Cocoa production has long been thought to be a cause of forest loss and thus an environmental issue. Cocoa sustainability systems, particularly agroforestry systems, are being investigated as a means of mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration. However, most agroforestry research has concentrated on forest management and cacao yield, and soil organic carbon (SOC) reserves are little understood. In the South West Region (NAWA) of Cote d'Ivoire, we undertook a study to quantify and compare soil organic carbon stocks in cocoa sustainability systems (agroforestry, organic fertilizer use, etc.) and traditional cocoa farming. Soil samples were taken at three different depths: 0-15 cm, 15-30 cm, and 30-45 cm, and examined according to normal soil testing protocols. SOC was found to be higher in plantations where farmers practiced sustainability programs than in plantations where farmers did not practice sustainability programs. According to the study, a farmer who grows cocoa intercropped with shade trees (fruit and non-fruit) on his plot is more likely to gain from soil carbon credits than a farmer who grows conventional cocoa. If farmers farming sustainable cocoa grew shade trees and employed organic fertilizers, they would be able to trap more carbon. Incentives are needed to stimulate the planting and maintenance of shade trees, as well as the use of organic fertilizers in cocoa farms for carbon sequestration purposes.
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