Article

The Potential of World Cropland Soils to Sequester C and Mitigate the Greenhouse Effect

May 1999
Environmental Science & Policy 2(2):177-185

Authors:

The Ohio State University

Soil emission of CO2 is closely linked to soil degradation, decrease in soil organic carbon (SOC) content and decline in soil quality. Enhancing soil quality through adoption of best management practices (BMPs) and soil restoration can increase SOC content and soil productivity, and partially mitigate the greenhouse effect. The C sequestration potential through judicious management of world cropland includes 0.08–0.12 Pg/yr by erosion control, 0.02–0.03 Pg/yr by restoration of severely degraded soils, 0.02–0.04 Pg/yr by reclamation of salt-affected soils, 0.15–0.175 Pg/yr by adoption of conservation tillage and crop residue management, 0.18–0.24 Pg/yr by adoption of improved cropping system and 0.30–0.40 Pg/yr as C offset through biofuel production. The total C sequestration potential of the world cropland is about 0.75–1.0 Pg/yr or about 50% of annual emission of 1.6–1.8 Pg by deforestation and other agricultural activities. This finite soil-C sink could be filled over a 20 to 50-year period, during which energy related emission reductions gradually take effect at global scale. Improving soil quality is a win–win strategy, while increasing productivity it also improves environment and partially mitigates the greenhouse effect. Intensification of farming and increasing biomass production can lead to increased sequestration of C in soils, and to partly meet commitments under the Kyoto Protocol at national and global scales. Global reduction in C emission may have to be substantial if the atmospheric concentration of CO2 is to be stabilized at 550 ppmv. However, realization of this potential would require developing channels of communication between scientists and land managers and policy makers, and providing economic incentives.

The Declining Ogallala Aquifer and the Future Role of Rangeland Science on the North American High Plains

Article

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Mar 2023
RANGELAND ECOL MANAG

The Ogallala Aquifer region, located in the Great Plains of the central United States, is the largest freshwater aquifer in North America, supporting one of the most agriculturally productive regions in the world. In this paper, we discuss the history of settlement and water use in this region, from the Homestead Act and the Dust Bowl to modern irrigation systems. While many improvements to irrigation technology and water-efficient crops have helped to prolong the life of the Ogallala, continued use of this finite resource is leading to a tragedy of the commons, wherein difficult land management decisions will have to be made by this century's end. We posit that the art and science of rangeland management stands uniquely poised to tackle this challenge directly through creative integration, where appropriate, of native rangeland restoration, improved pasture management, integrated crop-livestock systems, and regen-erative agricultural practices aimed at preserving soil and rangeland health, thereby providing continuity in the ability of the Ogallala region to continue to provide food, fiber, and other ecosystem services both locally and globally. Furthermore, we provide discussion on future research, extension, and educational needs to consider as the exploration for adaptive solutions are developed and evaluated in the coming decades.

Potential of wastelands for carbon sequestration- A review Rajalekshmi K and Bastin B

Article

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Jun 2022

Long-term effect of tillage and crop rotation practices on soil C and N in the Swartland, Western Cape, South Africa

Thesis

Full-text available

Mar 2017

Soil Organic Matter (SOM) is an important indicator of soil quality influencing nutrient availability, water infiltration and retention and soil biological activity. The loss of SOM due to intensive cultivation is a growing concern worldwide. The Swartland is an important small grain production region in South Africa. It is situated in a semi-arid Mediterranean climate and as such has low SOM content (0.75 - 1.5 %). Conservation agriculture is the implementation of reduced tillage and diverse crop rotations and is seen as a possible solution to declining SOM in agricultural soils. The purpose of this study is to observe the effect of three commonly practiced tillage treatments and five different crop rotations on soil C and N stocks in the soil and the two major soil organic matter functional pools, namely, Mineral bound (MB) and Particulate Organic Matter (POM). The study was conducted on two long term trials on the Langgewens Research Farm, situated near Moorreesberg, Western Cape, South Africa (33°16’34.41” S, 18°45’51.28” E). The climate is semi-arid Mediterranean with an average rainfall of between 275-400 mm with 80% falling in the winter months (April – August). The soils in this region are mainly derived from Malmesbury shale and tend to be shallow and stony. The first trial site (Site A) was a long term tillage study in its 8th year and consisted of three different 4-year crop rotation systems each under three different tillage practices. The three crop rotations included two 100 % crop treatments: Wheat monoculture (WWWW); Wheat-Canola-Wheat-Lupin (WCWL); and one 50 % crop-50 % pasture treatment: Wheat-Medic-Wheat-Medic (WMWM). These treatments were planted under three tillage treatments: No tillage (NT); Minimum tillage (MT); Conventional tillage (CT). The second trial site (Site B) was a long term soil quality trial in its 19th year and consisted of four 4-year crop rotation systems under no tillage conditions. The four crop rotation systems included one 100 % crop system: Wheat monoculture (WWWW); and three 50 % crop-50 % pasture systems: Wheat-Medic-Wheat-Medic (WMWM); Wheat-Medic/Clover-Wheat-Medic/Clover (WMc); Wheat-Medic/Clover-Wheat-Medic/Clover with supplementary grazing on Salt Bush (WMc SB). No tillage had the highest total C stocks (0-40 cm) under both WWWW and WMWM, 31 Mg C ha-1 and 30 Mg C ha-1. These were significantly greater than both the MT, 28 Mg C ha-1 and 27 Mg C ha-1 respectively, and CT, 22 Mg C ha-1 and 21 Mg C ha-1, treatments under the same respective crop rotations. The effect under WCWL differed in that MT (28 Mg C ha-1) preformed significantly better than both NT (22 Mg C ha-1) and CT (13 Mg C ha-1). Conventional tillage under WCWL had the lowest total C stocks by a significant amount, 15 Mg C ha-1 lower than that of MT under the same crop. The two high biomass rotations, WWWW and WMWM have significantly greater total C stocks than that of WCWL. This is evident under both the CT (WWWW, 22 Mg C ha-1; WMWM 21 Mg C ha-1) and the NT (WWWWW 30 Mg C ha-1; WMWMW Mg C ha-1), where WCWL has a lower C stock of 13 22 Mg C ha-1 and 22 Mg C ha-1 respectively. WCWL however is able to accumulate a much higher total C stock under MT (28 Mg C ha-1), with there being no significant difference between it and WWWWW (28 Mg C ha-1) and WMWM (27 Mg C ha-1). The majority (55-95 %) of soil C at all sites were found in the MB fraction, while POM contributes a significantly smaller percentage. Under all treatments we can observe the trend of POM-C contribution to total C decreases with depth. There was very little difference found between the MB-C of all tillage and crop rotation treatments. However, there was great variation in the POM-C content of the treatments. Under WMWM, CT had significantly greater POM-C than NT at the 10-20 cm profile, 5.80 g kg-1 and 4.92 g kg-1 respectively, likely due to deeper incorporation of surface residues under CT. Under WWWW, NT had significantly greater POM-C than CT in the 5-10 cm profile at 2.18 g kg-1 and 1.10 g kg-1, respectively. The effect of crop rotation was similarly undefined, there was little significant difference between treatments in the MB-C while the POM-C showed great variation. Under NT in the 5-10 cm profile, WCWL had the largest POM-C, 3.76 g kg-1, significantly greater than both WMWM with 2.91 g kg-1, and WWWW with 1.81 g kg-1. However at the 10-20 cm profile WWWW with 2.18 g kg-1, was significantly larger than both WMWM and WCWL, with 0.75 g kg-1 and 0.89 g kg-1 respectively. Tillage was found to have the strongest influence on soil C stocks, with NT having the largest C stocks followed by MT, both being significantly greater than CT. Crop rotation had a lesser, but still significant influence on C stocks, but a larger role in N stocks. WWWW and WMWM had the greatest C stocks, while the reduced grazing on WMc SB also led to greater C stocks. The inclusion of a legume pasture (Medic and Medic-Clover) had a significant increase in N stocks while WCWL had the lowest N stock. The data gathered from this study, highlights the benefits of conservation agriculture through the usage of reduced tillage and high biomass producing leguminous pastures. WMWM and WMc SB under NT had excellent SOM accumulation and provide a diversified production system and would be recommended for this region for these reasons.

Agricultural Management Legacy Effects on Switchgrass Growth and Soil Carbon Gains

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2025

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a native North American grass currently considered a high‐potential bioenergy feedstock crop. However, previous reports questioned its effectiveness in generating soil organic carbon (SOC) gains, with resultant uncertainty regarding the monoculture switchgrass's impact on the environmental sustainability of bioenergy agriculture. We hypothesize that the inconsistencies in past SOC accrual results might be due, in part, to differences in prior land management among the systems subsequently planted to switchgrass. To test this hypothesis, we measured SOC and other soil properties, root biomass, and switchgrass growth in an experimental site with a 30‐year history of contrasting tillage and N‐fertilization treatments, 7 years after switchgrass establishment. We determined switchgrass' monthly gross primary production (GPP) for six consecutive years and conducted deep soil sampling. Nitrogen fertilization expectedly stimulated switchgrass growth; however, a tendency for better plant growth was also observed under unfertilized settings in the former no‐till soil. In topsoil, SOC significantly increased from 2007 to 2023 in fertilized treatments of both tillage histories, with the greatest increase observed in fertilized no‐till. Fertilized no‐till also had the highest particulate organic matter content in the topsoil, with no differences among the treatments observed in deeper soil layers. However, regardless of fertilization, the tillage history had a strong effect on stratification with depth of SOC, total N, and microbial biomass C. Results suggested that historic and ongoing N fertilization had a substantial impact on switchgrass growth and soil characteristics, while tillage legacy had a much weaker, but still discernible, effect.

