Environmental crises, land degradation, and frequent crop failure threaten the livelihoods of millions ofthe populace in the semi-arid agroecosystems. Therefore, different combinations of annual crops withperennial fruit trees were assessed to restore the soil carbon, and enhance farm productivity and prof-itability in a semi-arid climate. The study hypothesized that the integration of perennial fruit trees withseasonal crops may enhance farm productivity, economic returns, and environmental sustainability.Integration of phalsa (Grewia asiatica) with mung bean (Vigna radiata) - potato (Solanum tuberosum) sys-tem recorded the highest system productivity (25.9 Mg/ha) followed by phalsa with cowpea (Vignaunguiculata) -mustard (Brassica juncea) systems (21.2 Mg/ha). However, Karonda (Carissa sp.) with mungbean - potato system recorded maximum net return (3529.1 US$/ha), and water use efficiency(33.0 kg/ha-mm). Concerning the benefit-cost (B:C) ratio, among the agroforestry systems, thekaronda + cowpea - mustard system registered a maximum BC ratio (3.85). However, SOC densityremained higher (9.10 Mg/ha) under the phalsa + cowpea - mustard and Moringa + mung bean - potatosystem (9.16 Mg/ha) over other systems. Similarly, phalsa + mung bean - potato system had the highest Csustainability index (27.6), carbon sequestration potential (0.6–0.67 Mg/ha/year), and water use effi-ciency (33.0 kg/ha-mm). Hence, the study suggested that the integration of short-duration leguminousand oilseeds with fruit trees offer a myriad of benefits and an efficient system for restoring the soil Cwithout compromising the food and livelihood security of the rural populace in semiarid regions (2) (PDF) Integrated agroforestry systems improve soil carbon storage, water productivity, and economic returns in the marginal land of the semi-arid region. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362861270_Integrated_agroforestry_systems_improve_soil_carbon_storage_water_productivity_and_economic_returns_in_the_marginal_land_of_the_semi-arid_region [accessed Mar 25 2023].