Dataset Information

Global Sequestration Potential of Increased Organic Carbon in Cropland Soils.

ABSTRACT: The role of soil organic carbon in global carbon cycles is receiving increasing attention both as a potentially large and uncertain source of CO₂ emissions in response to predicted global temperature rises, and as a natural sink for carbon able to reduce atmospheric CO₂. There is general agreement that the technical potential for sequestration of carbon in soil is significant, and some consensus on the magnitude of that potential. Croplands worldwide could sequester between 0.90 and 1.85 Pg C/yr, i.e. 26-53% of the target of the "4p1000 Initiative: Soils for Food Security and Climate". The importance of intensively cultivated regions such as North America, Europe, India and intensively cultivated areas in Africa, such as Ethiopia, is highlighted. Soil carbon sequestration and the conservation of existing soil carbon stocks, given its multiple benefits including improved food production, is an important mitigation pathway to achieve the less than 2 °C global target of the Paris Climate Agreement.

SUBMITTER: Zomer RJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5686149 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Global Sequestration Potential of Increased Organic Carbon in Cropland Soils.

Zomer Robert J RJ Bossio Deborah A DA Sommer Rolf R Verchot Louis V LV

Scientific reports 20171114 1

The role of soil organic carbon in global carbon cycles is receiving increasing attention both as a potentially large and uncertain source of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions in response to predicted global temperature rises, and as a natural sink for carbon able to reduce atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub>. There is general agreement that the technical potential for sequestration of carbon in soil is significant, and some consensus on the magnitude of that potential. Croplands worldwide could sequester between ...[more]

PMID: 29138460

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Project description:Widespread adoption of improved cropland management measures is advocated to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) levels, thereby improving soil fertility and mitigating climate change. However, spatially explicit insight on management impacts is limited, which is crucial for region-specific and climate-smart practices. To overcome these limitations, we combined global meta-analytical results on improved management practices on SOC sequestration with spatially explicit data on current management practices and potential areas for the adoption of these measures. We included (a) fertilization practices, i.e., use of organic fertilizer compared to inorganic fertilizer or no fertilizer, (b) soil tillage practices, i.e., no-tillage relative to high or intermediate intensity tillage, and (c) crop management practices, i.e., use of cover crops and enhanced crop residue incorporation. We show that the estimated global C sequestration potential varies between 0.44 and 0.68 Gt C yr-1 , assuming maximum complementarity among all measures taken. A more realistic estimate, not assuming maximum complementarity, is from 0.28 to 0.43 Gt C yr-1 , being on the lower end of the current range of 0.1-2 Gt C yr-1 found in the literature. One reason for the lower estimate is the limited availability of manure that has not yet been recycled. Another reason is the limited area for the adoption of improved measures, considering their current application and application limitations. We found large regional differences in carbon sequestration potential due to differences in yield gaps, SOC levels, and current practices applied. The highest potential is found in regions with low crop production, low initial SOC levels, and in regions where livestock manure and crop residues are only partially recycled. Supporting previous findings, we highlight that to encourage both soil fertility and SOC sequestration, it is best to focus on agricultural soils with large yield gaps and/or where SOC values are below levels that may limit crop production.

Dataset Information

Global Sequestration Potential of Increased Organic Carbon in Cropland Soils.

Publications

Global Sequestration Potential of Increased Organic Carbon in Cropland Soils.

Similar Datasets

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