Soil-Based Implication Approach for Environmental Nexus

Chapter

Jun 2024

Soil Microbial Residual Carbon Accumulation Affected by Reclamation Period and Straw Incorporation in Reclaimed Soil from Coal Mining Area

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2024

Microbial residual carbon is an important component in soil carbon pool stability. Here, we tested soils collected from the early (first year, R1), middle (10 years, R10), and long-term (30 years, R30) stages of reclamation in a coal mining area in China. Two treatments with straw materials, namely maize straw + soil (S+M) and wheat straw + soil (S+W), were used for a decomposition experiment. The glucosamine and muramic acid contents were assessed. Accumulation of microbial residual C and its contribution to soil organic carbon (SOC) were analyzed at various intervals. Straw incorporation resulted in higher amino sugar accumulation than that of the control. The amino sugar content was considerably higher in R30 than that in R10 and R1; S+M and S+W showed average increases of 15 and 4%, respectively, compared to the control after 500 days. The total microbial and fungal residual C contents under S+M and S+W treatments were substantially higher than those of the control on days 33, 55, and 218 in R30. The contributions of soil microbial residues to SOC at R1, R10, and R30 were 73.77, 71.32, and 69.64%, respectively; fungal residues contributed significantly more than bacterial residues. The total amino sugars and microbial residual C content increased with increasing reclamation period. The addition of maize straw promoted the accumulation of microbial residual C, especially in the early stages of reclamation. Therefore, the addition of maize straw improved the stability of microbial carbon sources in coal mine reclamation soils.

Identifying and Mapping the Spatial Factors That Control Soil Erosion Changes in the Yellow River Basin of China

Article

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Mar 2024

The Yellow River Basin has been considered to have the most serious soil erosion in the world, and identifying and mapping the spatial controlling factors would be of great help in adopting targeting strategies for soil erosion prevention. This study used the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) to estimate the spatial and temporal changes in soil erosion from 1985 to 2020 and analyzed the controlling factors. The results indicated that from 1985 to 2020, the average erosion modulus in the Yellow River Basin was 1160.97 t∙km⁻²∙yr⁻¹, and the erosion modulus in the middle reach was significantly greater than in the lower and upper reaches. Changes in vegetation coverage, rainfall and land use controlled 38.95%, 40.87% and 9.21% of soil erosion changes, respectively. Among them, the area in which soil erosion was decreased due to increased vegetation coverage accounted for 70.77% of the area controlled by vegetation coverage, while the area in which soil erosion was increased due to increased rainfall accounted for 86.62% of the area controlled by rainfall. These results prove the effectiveness of vegetation restoration projects in controlling soil erosion in the Yellow River Basin, but more attention needs to be paid to the impact of rainfall on soil erosion in the future.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Soil Regeneration

Chapter

Jan 2024

Soil regeneration generally focuses on soil restoration and improving its quality in order to improve plant growth and crop yields without degrading the soils. Soil regeneration improves not only its sustainability but also tends to improve its water quality and protect the soil against erosion through runoff. Some of these techniques used for soil regeneration are cover cropping, crop rotation, zero till or minimal tillage, reducing soil disturbance, mulching, and integrated nutrient management (INM). These practices have many promising benefits, which include carbon sequestration and reducing the use of fossil fuels. In less than a decade, we’ve seen soil regeneration through regenerative farming, providing solutions to soil deterioration and future of farming system for the increasing world population. For example, in Singapore, Soil regeneration enables Singaporeans to have the capacity to not just know and appreciate food but also grow their own without soil deterioration. Despite the clear benefits of this, such as mitigating emissions, improved soil fertility, higher nutrient use efficiency, biodiversity conservation, and improved long-term farmer livelihoods. It’s still not growing fast enough, this is alarming because the solutions to our problems are available through our traditional conservation farming methods and we don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

Evaluating biomass sustainability: Why below-ground carbon sequestration matters

Article

Feb 2024
J CLEAN PROD

Management of Carbon and Nitrogen Footprints for a Better Environment

Chapter

Jan 2024

Environmental security is essential to ensuring food security for an ever-growing population. Agriculture is the significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions due to the imbalance and excessive use of chemical compounds, energy, and high consumption of fossil-fuel. Ploughing, irrigation, and applying synthetic fertilisers or pesticides are only few examples of agricultural operations that contribute a large amount of GHGs emission. Food for a large share of the world׳s population is grown in the South Asian Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGPs). A larger crop yield is attributed to the harvesting of a greater number of diverse cropping systems/crops on the same land in the same year. There are about 26 million acres of rice-wheat cropping systems in the IGPs of South Africa, and these systems are the primary contributors to anthropogenic GHG emissions, including methane (CH4), nitrogen oxide (N2O), and ammonia volatilization (NH3). It is carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) footprints, which are critical to the direct and indirect balance of many components in nature, that are directly connected to increased GHG production. Consequently, C and N in a variety of forms govern a wide range of biochemical processes, including those in the soil and plants as well as in the atmosphere. Users of N-fertilizers, improved farm equipment efficiency, and changes in Rice Wheat Cropping System (RWCS) regional distribution are all need to minimize GHG emissions from agriculture. The current chapter focuses on the issue of carbon and nitrogen footprints in agricultural systems, which are connected to GHGs emission via pre-, on-, and post-farm activities. Several techniques to alleviating agricultural practises are also suggested as a road map for policymakers, land managers and researchers, and aid with the modeling of C and N footprints for environmental, food, nutritional and economic security in a changing climatic context.

How Can Plants Help Restore Degraded Tropical Soils?

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2023

In the tropics, anthropogenic activities can lead to water and wind erosion, a loss of biodiversity, and a reduction in sequestered carbon, fertility, and organic matter content in the soils concerned, potentially resulting in their degradation. This study therefore aims to identify the mechanisms used by plant species to restore degraded tropical soils and plant species characteristics that are best suited to achieve this through a critical scoping review of the peer-reviewed literature. Soil restoration leads to the re-establishment of ecosystem services and an increase in soil production potential, the regeneration of biodiversity, the stopping of organic matter losses, and the creation of favorable conditions for carbon sequestration and nitrogen fixation. The choice of appropriate plant species depends on the restoration objectives to be achieved. Five key mechanisms by which plant species contribute to restore degraded tropical soils include: (1) nitrogen fixation, (2) carbon sequestration, (3) organic matter addition, (4) structure stabilization, and (5) erosion control. The main characteristics of plant species and vegetation involved in these mechanisms are (a) the capacity to form symbiotic associations with N-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizae, (b) the production of abundant root biomass releasing litter and exudates, (c) roots having a high length density, branching intensity, and depth distribution, (d) the production of an abundant and easily decomposed above ground litter, (e) the production of a vast canopy, and (f) the presence of different vegetation strata. Targeting these characteristics will contribute to acting on several mechanisms simultaneously, which will increase the chance of success in tropical soil restoration.

Property rights and land quality

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2023
AM J AGR ECON

This paper presents a novel study examining the effect of a property rights law reform that legalized land transfers on land quality. Using unique Chinese county‐level land erosion data, we show that formally legalizing land transfers significantly reduces land erosion. This is an important and surprising benefit of a secure land transfer right to the land resource itself and a positive biophysical spillover to the natural environment that is largely ignored in the existing literature and in the policy making process. We further demonstrate that the land quality improvement brought by the law reform was associated with an increase in farming investments that can improve land quality but are subject to economies of scale. Land concentration made such investments economically feasible. We also show that the land quality‐improving benefits are unevenly distributed across regions with different socioeconomic backgrounds. Future land law reforms should consider both the potential efficiency and equality implications in terms of land quality.

Impact of ecological conservation policies on land use and carbon stock in megacities at different stages of development

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2023

Urban expansion, especially the construction of megacities, increases carbon emissions and adversely affects the carbon storage of terrestrial ecosystems. However, scientific land-use management policies can increase carbon storage. This study takes two megacities at different stages of development, Beijing and Tianjin, as examples to explore the impact of different ecological conservation scenarios on both urban land use and carbon storage to provide recommendations for the construction planning of large cities with low-carbon development as the goal. Furthermore, we coupled the patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model with the integrated valuation of ecosystem services and tradeoffs (InVEST) model to simulate land use and carbon storage under a natural development scenario, a planned ecological protection scenario (PEPS), and a policy-based ecological restoration scenario (PERS). From 2000 to 2020, both cities had different degrees of construction land expansion and carbon loss, and Tianjin's dynamic degree of construction land was 0.94% higher than Beijing's, with a carbon loss 183,536.19 Mg higher than Beijing's; this trend of reducing carbon reserves will continue under the natural development scenario (NDS). Under the PEPS and PERS, the carbon stock of both cities increases, and the impact on Tianjin is greater, with an increase of 4.51% and 8.04%, respectively. Under PERS, the carbon stock increases the most, but the dynamic degree of construction land use is negative for both cities. Beijing's carbon stock is 0.40% lower than Tianjin's, which deviates slightly from the trend of urban economic development. Megacities in the rapid development stage can refer to Tianjin, strictly following the ecological protection land planning scope and vigorously implementing ecological restoration policies to effectively increase regional carbon stock. Megacities in the mature stage of development can refer to Beijing, and flexibly implement ecological restoration policies to increase regional carbon stock without affecting the city's economic development.

