Assessment of Carbon Stock and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Selected Coffee-Based Agroforestry Farms in Timor Leste

Abstract

Agroforestry is an important carbon sequestration strategy because of carbon storage potential in its multiple plant species and soil as well as its applicability in agricultural lands and in reforestation.  The study was conducted in selected coffee-based agroforestry farms in Gleno, Ermera District, Timor Leste to determine the amount of carbon stocks and greenhouse gas emissions in the management of coffee-based agroforestry farms. Results reveal that agroforestry coffee cropping pattern had a carbon stock composed of 6.425 Mg ha^-1 biomass, 2.01 Mg ha^-1 necromass, and 157.17 Mg ha^-1 soil organic carbon. For the carbon stock stored in the monoculture coffee cropping pattern, a biomass of 5.321 Mg ha^-1, necromass of 1.32 Mg ha^-1, and soil organic carbon of 128.74. Mg ha^-1 were recorded while for the pruned coffee cropping pattern, biomass of 2.771 Mg ha^-1, necromass of 1.82 Mg ha^-1, and soil organic carbon of 69.29 Mg ha^-1 were found.  Moreover, the greenhouse gas emission CO₂ absorbed by coffee plants across cropping patterns were the following: agroforestry coffee, 24.156 t/ha^-1, monoculture coffee, 19.520 t/ha^-1 and pruned coffee, 10.177 t/ha^-1.  Abovementioned results reveal that coffee-based agroforestry system a coffee-based agroforestry is considered as an effective solution in combatting heightened atmospheric GHGs concentration and climate change while at the same time addressing concerns on socio-economic stability.