Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gabriel Y. K. Moinet, Renske Hijbeek, Detlef P. van Vuuren, Ken E. Giller
Summary: The role of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration as a 'win-win' solution to both climate change and food insecurity is critically examined in this article. The inclusion of SOC saturation in estimations significantly reduces the potential contribution of SOC sequestration to climate change mitigation, and the observed yield effects of increasing SOC are inconsistent. The article argues for a shift towards soil-smart agriculture that takes into account specific local conditions and quantifies multiple soil functions for land sustainability and food security.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tom Kunnemann, Patrice Cannavo, Vincent Guerin, Rene Guenon
Summary: Urban green spaces, primarily composed of lawns and woodlands, can store carbon in soil and above-ground biomass. The presence of trees in lawns can create a local microclimate that affects soil biogeochemical cycles and greenhouse gas emissions. This study assessed the impact of trees on microclimate, soil properties, and greenhouse gas fluxes in different types of urban green spaces. The results showed that temperature and moisture were key factors influencing soil respiration, with the highest respiration rates observed in open lawns. Trees in lawns reduced soil respiration by lowering temperature, while in woodlands, both soil properties and temperature contributed to lower rates of respiration. Urban woodlands acted as a sink for methane, while lawns had small methane consumption and occasionally served as a source in irrigated parks. Nitrous oxide fluxes were minimal, reflecting the use of controlled-release fertilization.
Article
Agricultural Economics & Policy
Laure Bamiere, Pierre-Alain Jayet, Salome Kahindo, Elsa Martin
Summary: Soil organic carbon sequestration measures have different costs for farmers with diverse characteristics and locations, and a cost-effective analysis considering these heterogeneities is essential for developing effective public policies. Our research in France demonstrates that extending temporary grasslands is a low-cost option for carbon storage, but has limited potential, requiring the use of no-till and hedgerows to achieve ambitious carbon sequestration goals. Economic incentives prove to be more cost-effective than command and control measures due to heterogeneities among farmers, and a combination of agricultural and environmental policies is crucial for addressing climate change.
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Manmohan Kaith, Pushpa Tirkey, D. R. Bhardwaj, Jatin Kumar, Jai Kumar
Summary: This study assessed the role of tree species in carbon storage and soil enrichment in the eastern plateau and hill region of India. It found that tree plantations significantly increased soil organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, but decreased pH and bulk density. Gmelina arborea had the highest carbon density and carbon sequestration potential, followed by Eucalyptus tereticornis, Cassia siamea, and Leucaena leucocephala, indicating their suitability as atmospheric carbon reducers.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Axel Don, Felix Seidel, Jens Leifeld, Thomas Katterer, Manuel Martin, Sylvain Pellerin, David Emde, Daria Seitz, Claire Chenu
Summary: Carbon sequestration is the removal of carbon from the atmosphere and storage in soils, which is important for mitigating climate change. However, the term is often used misleadingly, leading to exaggerated expectations. While soils have the potential to absorb carbon, many are experiencing continuous loss, highlighting the need for accurate terminology to distinguish different processes.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Danielle L. Gelardi, Sanjai J. Parikh
Summary: Although biochar is commonly considered a soil amendment, its effectiveness in improving agricultural production and soil health is not consistent. In some cases, biochar may be better utilized for contaminant remediation or substitution of nonrenewable materials.
Editorial Material
Soil Science
Deyi Hou
Summary: Soil is the largest carbon pool in the terrestrial system and plays a crucial role in combating climate change. However, international negotiations tend to overlook the importance of soil in climate change mitigation. Developing countries require climate adaptation initiatives and financial assistance from developed countries, along with further technological advancements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from soils.
