Eco-restoration of degraded lands through trees and grasses improves soil carbon sequestration and biological activity in tropical climates

Ecological restoration of degraded lands with alternate land use systems improves soil functionality in semiarid tropical India

“…The parameters CMI and CAP are designed to address the influence of restoration on carbon fluxes, storage and carbon sequestration. The CMI offers a signal for C dynamics, fluxes and relative superiority of management among the systems (Ghosh, Kumar, et al, 2021). But, CAP measures the ecosystem carbon sequestration.…”

“…At this pont, it is essential to mention that alternate land use systems (ALUS) such as silviculture, silvipasture and hortipasture strategies have the ability to rehabilitate degraded land in order to sustain livelihoods, increase food security, restore ecosystem services and relieve forest pressure (Harris et al, 2006), but achieving these benefits is not easy (Ghosh, Kumar, et al, 2021; Kumar et al, 2019). ALUSs have been encouraged for areas in cold and hot climates of the world, for improving soil properties and supplying additional ecological services (Lamb et al, 2015).…”

“…However, previous studies have mainly focussed on production (Singh et al, 2012), soil nutrient status (Bargali et al, 2019) or carbon sequestration potential (Murthy et al, 2013) of ALUS. Recently, an attempt was made to quantify eco‐restoration efficiency of various ALUS in a semiarid region (Ghosh, Kumar, et al, 2021). However, quantification of soil functionality and soil functional diversity as impacted by ALUS has remained largely overlooked.…”

Does the road to land degradation neutrality in India is paved with restoration science?

“…Founded on ecological science, the restoration ecology is highly interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary involving soil science, hydrology, agronomy, horticulture, forestry, biogeochemistry, biodiversity conservation, and socio-economic and political perspectives (Aradottir & Hagen 2013;Fischer et al 2021). The restoration studies in India are more soil science biased with the major focus on physicochemical and biological properties of the soil (Singh et al 2012;Ahirwal & Maiti 2016, ;Ghosh et al 2021) followed by biomass production and plant species diversity assessments (Tripathi & Singh 2005). In a few restoration interventions, longterm assessment of recovery of biodiversity (flora and fauna), including soil processes, hydrological features, and ecosystem services have been investigated (Raman et al 1998(Raman et al , 2021.…”

“…The reclamation, rehabilitation, and restoration (see Box 4) of degraded and abandoned lands through physical, chemical, and biological interventions have intensively been studied in India (Bhojvaid & Timmer 1998; Mishra & Sharma 2003; Singh et al 2012; Ghosh et al 2021). The use of different mechanical tools to improve land quality (topography, drainage, and hydrological features) through deep tillage (Singh et al 2016), canal development (Qadir & Oster 2004), and rainwater harvesting ponds are proved to be very effective initial methods for management of degraded lands (Pal et al 2003).…”