Improving digital mapping of soil organic matter in cropland by incorporating crop rotation

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2023
GEODERMA

Despite human activities are key influencing factors for cropland soil organic matter (SOM), detailed characterization of human activities has always been limited in the digital mapping of SOM due to the lack of proper representations of human's cropland use activities. Crop rotation is an essential human agricultural practice significantly affecting the spatial-temporal variations of SOM due to the periodically dynamic changes of crops. Thus, incorporating crop rotation in the digital soil mapping holds high potential for improving SOM prediction. Here, we applied time-series radar Sentinel-1 and optical Sentinel-2 to map crop rotation systems by a hierarchical rule-based method. Then we explored the effectiveness of incorporating such information in predicting SOM by implementing various combinations of predictive variables. We chose a typical multiple cropping region with various crop rotations in southern China. The model performance was evaluated by 10-fold cross-validation. Results showed significant differences in SOM among the crop rotation systems, and the single rice rotated with vegetables has the highest SOM followed by the high-diversity vegetables and long-term orchard systems. Adding crop rotation enhanced the predictability of SOM with a decrease in RMSE by 7% and an increase in R 2 by 24%. Furthermore, the crop rotation systems appeared more important in the predictive models than the soil, topo-graphic, and climatic variables. Our results demonstrated the effectiveness of including crop rotation in predicting SOM over complex agricultural landscapes. Our study indicated that human activities should be characterized more detailedly in cropland soil mapping, and that crop rotation containing information on the seasonal dynamics of cropland may be an option for such characterization.

Carbon sequestration and water management in Texas—One size does not fit all

Article

Full-text available

May 2023

Climate‐smart agriculture (CSA) is an integrated approach to sustainably meeting food, fiber, and feed production needs. The technical and socioeconomic feasibility of different CSA strategies depends on local conditions, and there is no one‐size‐fits‐all approach. Here, we review two key aspects of CSA with a focus on Texas: soil C sequestration and water management. Carbon sequestration potential is highly variable across Texas as it depends on local biophysical conditions and soil management practices in place, for example, tillage and cover crops. Grasslands also have an important role to play in C sequestration. Important co‐benefits of effective soil management for C sequestration, such as reduced CO2 emissions, enhanced soil structure, and increased microbial activity, can positively impact soil fertility and productivity. The economic and political realities of C sequestration will have a strong influence on the implementation of technically feasible strategies. The major challenge for water management is the sustainable allocation of increasingly scarce resources. Expanded irrigation is a short‐term solution, but in many cases, the existing water supply is insufficient to meet future demand. A drying Texas, and aquifer depletion, portends lower future supplies. The Panhandle, Llano Estacado, and Rio Grande regions have the greatest projected gaps between future supply and demand. Increasing water‐use efficiency and using drought‐tolerant crops are important management goals and precision agriculture with site‐specific management measures could help improve drought resiliency. Texas’ geographic diversity is reflected in the variety of agricultural commodities produced by the state, and CSA activities are likely to be equally diverse.

Effect of Agro-ecological Zones on the Agronomic Performance of Cowpea in the Central African Republic

Article

Apr 2023

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is a legume cultivated and consumed in the Central African Republic. Few studies have been carried out on cowpea in the Central African Republic. For this reason, four local accessions (Kahkir, Gbarah, Aie-toung and Bambalassa) collected in different localities were evaluated at three different sites. Yield squares were laid out according to randomized block design with four replications. These accessions were selected on the basis of quantitative parameters such as height, growth, number of pods, weight of pods (g), pod yield, haulm yield and seed yield. The data was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results show that the seed yield, pod yield and haulm yield are statistically different among the four accessions studied. The emergence rate of all accessions was over 75%. The analysis of variance showed that height of the plants are significantly different compared to the study areas (p < 0.05). The study showed that all accessions were susceptible to viral diseases with a prevalence of more than 50 to 98%. The analysis showed that the Kahkir and Gbarah accessions were the best in pod, seed and biomass production and that the most productive sites were that of M'Baïki.

Intensification of Pasture-Based Animal Production System Has Little Short-Term Effect on Soil Carbon Stock in the Southern Brazilian Highland

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2023

Pastures are of central importance in food production and provide multiple ecosystem services. The objective of this paper was to determine whether the intensification of pasture-based animal production systems, through practices such as fertilization and improved pasture species, has a higher capacity in the short-term (five years) to sequester carbon in the soil compared to (1) natural grassland without anthropogenic interactions, (2) natural grassland fertilized and overseeded with exotic species, and (3) annual pastures with frequent soil disturbance. The study assessed the organic carbon stock (OCS), total organic carbon (TOC), particle size, porosity, and density at different soil strata, as well as the root system and forage production. Forage dry matter (DM) production varied significantly with means ranging from 6615 to 13,000 kg ha–1 year–1 for natural grassland (NG) and permanent pasture (PP), respectively. Improved natural grassland (ING) and NG presented a higher density and root diameter than PP and annual pasture (AP). Forage systems significantly influenced soil porosity and density, with NG and ING showing lower soil densities and higher soil porosities. The OCS (0–100 cm) was similar between NG (270 Mg ha–1), ING (255 Mg ha–1), PP (274 Mg ha–1), and AP systems (256 Mg ha–1). Over a period of five years, the intensification of pasture-based animal production systems did not have a significant impact on OCS in the soils of a Brazilian subtropical highland.

Microbial keystone taxa drive succession of plant residue chemistry

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2023

Managing above-ground plant carbon inputs can pave the way toward carbon neutrality and mitigating climate change. Chemical complexity of plant residues largely controls carbon sequestration. There exist conflicting opinions on whether residue chemistry diverges or converges after long-term decomposition. Moreover, whether and how microbial communities regulate residue chemistry remains unclear. This study investigated the decomposition processes and residue composition dynamics of maize straw and wheat straw and related microbiomes over a period of 9 years in three climate zones. Residue chemistry exhibited a divergent-convergent trajectory during decomposition, that is, the residue composition diverged during the 0.5–3 year period under the combined effect of straw type and climate and then converged to an array of common compounds during the 3–9 year period. Chemical divergence during the first 2–3 years was primarily driven by the changes in extracellular enzyme activity influenced by keystone taxa-guided bacterial networks, and the keystone taxa belonged to Alphaproteobacteria, particularly Rhizobiales. After 9 years, microbial assimilation became dominant, leading to chemical convergence, and fungi, particularly Chaetomium, were the main contributors to microbial assimilation. Overall, this study demonstrated that keystone taxa regulate the divergent-convergent trajectory in residue chemistry.

How can the agricultural soil support in the climate change mitigation and adaptation?

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2022

The rise in temperature over the earth due to the increase in the greenhouse gas concentration in the Earth’s atmosphere is defined as “Global Warming”. The precipitation and temperature regimes do not continue in the usual order and the meteorological disasters experienced cause people to worry about the future. It also reveals more than just its claims on biodiversity, orientation, and food security. Agricultural production is one of the important sectors that will be directly affected by global warming and climate change, in the light of current information. Food production, which enables people to survive, takes place directly through agriculture. In today’s conditions, it is unthinkable to feed large masses without soil. The soil provides all the necessary nutrients to humanity, but only if it is sufficient. Soil health is at the forefront to produce ordinary food. Although what can be done is limited, practical measures should be taken by making projections on climate change. In addition, mitigation and adaptation studies should be carried out for the continuity of agricultural production activities. Due to the slow progress of these mitigation and adaptation strategies, green pursuits for faster action are on the top of the agenda. The pursuit of green has become a powerful weapon in the transformation of rural areas. As an extension of the Paris Agreement, the Green Deal has come to the fore as a strong effort and discourse that the European Union (EU) aims to spread environmental concerns to all policy areas. The agriculture part of this discourse includes “From Farm to Table Strategy” and “Common Agricultural Policy”. In this study, the place and position of the European Green Deal in the harmonization process of the effects of global warming and climate change on agricultural soils are also examined.

Management practice and soil properties affect plant productivity and root biomass in endophyte‐symbiotic and endophyte‐free meadow fescue grasses

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2022

Introduction Pesticides are increasingly used in intensely managed agro‐environments, with an increasingly acknowledged impact on crop production, root establishment and plant resilience. At the same time management practices are intensified with the goal to maximize productivity. Materials and Methods In a greenhouse, we studied the effects of three mowing regimes (uncut, and cutting 5 or 15 cm) employed three times during the season on root and shoot biomass and chlorophyll content of the cool‐season grass Festuca pratensis (meadow fescue) growing in soil with a history of glyphosate‐based herbicide (GBH) use, the corresponding control soil, and sterilized control soil. Half of the plants hosted a systemic and vertically transmitted fungal endophyte, Epichloë uncinata, which is known to promote host grass growth. Results Endophyte symbiosis did not affect any tested plant parameters. Cutting the plants to 5 cm decreased both root and cumulative shoot biomass. Herbicide soil history, together with intense cutting (5 cm), caused a decrease in shoot biomass and lowered the chlorophyll content. Surprisingly, soil sterilization boosted shoot biomass and chlorophyll concentrations during less intense cutting (15 cm) and noncutting when compared to the control soil. Root biomass reduced in uncut plants when growing in soil with a history of glyphosate use. Conclusion Our results indicate that GBH residues in the soil can diminish shoot biomass when grass is frequently cut. Decreased root biomass caused by soil glyphosate history goes together with a reduction of carbon allocation belowground, which decreases grassland resilience to climate warming, increasingly occurring droughts and extreme weather events.

