7
(0-60 cm) t ha-1
Jaisalmer
Annual Rainfall (mm) 165
Total C Stock
7.4
(0-60 cm) t ha-1
C status of the arid soils

25. Soil organic carbon status of different
Systems in arid region prevailing at
Jodhpur (after 22 years)
Systems
Pasture Grasses
Carbon Sequestered in soil
(0-60 cm)
(t/ha/y)
0.52
Sole trees
0.72
Silvi-pasture
Continuous cropping
0.98
0.36

26. Trees and Microclimate Moderation
Moderation of air temperature beneath tree
cover: Monsoon period (07.00 hrs): 0.1ºC to 0.7ºC;
Monsoon period (14.00 hrs): 0.6ºC to 2.0ºC.
Moderation of soil temperature beneath the tree
cover: top soil (10ºC to 16ºC); 0-30 cm (4ºC to
5ºC).
22 per cent higher humidity under canopy of A.
tortilis (agri-silviculture system involving cluster
bean) in comparison to open field condition.

28. Feed Blocks
Feeding on Feed Blocks during Scarcity
Feed Block preparation and utilization of P. juliflora pods

29. Diversified agroforestry system designed and developed
on a farmer’s fields (4.5 ha) at Village Manaklaw (Jodhpur)

30. Attributes of Diversified agroforestry system
(30+ years)
Ber orchards (750 trees); Also a a ber
nursery
Peripheral Trees: A. tortilis, P. juliflora
and others: Inside Trees: Prosopis
cineraria, Tecomella undulata and
Azadirachta indica
Ber fruits/y
(10.7 t ha-1)
Dry fuel wood/y (4 t ha-1)
Crop Area: one ha (Pearl millet)
Fodder/y (2.4 t ha-1 )
Pasture Species: Three ha (Cenchrus
ciliaris)
Employment
(331 man-days/ha/y)
Animals:
Eight
goats
(without
purchasing any kind of fodder)
Farm waste used to prepare compost
within the system
Recognized
contained system
(also by UNCCD)
self-

31. Comparison of Fodder availability from
Regenerated and Other Commons (t/ha)
Common Land and Poor
Livestock Keepers
4.5
3.5
Experiences from
Rajasthan and
Madhya Pradesh
3.95
4
3.4
Source: FES 2009
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
1
0.95
0.5
0
Regenerated Commons Other Commons (Raj)
Regenerated
Other Commons (MP)
(Avg Rajasthan)
Commons (Avg MP)

32. Conclusion
Agroforestry based interventions (low carbon
farming strategy) have promise in hot arid
regions of the country for providing consistent
economic returns along with and environmental
benefits, including carbon sequestration.
They need promotion through various
appropriate schemes in operation in this region.

33. Schemes & AF Systems
Schemes
• Wasteland
development
• Watershed
development
• Dry degraded soils
• Salt affected soils
• Water logged soils
AF Systems
Agroforestry/silvo-pasture
systems
Rehabilitation & restoration of
degraded lands/mine spoils
Afforestation & reforestation
through planting the nitrogen
fixing tree species
Plantation on field boundaries
Shelterbelts/Windbreaks

34. Future Thrusts
 Use of non-conventional sources of energy for
agriculture/agroforestry
 Effective
management
and
utilization
of
CPRs, degraded lands, grasslands/grazing lands and
agriculture lands
 Adequate incentives to farmers for the cause of their
environmental services
 A policy to facilitate establishment of carbon
markets for farmers/other stake holders for better
adoption of climate friendly management practices