SOIL USE AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dominic Woolf, Johannes Lehmann, Stephen Ogle, Ayaka W. Kishimoto-Mo, Brian McConkey, Jeffrey Baldock
Summary: Stabilizing the global climate requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions and removing CO2 from the atmosphere. GHG accounting protocols are needed to quantify the mitigation impact of CO2 removal practices like biochar sequestration. Research shows that the carbon content of biochar varies with feedstock and production conditions, with a significant portion remaining unmineralized in soil for long-term sequestration.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Andrew P. Madigan, Jesko Zimmermann, Dominika J. Krol, Michael Williams, Michael B. Jones
Summary: The sequestration of CO2 by agricultural soils, especially grassland soils, is seen as a potential way to decrease atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and combat climate change. Different management strategies can enhance soil carbon sequestration, with full inversion tillage (FIT) being a method that shows promise but has only been studied in New Zealand to date.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Agronomy
Anandkumar Naorem, Somasundaram Jayaraman, Ram C. Dalal, Ashok Patra, Cherukumalli Srinivasa Rao, Rattan Lal
Summary: The study of Soil organic carbon (SOC) pool has been extensively studied in the carbon (C) cycling of terrestrial ecosystems. However, in dryland regions, soil inorganic carbon (SIC) has received increasing attention due to various factors. The storage of SIC in dryland soils is a complex process that is influenced by multiple factors, and deeper layers of drylands have opened up several study aspects on SIC storage.
Article
Soil Science
Denis Angers, Dominique Arrouays, Remi Cardinael, Claire Chenu, Marc Corbeels, Julien Demenois, Mark Farrell, Manuel Martin, Budiman Minasny, Sylvie Recous, Johan Six
Summary: This article highlights the rapid mineralization of organic inputs as an important factor for soil carbon sequestration. The mineralization kinetics of organic inputs are well-known and accounted for in soil organic matter models. Many agronomic practices can significantly contribute to soil organic carbon sequestration. Soil organic carbon sequestration can lead to a win-win situation where agriculture can both contribute to the mitigation of climate change and adapt to it.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lea Schwengbeck, Lisanne Hoelting, Felix Witing
Summary: One approach to increase climate-regulating potential in agriculture is through carbon sequestration in agricultural soils by storing carbon dioxide in the form of soil organic carbon (SOC) using agricultural management practices (AMPs). The CANDY Carbon Balance (CCB) model was used in this study to evaluate the impact of different AMPs on SOC stocks in a study area in northern Saxony, Germany. Results showed varying potential for carbon sequestration depending on the intensity of AMPs implemented, with reduced tillage having the highest impact. Reduced application rates of fertilizers, however, had a negative effect on carbon stocks. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of widespread adoption of sustainable management practices in agriculture under changing climate conditions.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Florian Thomas Payen, Alasdair Sykes, Matt Aitkenhead, Peter Alexander, Dominic Moran, Michael MacLeod
Summary: The research found that adopting specific practices in vineyards can increase the rate of soil organic carbon sequestration, contributing positively to climate change mitigation.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yalong Liu, Tida Ge, Ping Wang, Kees Jan van Groenigen, Xuebin Xu, Kun Cheng, Zhenke Zhu, Jingkuan Wang, Georg Guggenberger, Ji Chen, Yiqi Luo, Yakov Kuzyakov
Summary: The mean residence time (MRT) of carbon (C) in paddy soils in monsoon Asia, which ranges between 19 and 50 years, is influenced by various factors such as temperature. The MRT in tropical regions is shorter compared to temperate and subtropical regions. With a 2 degrees C warming, MRT decreases by an average of 7%, with the largest decrease in the western Indonesian islands and northeast China. Paddy soils play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle due to their larger C stocks per area and longer MRT compared to upland cropland soils.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
M. Krauss, M. Wiesmeier, A. Don, F. Cuperus, A. Gattinger, S. Gruber, W. K. Haagsma, J. Peigne, M. Chiodelli Palazzoli, F. Schulz, M. G. A. van der Heijden, L. Vincent-Caboud, R. A. Wittwer, S. Zikeli, M. Steffens
Summary: Reduced tillage in organic farming can increase SOC stocks in surface layers, decrease them in intermediate layers, and increase them in deeper soil layers. The cumulative SOC stocks increased by 1.7% or 1.5 Mg ha-1 (0-50 cm, n = 9) and 3.6% or 4.0 Mg ha-1 (0-100 cm, n = 7) compared with ploughing. The estimated mean C sequestration rates were 0.09 and 0.27 Mg ha-1 yr-1, respectively.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2022)