"Soil Ecology and Climate-Smart Practices in Agroforestry Systems" provides a comprehensive and scientifically rigorous examination of the belowground ecological processes that underpin successful agroforestry systems and their role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. This edited volume brings together cutting-edge research and practical insights to demonstrate how understanding and managing soil ecology can unlock the full potential of agroforestry as a climate-smart agricultural practice. The book is organized into ten comprehensive chapters that build progressively from historical foundations to contemporary applications. Opening chapters establish the context of agroforestry and methods for assessing soil health, while middle chapters explore specific ecological processes including mycorrhizal associations, nutrient cycling, chemical interactions, and microclimate effects. The book then addresses critical contemporary challenges through chapters on carbon sequestration, climate change adaptation, and drought resilience, before concluding with detailed case studies of major tropical agroforestry commodities. Each chapter includes current research findings, case studies, practical examples, and recommendations for future research directions, making the book both a comprehensive reference and a springboard for continued investigation. As global agricultural systems face unprecedented pressure from climate change, soil degradation, and food security challenges, this book arrives at a critical juncture. It demonstrates how agroforestry, when guided by sound ecological principles and attention to soil health, can simultaneously increase agricultural productivity, sequester atmospheric carbon, enhance biodiversity, improve farmer livelihoods, and build resilience to climate variability— representing a rare convergence of environmental and socioeconomic benefits. Soil Ecology and Climate-Smart Practices in Agroforestry Systems is essential reading for anyone committed to understanding and advancing sustainable agricultural systems for the 21st century and beyond.
Dr. Shivani Ranjan is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agronomy at Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, India. She has completed her B.Sc. (Ag.) from Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), Pusa, Bihar; M.Sc. in Agronomy from Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bihar, India; and Ph.D. in Agronomy from RPCAU, Pusa, Bihar. She has published 20 research and review articles, 33 popular articles, and 20 book chapters. She has received awards for best poster presentation and best article. She has qualified ICAR-NET and UGC NET and is a recipient of an UGC Fellowship. Her research interests pertain to conservation agriculture, carbon footprint management, integrated nutrient management, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy management in rice-wheat cropping system.
Dr. Ranjan Laik currently serves as Professor-cum Chief Scientist in the Department of Soil Science at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar. His contributions to the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) with IRRI and CIMMYT significantly advanced conservation agriculture practices in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains. He has authored over 80 research papers, books, and chapters, and has led major national projects including the AICRP on Micro and Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements. His collaborative research with leading global institutions, such as Cornell University, IRRI, and CIMMYT has strengthened the scientific foundation of soil health management in South Asia. As a teacher and mentor, he has guided numerous post-graduate and doctoral scholars and is widely respected for integrating classical soil science with modern analytical approaches. His research interests span soil health and fertility management, carbon dynamics, conservation agriculture, micronutrient management, and sustainable cropping systems.
Dr. Sumit Sow is currently working as a Senior Research Fellow, Soil Health Project (funded by Cornell University, USA) at Department of Soil Science, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, India. He has completed graduation from Visva Bharati, West Bengal and M.Sc. in Agronomy with an ICAR-JRF from Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bihar. He has completed Ph.D. in Agronomy with an ICAR-SRF from RPCAU, Pusa, Bihar. He has qualified ICAR-NET and UGC-NET. He has authored two textbooks and ten edited books. Additionally, he has published 22 research articles, 8 review articles, 35 popular articles, and 35 book chapters. His research interests include carbon management, precision nutrient management, soil health, integrated weed management, and sugarcane- and cereal-based cropping systems.
Mr. Rakesh Panday is a Research Scholar in Silviculture and Agroforestry at Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, U.P. He has completed his B.Sc. (Agroforestry) from Navsari Agricultural University, Gujarat and M.Sc. from Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar. He has qualified CSIR-NET (JRF). He has published review papers, book chapters, and also received various national awards. His research focuses on advancing innovations and knowledge in silviculture and carbon sequestration under different agroforestry system.
1. Introduction to Agroforestry: Historical Perspectives and Modern Applications ...............................................................................1
2. Soil Health Indicators and Assessment Methods in Agroforestry System .............................................................................21
3. Mycorrhizal Networks and Soil Microbial Communities in Agroforestry ..........................................................................................49
4. Nitrogen Fixation and Phosphorus Mobilization in Agroforestry Systems ............................................................................69
5. Allelopathy and Chemical Interactions Between Trees and Crops .......91
6. Microclimate Modification and Its Impact on Soil Temperature and Moisture ........................................................................................117
7. Carbon Storage and Sequestration in Agroforestry Soils ....................131
8. Climate Change Adaptation Through Agroforestry Services ..............153
9. Soil Resilience and Drought Tolerance in Agroforestry .....................175
10. Tropical Agroforestry Systems: Cacao, Coffee and Fruit Tree Integration ...................................................................................199
