Degraded land rehabilitation through agroforestry in India: Achievements, current understanding, and future prospectives

Land degradation is one of the most important factors responsible for alarming situation food security, human health, and socioeconomic development in country. Currently, 120.7 M ha land country affected by degradation, out which 85.7 soil erosion caused water wind. Moreover, physical, chemical, biological are major forms Deforestation or tree cover loss (2.07 ha) from 2001 to 2021, intensive rainfall (>7.5 mm −1 ), uncontrolled grazing (5.65 ha), indiscriminate use fertilizers (32 MT year shifting cultivation (7.6 other that further aggravate process degradation. In order alleviate problem numerous agroforestry technologies have been developed after years research different agroclimatic zones The systems observed agri-horticulture, silvipasture, agri-silviculture. This review indicates potential enhancing carbon sequestration (1.80 Mg C Western Himalayan region 3.50 island regions) reduced runoff 94% 78%, respectively, Northeast India. can be concluded adoption system imperative rehabilitation degraded lands also found enough address issues food, environmental, livelihood security. review’s findings will benefit researchers, managers, decision-makers understanding role combating enhance ecosystem service India planning suitable policies eradicating effectively.