Evaluation of Combined Landscape Restoration Practices on Soil Organic Carbon Stocks in Semiarid Regions of Burkina Faso

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2022

Carbon stock potentials of woodlands and land use and land cover changes in north western lowlands of Ethiopia

Thesis

Full-text available

Nov 2012

A major problem being faced by human society is the rising of global temperature mainly due to human activity that emit carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. The problem of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide can be addressed in a number of ways. One of such actions is forestry development and forest management undertakings. Sustainable forest management and development is believed to be an asset for increasing societal adaptive capacity to climate anomalies. This paper examined the potential of the dry western woodlands of Ethiopia for carbon sequestration in response to woodland cover changes. The study was based on the assumption that increasing societal adaptive capacity is possible through asset building from financial earnings obtained from carbon trading and non-timber forest products, especially gum and resin from Boswellia papyrifera woodland. GIS and RS were used to determine the LULCC. To estimate the amount of carbon stocked in dry land forests; vegetation inventory including dead wood, litter and herbaceous biomass collection were conducted in the 36 sample plots across the three districts of the study area namely: Kafta-Humera 17 plot, Metema 9 plot and Sherkole 10 plot. The sample plots were taken in transects line method in the two categories of woodlands, untapped and tapped Boswellia papyrifera. A total of 24 species were recorded. The soil samples were taken from 0-30 cm soil depth to determine the potential of soil carbon sequestration. To analyze the total woodland carbon stock, allometry equations were used to determine the aboveground, belowground and dead woods biomasses; litter and herbaceous biomasses were determined using direct harvesting method; and the SOC was estimated using standard methods. The result showed, the estimated mean carbon stocks of the aboveground, belowground and the dead wood biomasses for the UW in the Lemlem Terara site were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the Adi Goshu site. In the Gemed site, the mean HBC stock was 1.2 Mg ha-1, which is significantly highest (P=0.0207) than the other two study sites (Lemlem Terara, 0.42 Mg/ha and Adi Goshu, 0.45 Mg/ha) for the TW. In UW, the mean soil carbon stock of the Lemlem Terara site (58.19 Mg/ha) was significantly (P=0.0019) higher than that of Adi Goshu (33.61 Mg/ha). However, no statistical variation (P=0.8884) was observed between the mean soil carbon stocks across sites in the tapped stratum. In the case of the total carbon stocks in UW stratum, for the Adi-Goshu site the carbon stock was estimated to be about 55.26 Mg/ha while 96.74 Mg/ha for Lemlem Terara. In the TW stratum, however, the total carbon of Adi-Goshu, Lemlem-Terara and Gemed sites were 65.93, 68.77 and 71.01 Mg/ha respectively. The results of LULCC analysis showed that in all study sites the classes of agricultural and bare land have been increased at an average rate of 2,322.94 and 726.58 ha/year, respectively; while the woodland coverage in the three district was decreasing at an average rate of 2,833.77 ha/year during the last 25 years (1985-2010). The woodland coverage was converted mainly to agriculture at an average rate of 2,057.9 ha/year. Despite the rapid decline in the woodland coverage, the existing wood land has a huge potential for carbon sequestration, which calls for the promotion of sustainable woodland management in this climate sensitive areas. From the view of points of woodland management in a sustainable manner, the study suggested that the NGPME and the regional government should made fundamental thinking in the policy of woodland management in such a way of promoting carbon trading for additional financial incentive to the local community who are depending on the woodland resource. The data obtained from the current study can be used as a baseline data set of carbon stock to make inferences about the carbon stocking in the areas where the study was conducted.

Crop exposure to drought stress under elevated CO2: responses in physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels

Chapter

Full-text available

Jan 2022

Intensified drought stress threatens plant growth and productivity, while elevated CO2 (e[CO2]) alleviates the negative impact of drought stress on plants through alteration in water use and improvement in plant growth. In the terrestrial ecosystem, crops are particularly sensitive to drought and benefit from e[CO2]. To cope with the drier and CO2-enriched climate, plants have evolved various adaptive strategies. Water-dependent crops can benefit from e[CO2] but are species-dependent and depend on the intensities and durations of drought stress. In this chapter, we summarized drought impact on crops, crop performance under e[CO2], as well as their interactions in physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels.

Crop production in response to elevated CO2: grain yield and quality

Chapter

Jan 2022

The concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) has almost doubled since the preindustrial era due to global climate change and is expected to further increase if the current emission rates are not controlled. The impacts of elevated CO2 (e[CO2]) on growth, development, and yield of plant species, particularly crops, are very important concerns for the scientist. This is due to dynamic implications on global agricultural production and food security in the climate change scenario. Crops respond to the e[CO2] by stimulating the photosynthetic rate. which boosts crop yield. Higher levels of atmospheric carbon act like a carbon fertilizer for the plants and results in an increase in plant growth and productivity. Cereal crops grow larger in size and exhibit faster growth rates under e[CO2], and biomass production becomes higher. Crops have evolved strategies to enhance their physiological performance by increasing water use efficiency and reducing the transpirational water loss as well as lowering stomatal conductance under e[CO2]. C3 plants exhibit considerably higher increases in yield due to e[CO2] ranging from 20% and 35% as compared to C4 crops with only 10% to 15%. e[CO2] influences the qualitative attributes of crops, including the concentration of nutrients, which are fundamental food quality attributes having diverse implications on agricultural production, market value of crops as well as impacts on human health. Sharp declines are projected in the protein content and free amino acid of cereals under e[CO2] conditions. Under realistic field conditions experiments, free-air CO2 enrichment technology revealed significant increases in the photosynthesis activity, leaf carbohydrates, starch and sugars whereas the concentration of nitrogen per unit leaf mass has been found to decrease. The relative yield responses of grain crops under e[CO2] might increase under limiting nutrient and water conditions due to physiological adaptations. The major C3 cereals, including wheat and rice, undergo major shifts in physiological responses and C:N metabolism in response to e[CO2], However, a reduction in nutritional quality under e[CO2] appears to be a major challenge.

How to deal with climate change in maize production

Chapter

Full-text available

Jan 2022

Maize is an important food crops across the world and provides at least 30% of the food calories to more than 4.5 billion people in 94 developing countries. Maize is also a basic constituent in animal feed and is used broadly in industrial products like biofuels production. Due to increasing demand and production, global maize supplies and prices have been badly affected. Further, climatic change and the consequences of changes raise the abiotic and biotic stresses. Climate change challenges reduced growth and yield which leads hunger and food insecurity for millions of poor consumers. In the context of climate change, this chapter summarizes the challenges faced by maize and how these challenges can cope to meet future maize demand. Consideration needs to be directed at the production of high yielding, stress-tolerant, and widely-adapted maize varieties through conventional and molecular breeding approaches. For long-term approaches, large public and private sector investment and sustained political commitment and policy support for new technology are needed to overcome hunger, raise the incomes of smallholder farmers and meet the challenges of growing demand for maize at the global level.

Climate change impacts on soil fertility in Chinese Mollisols

Chapter

Jan 2022

Northeast black soil region in China is one of the four global black soil regions, and accounts for approximately 12% of the total black soil regions in the world. The unique climate conditions in Northeast China produce fertile black soil. In the warm growing season, there is abundant heat, enough soil moisture, and lush vegetation. A large quantity of organic residues are returned to the soil before winter. Over the long winters, the large amount of plant residues are decomposed slowly and then transformed into humus that accumulates in the upper layer of the soil. After thousands of years, a thick humus layer formed (60–80 cm in depth). The objectives of this chapter are to review some of the literature on factors affecting fertility of Mollisols in Northeast China, to interpret this literature in the context of climate change, and to highlight management strategies to adapt to climate change.

Deep-C storage: Biological, chemical and physical strategies to enhance carbon stocks in agricultural subsoils

Article

Full-text available

May 2022
SOIL BIOL BIOCHEM

Due to their substantial volume, subsoils contain more of the total soil carbon (C) pool than topsoils. Much of this C is thousands of years old, suggesting that subsoils offer considerable potential for long-term C sequestration. However, knowledge of subsoil C behaviour and manageability remains incomplete, and subsoil C storage potential has yet to be realised at a large scale, particularly in agricultural systems. A range of biological (e.g. deep-rooting), chemical (e.g. biochar burial) and physical (e.g. deep ploughing) C sequestration strategies have been proposed, but are yet to be assessed. In this review, we identify the main factors that regulate subsoil C cycling and critically evaluate the evidence and mechanistic basis of subsoil strategies designed to promote greater C storage, with particular emphasis on agroecosystems. We assess the barriers and opportunities for the implementation of strategies to enhance subsoil C sequestration and identify 5 key current gaps in scientific understanding. We conclude that subsoils, while highly heterogeneous, are in many cases more suited to long-term C sequestration than topsoils. The proposed strategies may also bring other tangible benefits to cropping systems (e.g. enhanced water holding capacity and nutrient use efficiency). Furthermore, while the subsoil C sequestration strategies we reviewed have large potential, more long-term studies are needed across a diverse range of soils and climates, in conjunction with chronosequence and space-for-time substitutions. Also, it is vital that subsoils are more consistently included in modelled estimations of soil C stocks and C sequestration potential, and that subsoil-explicit C models are developed to specifically reflect subsoil processes. Finally, further mapping of subsoil C is needed in specific regions (e.g. in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, South and Central America, South Asia and Africa). Conducting both immediate and long-term subsoil C studies will fill the knowledge gaps to devise appropriate soil C sequestration strategies and policies to help in the global fight against climate change and decline in soil quality. In conclusion, our evidence-based analysis reveals that subsoils offer an untapped potential to enhance global C storage in terrestrial ecosystems.

Hedge and Alder-Based Agroforestry Systems: Potential Interventions to Carbon Sequestration and Better Crop Productivity in Indian Sub-Himalayas

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2022

Agroforestry systems (AFSs) have potential to combat climate change and to ensure food security. AFSs can sequester carbon and amend the organic matter, thereby enhancing the crop productivity. Carbon sequestration depends on the type of AFSs, climate, cropping pattern, and management practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate different AFSs for their potential to sequester carbon and impact on soil organic matter (SOM) in the eastern sub-Himalayas, India. Hedge-, alder-, and guava-based AFSs were established along with control (without any tree), and the maize–mustard–potato cropping pattern was followed in each AFS. Soil samples were collected after the fifth crop cycle and further analyzed. The results showed that crop productivity was significantly higher in all the AFSs than control. On average, soil organic carbon (SOC) was found to be significantly higher by 62 and 64% in hedge-based AFSs as compared to guava-based AFSs and control, respectively, and at par with alder-based AFSs. Particulate organic carbon (POC) was higher in all the three AFSs than in the control. For microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) contents, the trend of AFSs was expressed as alder-based AFS > hedge-based AFS > guava-based AFS > control. Hedge- and alder-based AFSs had higher SOC stocks than guava-based AFSs and control. Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq.) emissions were greater in control than hedge-based AFSs (35.2 Mg ha⁻¹), followed by alder-based AFSs (28.6 Mg ha⁻¹), and the lowest was observed in guava-based AFSs. On an average, hedge species accumulated more nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), which were 60, 12, and 28 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively. This conclusively proved that AFSs were significantly affecting SOM pools and crop productivity and had a significant role in carbon retention in the soil. Overall, hedge- and alder-based AFSs retained higher soil carbon, and hence, hedge- and alder-based AFSs may be promoted to achieve climate-smart agriculture practices in the acid soils of the Indian sub-Himalayan region.

