Carbon sequestration and sustainable land management through temperate fruit orchards in Himalayan landscapes: implications for climate-resilient agroecosystems

Anthropogenic disturbances, inadequate land management, and deforestation have intensified the soil degradation in the Himalayan region. Temperate fruit plantations in this area exhibit differential abilities to sequester soil organic carbon (SOC). This study examined the dynamics of SOC across seven distinct temperate plantation systems to assess their potential for carbon (C) sequestration and soil degradation mitigation. Soil samples from seven fruit orchard plantations >22 years old were collected at two depth intervals (0–20 cm and 20–60 cm) and analysed for soil C fractions, C management index (CMI), and C sequestration rate. Our results revealed that the different fruit plantation systems significantly influenced the C stabilization pathways. Apricot and walnut systems, characterized by high litter quality and deeper rooting pattern, promoted the accumulation of total organic C (TOC) at surface (15.30 and 15.16 g kg −1 , respectively) and subsurface (8.22 and 8.01 g kg −1 , respectively) depth. The apricot soils, elevated active C pools in surface and subsurface soil (10.14 and 4.89 g kg −1 , respectively) indicated rapid nutrient cycling and active microbial turnover. Walnut and plum plantations accumulated more inorganic C, possibly due to pedogenic carbonate formation under low soil moisture regimes. Enhanced soil functionality and management efficiency were further highlighted by the elevated CMI values observed in the apricot and peach systems. In surface soil, the highest rates of carbon sequestration were in apricot and walnut plantations, with values of 0.54 and 0.53 Mg C ha −1 yr −1 , respectively. These findings provide evidence-based guidance for sustainable land management and climate-resilient agricultural planning in mountainous landscapes and offer broader relevance for policy frameworks promoting carbon-smart agroecosystems in environmentally vulnerable regions.