Abstract

Purpose: Agroforestry can increase soil carbon and improve soil quality, so this study aimed to quantify soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and related soil properties in alfalfa–cherry and maize–cherry systems in Gilgit’s mountain valleys for climate change mitigation. Research design, data and methodology: We compared Danyore and Sultanabad by sampling soils at 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm and measuring pH, electrical conductivity, moisture, bulk density, soil organic matter, SOC, and SOC stocks; we then compared patterns by valley, system, and depth and examined Pearson correlations. Results: Results showed higher SOC stocks under alfalfa–cherry than maize–cherry in Danyore at 0–20 cm (37.74 vs 28.13 Mg ha⁻¹), stocks generally increased with depth except for maize–cherry in Sultanabad, SOC correlated positively with SOC stocks, bulk density was higher in Sultanabad and increased with depth, and pH, moisture, and texture differed by site and system. In discussion, the greater stocks under tree-based systems align with continuous litter inputs and management effects that favor SOC protection, and the higher topsoil SOC reflects typical depth gradients in agroforestry soils. Conclusions: We conclude that alfalfa–cherry agroforestry enhances soil quality and increases SOC storage in this high-altitude region, supporting its use as a local climate mitigation strategy and warranting continued monitoring of SOC stability.