Long‐term agricultural practice effects on carbon and nitrogen isotopes of soil organic matter fractions

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2022

Understanding the effects of long‐term traditional and alternative agricultural management practice effects on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling and storage within particulate organic matter (POM) and light fractions (LF) within various soil aggregate‐size classes can be illuminated by isotopic ¹³C/¹²C (δ¹³C) and ¹⁵N/¹⁴N (δ¹⁵N) differences. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of residue level, residue burning, tillage, and irrigation on δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of the bulk‐soil, macro‐ (>250 μm) and micro‐aggregate‐(53–250 μm), coarse‐ (>250 μm), and fine‐ (53–250 μm) POM, and coarse‐ and fine‐LF in the top 10 cm following 13 yr of consistent management in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] double‐crop system on a silt‐loam soil in eastern Arkansas. Various treatment combinations affected (p < .05) δ¹³C values within the bulk‐soil and fine‐POM, as well as δ¹⁵N values within the bulk‐soil, macro‐aggregate, coarse‐LF, and fine‐LF fractions. Averaged across all other field treatments, macro‐aggregate δ¹⁵N was greater (p < .01) in the no‐tillage (NT)‐low‐ (3.23%) compared with NT–high‐residue (3.05%) and CT‐high‐ and low‐residue combination, which did not differ and averaged 3.11%, indicating that more labile residue can be achieved in the NT–high‐residue treatment combination. Results showed significant variations in aggregate‐associated δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N, as affected by long‐term residue and water management practices that would otherwise not have been evident from simple, bulk‐soil analysis or a short‐term field study.

Emissions in agricultural-based developing economies: A case of Nigeria

Article

Jan 2022
J CLEAN PROD

Agricultural greenhouse gas emissions (methane and nitrous oxide) contribute substantially to global warming. This article explores and develops roadmaps towards mitigating these emissions in developing economies. Nonetheless, mitigating the impacts of global warming on humanity entails curtailing the greenhouse emissions which is very challenging given that this Greenhouse Gas (GHG) is emitted during agricultural food production processes. The Kaya and Index Decomposition Analysis (Kaya-IDA) models are used to decompose and study the drivers of the agricultural Greenhouse Gas emission (methane and nitrous oxide) in Nigeria from 1990 to 2019. Moreover, different policies are developed using scenario-based analysis from 2020 to 2050 to show possible Greenhouse Gas emission mitigation pathways. The results show that the agricultural greenhouse emission intensity and per capita output are the leading drivers of the total agricultural level of emission in Nigeria. There is also a decline in agricultural value-added contribution in the past decade to the overall emission level. Among the four policy scenarios, the Special Package Policy, which achieves a more than a proportional reduction in agricultural greenhouse emission intensity relative to other driving factors, results in a favourable and substantially reduced level of overall emission in the agricultural sector of Nigeria. The implications of this study also apply to other African economies with similar agricultural sectors like that of Nigeria.

Carbon sequestration and harnessing biomaterials from terrestrial plantations for mitigating climate change impacts

Chapter

Jan 2022

Global warming and associated climatic changes due to rapidly increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emission majorly by various anthropogenic activities led to negative impacts on various natural resources including the land and forest systems. Biomass production has been continuously suggested to address these issues, as it not only assists in environmental cleanup but also sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) under both aboveground and belowground domains. Being a versatile source of renewable energy, biomass uses are very much diversified such as bioenergy, biocomposites, biopolymers, bioplastics, and other biomaterials thereby providing strength to build cohesive bioeconomy for sustainable development. Therefore, the present chapter deals with the abovementioned account for the same in order to address several targets of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs). Moreover, it also focuses on potential practices to enhance the production of quality biomass feedstock from degraded and neglected natural resources such as the marginal and degraded lands and forest systems for human well-being and nature's vitality.

Estimating the Potential of Carbon Sequestration in Tree Species of Chintapalle Forest Range, Narsipatnam Division, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2021

The potential of carbon sequestration of tree species in the Chintapalle forest range, of Narsipatnam Division, was estimated by using a non-destructive method. The sequestration of 6033 trees belonging to 22 species was investigated; the approximate height of tree species and the diameter at breast height (DBH) were measured for the estimation of CO2 sequestration. The maximum weight of carbon was observed in Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre species i.e (37987.06 kg) and the minimum weight of carbon was noted in Phyllanthus emblica L. species i.e is (61.8kg). The total carbon sequestrated by the entire tree species was (2370614.0 kg), The average carbon sequestered was (39865.81 kg). The highest sequestration was noted in the species P. pinnata (L.) Pierre i.e. (139271.95 kg) and the lowest (226.79 kg) was noted in the species P. emblica L. The maximum average DBH with maximum carbon sequestration potential was observed in Ficus benghalensis L. species, with higher total green (AGW) observed in all sites, whereas minimum average DBH with minimum carbon sequestration potential was noted in Bambusa vulgaris species. The regression analysis tests the relationship between two variables. The height of trees has no significant impact on the amount of CO2 sequestered F (32085087175.84, 12946607900) = 2.478262; P ? 0.05, which indicates that the tree height plays an insignificant role in CO2 sequestration (? = 2713.28 P ? 0.05). The dependent variable CO2 sequestered was also regressed on the predictor variable soil organic carbon (SOC) to test the relationship. SOC insignificantly predicted CO2 sequestrated F (5.83, 2.62) = 0.2236; P ? 0.25, indicating that the SOC has an insignificant role in CO2 sequestration (? = 102780.3 P ? 0.05). Insignificant relation was observed between the parameters SOC and height of tree species to the rate of carbon dioxide sequestered, and gave a regression equation of y = 10278x + 50863 with R2 = 0.100; y=2713.285803x-209800.8762 with R2 = 0.55

CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS: ANALYZING THE ROLE OF DALBERGIA SISSOO AND WHEAT INTEGRATION

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2022

The experiment was conducted at Akshayvat Farm, Village Arai, Block Karchana, Allahabad, during 2017-2018. In the agrisilviculture system, canopy management through pruning is a critical silvicultural practice for minimizing above-and below-ground competition with associated crops. The study comprised five pruning intensities: no pruning, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% pruning, and one open condition (crop only, no trees) in the main plot. Additionally, three levels of fertilizer doses and seed rates were tested in the subplot: F1 (recommended dose), F2 (25% higher nitrogen than recommended), and F3 (25% higher seed rate than recommended). Each treatment was replicated three times to evaluate productivity and carbon sequestration potential. The results indicated that wheat grown in open conditions recorded significantly higher values for plant height (65.37 cm), number of tillers (94.53), fresh weight (956.42 g), dry weight (376.12 g), grain yield (25.48 q/ha), straw yield (41.26 q/ha), harvest index (38.16%), grain-to-straw ratio (0.617), fixed carbon (21.76%), and carbon sequestration (4.10 t/ha) compared to the no-pruning treatment. Among fertilizer levels, F2 (higher nitrogen) resulted in the highest germination percentage (92.40%), plant height (65.22 cm), number of tillers (92.40), dry weight (360.49 g), grain yield (23.91 q/ha), harvest index (37.52%), grain-to-straw ratio (0.601), ash content (17.29%), and carbon sequestration (3.73 t/ha), outperforming the F1 treatment. At 12 years of age, Dalbergia sissoo under 20% pruning exhibited superior growth with greater tree height (12.97 m), basal area (0.097 m²), above-ground biomass (400.35 kg/tree), carbon sequestration (208.95 kg/tree, 83.58 t/ha), and CO₂ sequestration (766.86 kg/tree, 69.71 kg/tree/year) compared to other pruning levels. Agronomical management using F2 (25% more nitrogen) also recorded significantly higher tree height (12.27 m) and stand biomass (326.22 kg/tree) than other treatments. Agroforestry systems have gained significant attention for their potential to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration while supporting agricultural productivity. This study focuses on the integration of Dalbergia sissoo (Indian Rosewood) with wheat (Triticum aestivum) in agroforestry systems to assess its role in enhancing carbon sequestration. By analyzing biomass accumulation, soil organic carbon, and productivity metrics, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of this agroforestry model. The findings highlight the dual benefits of carbon storage and sustainable crop production, emphasizing the ecological and economic advantages of such integrated systems.

Assessment of the Effects of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Stalk Incorporation on Soil Fertility and Bacterial Biodiversity

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2025

The lone application of ammonium fertilizer is one of the most commonly used measures to supplement soil nutrients. At the same time, it also causes soil acidification and leads to many environmental problems, such as soil degradation and eutrophication. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) stalk (RGS) returning has been widely researched for its benefits related to soil organic carbon (SOC) and crop yields. However, few have researched the effects of the incorporation of RGS mixed with ammonium fertilizer on soil physicochemical properties and the bacterial community composition. We incubated soil with the control (N0); ammonium sulfate (AS); and ammonium sulfate combined with 1%, 2%, 3%, and 5% (rate of the dry soil weight) garlic stalk at 25 °C and 60% water-filled pore spaces (WFPS) for 67 days. We measured the soil properties before and on the last day of the experiment. The results showed that adding RGS increased the contents of soil potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and total nitrogen (TN), but it significantly decreased soil nitrate (NO3⁻). In addition, adding RGS increased the relative abundance of r-strategists and the soil r/K ratio. The α diversity of soil bacteria reached the highest value with 3% treatment. Compared to AS, RGS increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria but decreased that of Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria. The function genes of Replication_and_Repair and Cell_Motility were enhanced after adding AS, while the function genes of Metabolism_of_Other_Amino_Acids, Enzyme_Families, and Metabolism were enhanced with increased RGS rates. Although SOC increased, NO3⁻ significantly decreased with the increase in the returning levels, which could be due to the strong decreases in nitrifying bacteria with increases in RGS rates from 3% to 5%. Therefore, adding RGS at 3% is suitable for soil bacterial biodiversity and nutrient balance.

Protecting Vulnerable Lives and Livelihoods in Times of Climate Change

Chapter

Nov 2024

Ismail Serageldin

Agroforestry as a Potential Measure to Enhance Plant Nutrition and Carbon Sequestration

Chapter

Nov 2024

Agroforestry systems (AFSs) are land management strategies to tackle carbon sink and soil fertility depletion along with other ecosystem services around the globe. Soils are losing their quality due to factors like oxidation of organic matter, washing away of nutrient-rich topsoil with runoff water, poor recycling back of crop residues, repeated and intensive cultivation of crops, etc. AFSs are particularly important for deep capture of nutrients, nutrient cycling, reducing nutrient loss from erosion and leaching, high SOM production and decomposition, and thus, soil fertility improvement and degraded land restoration. AFSs are capable of maintaining a good and diverse consortium of microorganisms, which is again crucial to soil health and its fertility. Soils rich in microflora have significantly higher amounts of organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus than soil with poor microflora. Besides this, agroforestry has gained great recognition for enhancing carbon sinks and reducing CO₂ emissions. It is a potential land-use strategy for increasing and conserving aboveground and soil carbon sequestration. AFSs entrap more carbon from the atmosphere than agricultural crops or pastureland. The tree components in AFSs are potential carbon sinks and can boost the flexibility of the systems to combat the extreme impacts of climate change. AFSs can deposit 0.29–15.21 Mg ha−1 year−1 of carbon yearly. Therefore, AFSs should be popularized and implemented throughout the world to alleviate climate change.

Evaluation of long-term organic carbon dynamics and organic matter stability in a cultivated paddy soil using a carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes-based model

Article

Feb 2024
SOIL TILL RES

Understanding soil organic matter (SOM) stability and carbon storage under long-term intensive land management systems is vital for estimating the C sequestration potentials of agricultural lands. Available methods currently used for measuring the stability of SOM, such as radiocarbon dating, are expensive. However, a cost-effective and reliable stable isotope-based model was developed for grasslands which utilizes the C/N ratio and δ15N of soils to determine the stability of SOM. We applied this model to test for the first time its usefulness for evaluating SOM stability in the top and subsoils of a subtropical paddy field cultivated for 37 years. We also compared paddy soil's SOM stability and carbon storage under different fertilizer treatments. Treatments evaluated were a control (CK), inorganic fertilizer (NPK), NPK+cattle manure (NPKM), and NPK+rice straw (NPKS). Results showed that the C/N ratios and δ15N signatures of POM and mOM proved effective in predicting SOM stability as predicted by the model. SOM stability increased with depth across the treatments, especially in NPKM and NPKS in the deeper soil layer compared to CK and NPK. Introducing δ13 C as an indicator further strengthened the model, revealing higher δ13 C accumulation in the subsoils, indicating higher C sequestration. Further insights showed that unlike in the CK treatment, the use of NPKM and NPKS significantly increased SOC accumulation by increasing the proportion of mineral-protected organic matter (mOM) compared to the microbial-accessible particulate organic matter (POM). The abundance of mOM associated with a lower rate of decomposition in the paddy fields and the incorporation of higher 13 C in the subsoils under NPKM and NPKS were key factors that enhanced the long-term increase in organic C and SOM stability. Thus, the stable isotope-based model proved a reliable proxy for estimating SOM stability in paddy fields.

Vegetation restoration improved aggregation stability and aggregated-associated carbon preservation in the karst areas of Guizhou Province, southwest China

Article

Jan 2024

Background The change in the soil carbon bank is closely related to the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and the vegetation litter input can change the soil organic carbon content. However, due to various factors, such as soil type, climate, and plant species, the effects of vegetation restoration on the soil vary. Currently, research on aggregate-associated carbon has focused on single vegetation and soil surface layers, and the changes in soil aggregate stability and carbon sequestration under different vegetation restoration modes and in deeper soil layers remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the differences and relationships between stability and the carbon preservation capacity (CPC) under different vegetation restoration modes and to clarify the main influencing factors of aggregate carbon preservation. Methods Grassland (GL), shrubland (SL), woodland (WL), and garden plots (GP) were sampled, and they were compared with farmland (FL) as the control. Soil samples of 0–40 cm were collected. The soil aggregate distribution, aggregate-associated organic carbon concentration, CPC, and stability indicators, including the mean weight diameter (MWD), fractal dimension (D), soil erodibility (K), and geometric mean diameter (GMD), were measured. Results The results showed that at 0–40 cm, vegetation restoration significantly increased the >2 mm aggregate proportions, aggregate stability, soil organic carbon (SOC) content, CPC, and soil erosion resistance. The >2 mm fractions of the GL and SL were at a significantly greater proportion at 0–40 cm than that of the other vegetation types but the CPC was only significantly different between 0 and 10 cm when compared with the other vegetation types ( P < 0.05). The >2 mm aggregates showed a significant positive correlation with the CPC, MWD, and GMD ( P < 0.01), and there was a significant negative correlation with the D and K ( P < 0.05). The SOC and CPC of all the vegetation types were mainly distributed in the 0.25–2 mm and <0.25 mm aggregate fractions. The MWD, GMD, SOC, and CPC all gradually decreased with increasing soil depth. Overall, the effects of vegetation recovery on soil carbon sequestration and soil stability were related to vegetation type, aggregate particle size, and soil depth, and the GL and SL restoration patterns may be more suitable in this study area. Therefore, to improve the soil quality and the sequestration of organic carbon and reduce soil erosion, the protection of vegetation should be strengthened and the policy of returning farmland to forest should be prioritized.

Diversification of crop rotations and soil carbon balance: impact assessment based on national-scale monitoring data

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2024

A successful crop rotation choice is key to the profitability and sustainability of farm management and may simultaneously have an impact on soil organic carbon (SOC) content. In this study, we estimated how changes in crop rotations affected SOC balance in Finland between 2009 and 2018, using geospatial data and Bayesian modeling. The area designated for perennial-dominated and diverse cereal rotations increased over the study period. Perennial grassland rotation was found to have a positive impact on SOC balance, while rotations dominated by annual crops did not differ in their impacts on SOC content. At the national scale, changes in Finnish crop rotations resulted in an estimated annual mitigation of the loss of SOC content by 1336 Mg C year⁻¹ in mineral soils and reduced the carbon dioxide emissions of organic soils by 10,475 Mg C year⁻¹. The combined effect of these two contributions is 11,811 Mg C year⁻¹, with an 80% probability interval of (−6600; 30,300) Mg C year⁻¹. While the overall impact of changes in crop rotations on SOC is relatively small, a continued change to more diverse and perennial-dominated crop rotations may have other agronomic and environmental benefits, e.g. on resilience and biodiversity.

Carbon Sequestration in Agroforestry and Horticulture Based Farming Systems: Mitigating Climate Change and Advancing Food and Nutrition Security

Chapter

Oct 2023

Today, changing climate is gaining great attention among the scientific community over the past few decades. Deforestation, unsustainable land use practices, intensive farming practices, higher inputs of synthetic fertilizers, overuses of inorganic fertilizers, industrialization and other anthropogenic and natural process are widely considered to be driving factors for climate change and global warming. No doubt, intensive agriculture enhances the food availability but quality is low due to low nutrients in fruits that affect the health of the people and release GHGs (greenhouse gases) into the atmosphere results in environmental degradation. In this context, agroforestry (tree-crop-livestock’s combinations) and horticulture-based farming systems (HBFs) (primarily fruit tree & crops) are well known and based on the principles of ecological and sustainable intensification, popular among academician, researchers and policy makers, and are gaining wide recognition due to its multifarious benefits and ecosystem services. Tree-crop-livestock’s combination in various models of agroforestry systems (AFs) in a single piece of land creates more diversifying products (timber, fuelwood & NTFPs), enhances soil fertility, regulates water and air quality, promotes efficient closed nutrient cycling, increase biomass and litter production, solve hunger problems by FNS (through nutritive fruits), and reduce atmospheric CO2 through carbon (C) sequestration. Agroforestry itself is proven a viable strategy to combat climate change through C sequestration. However, horticulture-based farming system (HBFs)nurture the populations by producing highly nutritive and quality fruits along with minimizing the emissions of GHGs (mainly C) through the process of C sequestration. In the lieu of the above, this chapter discusses about C sequestration potential in various AFs and explores sequestration possibilities in HBFs in the tropics. This chapter explore “how the C sequestration ability of the horticulture based integrated farming systems compares with other agroforestry models in the tropics?”

A comprehensive survey on quantifying non-photosynthetic vegetation cover and biomass from imaging spectroscopy

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2023
ECOL INDIC

Non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV) is considered a key quantifiable variable in the context of new spaceborne imaging spectroscopy missions. Knowledge of NPV is essential for all terrestrial ecosystems, and its mapping is beneficial for agriculture and forestry. In agriculture, crop residues (CR) play an important role in tillage, erosion control and soil health management. In forest management, NPV mapping supports understanding the dynamics of important ecological processes such as fire, erosion, and land use changes. Whereas the fractional cover of NPV has been extensively studied across managed and natural ecosystems, so far little attention has been paid to the quantification of biomass of senescent material. In this comprehensive survey, we summarize past attempts to quantify landscape-scale NPV or CR cover (in %) and biomass (in g/m 2) from optical Earth observation data, with a particular focus on hyperspectral data exploitation. Given three decades of spectroscopy studies on NPV or CR cover detection, we identify the following methodological trends: (1) a shift from unmixing approaches towards regression-based models; (2) a shift from two-band indices towards multi-band equations; and (3) a shift from linear regression towards data-driven machine learning models. (4) In addition, gradual progress in radiative transfer modelling (RTM) in describing the interaction of radiation with non-photosynthetic plant material has been achieved. These trends have enabled progress from merely identifying the presence of NPV and CR to the explicit quantification of NPV biomass over croplands and grasslands. We highlight the potential of recent and upcoming next-generation spaceborne missions and their unprecedented hyperspectral and enhanced multi-spectral data streams and propose to implement efficient workflows for the operational delivery of global NPV products along with associated uncertainties. In summary, this survey emphasizes the significance of imaging spectroscopy as an efficient way to quantify NPV and support the management of croplands, grasslands, forests, and natural vegetation.

Engineering carbon sequestration on arid lands

Article

Sep 2023
TRENDS PLANT SCI

Impact of Climatic Variations on Crop Yield in Chamoli District, Uttarakhand, India

Chapter

Sep 2023

It is evident as well as predicted in different research studies that climate change has potential impacts on food security either in directly or indirectly. Agricultural systems must adapt to climate change in order to both meet the growing demand for food from a population with varying dietary preferences and reduce the harmful effects of agricultural intensification on the earth. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the relationship between fluctuations of climatic parameters and crop yields at landscape levels than national or regional levels in order to instrumentalize efficient adaptation techniques. The present study involves analysis of climatic parameters viz.—precipitation, maximum temperature and minimum temperature from 1980 to 2019 with a corresponding assessment of crop yield data for paddy, wheat, small millets and finger millet (ragi). The results reveal that the precipitation was increasing over the studied period and the minimum temperature has shown an increasing trend by 0.01 °C per annum. The multivariate analysis results show that wheat yield has a moderately positive correlation with climatic factors. The time series analysis using Granger Causality test exhibits a unidirectional relationship among the variables. The unidirectional relationships exist between rainfall and yield of paddy; in kharif season, rainfall has a positive association with yields of small millet and finger millet (ragi) crops. The findings of this study reveal an overall shift in the climatic parameters of the district. The findings also show the associations between climatic factors and crop yields. Development of a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of climatic parameters on crop productivity is crucial for adaptation planning and disaster risk reduction to maintain food security.KeywordsClimatic parametersClimate change impactCrop productivityIndian Himalayan RegionTrend analysisCrop management and adaptation strategiesFood security

Crop management practices for carbon sequestration

Chapter

Jan 2023

Assessment of Soil Organic Carbon Stock in Relation to Physiography in Shiwaliks of Punjab MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE (SOIL SCIENCE)

Thesis

Oct 2019

Navdeep Saini

Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration, Carbon Stock, Physiography, Crop yield and Productivity, Soil Carbon Fractions

ICAAAS-Book-2021 Compresed file

Conference Paper

Jul 2021

Sagar Shashikant Patil

The field trial study showed that, the highest grain yield (3546 kg ha-1) was obtained by application of green manuring of sun hemp + 50% RD of NP through inorganic fertilizers + spraying of 0.5% of 1000 ppm nano P suspension at tillering and flowering stage of Wheat, which is an increase by 6% over green manuring of sun hemp + 100% RDF.Test weight (g), grain yield and straw yield (kg ha-1) of wheat recorded highest under GM* + 50% RD of NP through fertilizer + Foliar spray of 0.5% 1000 ppm nano P suspension at tillering and flowering stage of wheat treatment 42.62 g, 3545.76 kg ha-1and 4481.43 kg ha-1 respectively. Phosphorus uptake by grain and straw of wheat is higher under GM* + 50% RD of NP through fertilizer + Foliar spray of 0.5% 1000 ppm nano P suspension at tillering and flowering stage of wheat treatment 15.35 and 9.01 kg ha-1 respectively.Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium use efficiency recorded highest in treatment T5 (GM* + 50% RD of NP through fertilizers + Foliar spray of 0.5% of 1000 ppm nano P suspension at tillering and flowering stage of wheat) 36.76%, 35.82% and 61.24% respectively. Phosphorus use efficiency is recorded in between 13.43 to 35.83 % under the application of RDF alone or in combination of nano P suspension.

Identifying the scale-controlling factors of soil organic carbon in the cropland of Jilin Province, China

Article

Jun 2022
ECOL INDIC

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the largest and most important terrestrial carbon pool, and it can influence global environmental management and food security. However, the spatial variability of SOC in cultivated areas and the relative controlling factors that drive the variations across different spatial scales are still not clear. On the basis of 2745 soil samples collected during 2006–2011, the spatial variability of SOC was first obtained from all of Jilin Province. Then, five categories of predictors, including climate, topography, soil, vegetation, and management practice, were selected to establish the environmental datasets at seven target scales (500 m, 1 km, 2.5 km, 5 km, 10 km, 25 km, and 50 km). Last, a machine learning method (random forest) was used to analyze the scale behaviors of these predictors on SOC variations. The results showed that the SOC content in Jilin Province had a moderate spatial dependence. Across all seven scales, elevation, precipitation, and temperature-related variables always had an important impact on SOC variation. Topography-related predictors had higher importance (relative importance (RI): 30.76%–44.20%) at the 1 km to 50 km scale, especially in the eastern humid mountainous ecoregion, while management practices had the largest importance (RI: 19%–29.20%) at the 500 m to 2.5 km scale in the central semihumid plain ecoregion. For the western semiarid plain, precipitation had higher importance (RI: 18.88%–23.68%) across all seven scales. Understanding the scale behaviors of environmental factors on SOC variations will be useful for improving soil health, food security and global environmental management.

Diatom biorefinery: From carbon mitigation to high-value products

Chapter

Jan 2022

Diatoms are among the opaquest photosynthetic microorganism found in oceans, rivers, and freshwaters. They play a major role in reducing global warming as they fix more than 25% of atmospheric carbon di oxide (CO2). They are a reservoir of untapped potential with the multifaceted application including CO2 mitigation, play a vital role in the aquatic food web as primary producers, and wastewater remediation by quenching pollutants originating from diverse sources such as industries, agricultural, and human sources. Despite their abundance and diversity in nature, only a few species are currently used for biotechnological applications. Diatom biorefinery has gained importance in recent years as more and more algae are identified and explored as a source for lipids, pigments, and other biomolecules. In this chapter, the role of diatom biorefinery has been elaborated extensively displaying the potential of diatoms in carbon dioxide (CO2) mitigation, lipid production for biofuel, nutraceutical potential, and development of new-age drug molecules for therapeutic applications.

Investigation of impact of climate change on small catchments using different climate models and statistical approaches

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2021

The use of a statistical downscaling technique is needed to investigate the hydrological consequences of climate change on the local hydropower capacity. Global Circulation Models (GCMs) are crucial tools used in various simulations for potential climate change effects, including precipitation and temperature. Statistical downscaling methods comprise the improvement of relations between the large-scale climatic parameters and the local variables. This study presents the trend analysis of the observed variables compared to the statistically downscaled emission scenarios that are adopted from the Canadian Second Generation Earth Systems Model (CanESM2) in the basin of Göksu River which is located in Turkey. The key purpose of the research is to evaluate both the predicted monthly precipitation and the projections of GCMs within the three simulated scenarios of RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 by Gene Expression Programming (GEP). In addition, the findings of statistical downscaling of monthly mean precipitation will be compared to the Linear Regression (LR) model. The R-value is 0.827 and 0.755 for precipitation of the GEP model for the periods of calibrating and validation. In comparison with the LR model for the validation and calibration periods (1971–2005), the results of the GEP model prove its applicability in projecting the data for monthly mean rainfall. Generally, in the simulated periods of 2021–2100, the mentioned scenarios forecast a decline in the monthly mean precipitation in the basin. Moreover, the scenario of RCP8.5 projected more suitably for the case study than expected under the scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP2.6. The mean statistically downscaled CanESM2 model was compared with the trend analysis of the areal mean precipitation over the case study area, and the trend was shown as decreasing. However, the RCP 8.5 scenario was the more quasi-asymptotic for trend.

The effects of crop residues and air temperature on variations in interannual ecosystem respiration in a wheat-maize crop rotation in China

Article

Feb 2022
AGR ECOSYST ENVIRON

Understanding the mechanisms of interannual variations (IAVs) in cropland respiration (ER) can aid in optimizing field management strategies and accurately assessin bon budget. The long-term carbon exchange over a (winter) wheat-(summer) maize double-cropping system was measured with the eddy covariance technique to identify the IAVs in ER and the influencing factors, and investigate whether field management strategy (crop residue retuning) affects ER. Results showed that the growing season-related ER values for wheat (w-ER) and maize (s-ER) ranged from 471.77 to 681.96 g C m⁻² y⁻¹ and from 433.91 to 826.89 g C m⁻² y⁻¹, respectively, during 2007–2012. Pearson’s correlation analysis indicated that the IAVs in w-ER were controlled by the crop residual carbon levels for maize from the prior season (s-Cr) and the gross ecosystem productivity. The seasonal mean air temperature (Ta) and maximum leaf area index for maize were found to be factors affecting the IAVs in s-ER. Because of the high correlation between the controlling factors, path analysis was used to deconvolute their respective contributions to the IAVs in ER. Integration analysis of path coefficients showed that s-Cr and Ta were the primary influencing factors, because they explained approximately 81% and 68% of the IAVs in ER for wheat and maize, respectively. Overall, our findings highlighted the importance of crop residue management for agroecosystem carbon cycling, but its effects may depend on ecosystem types.

Feasibility of Large-Scale Biofuel Production: Does an enlargement of scale change the picture?

Article

Full-text available

Nov 1997

Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. The JSTOR Archive is a trusted digital repository providing for long-term preservation and access to leading academic journals and scholarly literature from around the world. The Archive is supported by libraries, scholarly societies, publishers, and foundations. It is an initiative of JSTOR, a not-for-profit organization with a mission to help the scholarly community take advantage of advances in technology. For more information regarding JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.

Erosion and Sediment Yield: A Global Overview

Article

Full-text available

Jan 1996

The classic monograph Climat et Erosion published by Fournier in 1960 provided a valuable demonstration of the potential for using information on the sediment loads of the world's rivers to study the global denudation system. Such early work was hampered by lack of data for many areas of the world, but recent improvements in data availability now afford a meaningful basis for estimating the total suspended sediment flux from the land to the oceans and for establishing the global pattern of sediment yield and its major controls. The lack of long-term records for most rivers precludes detailed assessment of the role of anthropogenic activity in modifying the global denudation system but there is now a wide range of evidence to demonstrate the importance of such changes, in terms of both increases and decreases in sediment flux. Analysis of available longer-term records provides an important means of assessing the sensitivity of sediment yields to environmental change, which in turn requires consideration of the impact of both human activity and climate change.

Carbon in the freshwater cycle.

Chapter

Full-text available

Jan 1979

Stephan Kempe

Annually 1.08 x 1020 g of water precipitates on to the continents, of which 0.376 x 1020 g runs off in rivers. This water is the motor of erosion and terrigenous biological activity alike. The amount of CO2 in rain is small (0.065 x 1015 g C/year) compared with the amount which enters the-water in the soil (net flux reaching the oceans: 0.23 x 1015 g C/year). Some 0.8 % of all CO2 produced by root respiration and microbial activity reaches the ocean by water transport. The gross flux from soil to groundwater, however, is larger, because much of the CO2 is given off when groundwater reappears in springs. CO2 pressures are 100 times larger in soil air, and 10 times larger in shallow groundwater and in rivers, than in the atmosphere. Both ground and river waters show pronounced seasonal variability of CO2 pressure and alkalinity. An estimated 20% of carbonate rocks occurs in the crust, but only 4% of the continental area shows karst features. These areas play a distinct role in the carbonate dissolution rate; Europe, the continent with the highest karst percentage, has the largest carbonate concentrations in its rivers.

Long term trends in fertility of soils under continuous cultivation and cereal cropping in southern Queensland. II. Total organic carbon and its rate of loss from the soil profile

Article

Full-text available

Jun 1986

The kinetics of organic C loss were studied in six southern Queensland soils subjected to different periods (0-70 years) of cultivation and cereal cropping. The equation: Ct = Ce + (C0 - Ce)exp(- kt), where C0, Ce and C, are organic C contents initially, at equilibrium and at time k respectively, and k is the rate of loss of organic C from soil, was employed in the study. The parameter k was calculated both for %C (kc) and for weight of organic C/volume of soil (k,), determined by correcting for differences in sampling depth due to changes in bulk density upon cultivation. Mean annual rainfall largely determined both C, and Ce, presumably by influencing the amount of dry matter produced. Values of kc and kw varied greatly among the soils studied. For the 0-0.1 m depth, kw was 0.065, 0.080, 0.180, 0.259, 0.069 and 1.224 year-1 respectively for Waco (black earth - initially grassland), Langland-Logie (grey brown and red clays - brigalow), Cecilvale (grey, brown and red clays - poplar box), Billa Billa (grey, brown and red clays - belah), Thallon (grey, brown and red clays - coolibah) and Riverview (red earths - silver-leaved ironbark). The k values were significantly correlated with organic Chrease activity ratio (r = 0.99***) and reciprocal of clay content (r = 0.97**) of the virgin soils. In stepwise multiple regression analysis, aggregation index (for kc values) or exchangeable sodium percentage (for kw) and organic C/urease activity ratio of soils were significantly associated with the overall rate of loss of organic C. It was inferred, therefore, that the relative inaccessibility and protection of organic matter against microbial and enzymic attack resulted in reduced organic C loss. Losses of organic C from the deeper layers (0-0.2 m, 0-0.3 m) were observed in Waco, Langlands-Logie, Cecilvale and Riverview soils, although generally rate of loss decreased with depth.

Carbon storage by introduced deep-rooted grasses in the South American Savannas

Article

Full-text available

Sep 1994

ESTIMATES of the global carbon dioxide balance have identified a substantial 'missing sink' of 0.4-4.3 Gt per year1. It has been suggested that much of this may reside in the terrestrial biosphere2. Here we present an analysis of the carbon stored by pastures based on deep-rooted grasses which have been introduced in the South American savannas. Although the deep-rooted grasses were chosen principally for agricultural reasons3, we find that they also sequester significant amounts of organic carbon deep in the soil. If our study sites are representative of similar pastures throughout South America, this process could account for the sequestration of 100-507 Mt carbon per year—a substantial part of the 'missing sink'. Thus, although some land-use changes4 (such as burning tropical rainforests) contribute to the atmospheric CO2 burden, we conclude that the introduced pastures studied here help to offset the effect of anthropogenic CO2emissions.

Evidence from Chronosequence Studies for a Low Carbon-storage Potential of Soils

Article

Full-text available

Nov 1990

William H Schlesinger

OVER most of the Earth's land surface, the amount of carbon stored in soil organic matter exceeds by a factor of two or three the amount stored in living vegetation. This pool of soil carbon is large (1.5 × 1018 g)1,2 and plays a dynamic part in the geochemical carbon cycle. Prentice and Fung3 have suggested that terrestrial vegetation and soils would act as a large sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide if its concentration were twice the present level. Here I use data from chronosequence studies to show that the production of refractory humus substances in soils sequesters only ~0.4 × 1015 g C yr−1 from the atmosphere, accounting for just 0.7% of terrestrial net primary production. Moreover, agricultural practices tend, on balance, to cause a release of soil carbon to the atmosphere4,5. Thus if the terrestrial biosphere is indeed to act as a carbon sink under future elevated levels of carbon dioxide, this would be more likely to be the result of changes in the distribution and biomass of terrestrial vegetation than of changes in the accumulation of soil organic matter.

Feeding a World Population of More Than Eight Billion People: A Challenge to Science

Article

Jul 1998

Since the 1960s, breakthroughs in agriculture have made it possible to satisfy the world’s increasing requirements for food. Can this trend continue over the next thirty years when the world population is projected to exceed eight billion? This book takes a critical look at the immediate challenges for feeding the population just a generation from now. Based on the 10th International Symposium sponsored by the Nutrition Committee and the Trustees of the Rank Prize Funds, the volume examines the full range of related issues, from food economics to resource allocation and crop yields. Beginning with an analysis of future food needs, the articles cover basic resources and constraints, applications of science to increase yield, the role of animal products in feeding eight billion people, and diverse social issues. The book provides insights into some of the most important questions we will be faced with in the coming years, making it an invaluable resource for a wide range of researchers in agriculture, the environment, and public policy.

Salt Buildup as a Factor of Soil Degradation

Chapter

Nov 2020

I. Szabolcs

Land Resources and Constraints to Crop Production

Chapter

Jul 1998

Several assessments have been made which indicate that if adequate inputs are used, the extent of land resources is sufficient to support a world population in excess of 8 billion (Buringh and Van Heemst, 1977; Higgins ct al., 1982; de Vries et al., 1995; Dyson, 1996). There have also been many dire warnings that the methods that must be used to produce the necessary crops will lead to soil degradation and environmental pollution, as a result of which it will be impossible to sustain the present population, let alone a much greater one (Brown, 1988; Ehrlich and Ehrlich, 1990; Myers, 1991; Ehrlich et al., 1993; Brown and Kane, 1995). The most detailed of these various studies is that by FAO, “Potential Population Supporting Capacity of Lands in the Developing World” (Higgins et al., 1982). Although the authors reached the conclusion that the soils of the world were able to support a population in excess of 8 billion, it was also concluded that, in 1976, 19 countries were “at risk” because they will not be able to produce sufficient food for their population in the year 2000, even at “high levels” of inputs; 36 were at risk because they could not do so at intermediate levels; and no fewer than 65 could not do so at low levels, which is all that most of them could afford. The latest estimate of the number of countries at risk at low levels of input is 82. Thus, while the world may not be on the brink of the Malthusian precipice, there are several countries that are. Rwanda, which has the highest population density of any country in Africa, appears to have fallen over the brink. At low levels of inputs, and with population pressure driving fanners to exploit soils, soil degradation and a decline in productivity are inevitable. Thus, there are many who believe that whatever practicable methods are used, it will not be possible to produce the crops necessary to support the world population. Borgstrom (1969), for instance, stated that “the world . . . is on the verge of the biggest famine in history. . . . Such a famine will have massive proportions and affect hundreds of millions, perhaps billions. By 1984 it will dwarf and overshadow most of the issues and anxieties that now attract attention.” The fact that this did not happen, just as the prophets of doom from Malthus on have so far been proved wrong, has led many others to assume that there is unlikely to be a continuing problem of food production, although many continue to predict massive famines in the near future.

Deforestation and land‐use effects on soil degradation and rehabilitation in western Nigeria. II. Soil chemical properties

Article

Jun 1996
LAND DEGRAD DEV

R. Lal

Temporal changes in soil chemical and nutritional properties were evaluated in a long‐term experiment conducted on Alfisols in West Africa. Effects of land use and cropping duration on soil chemical properties at 0–5 cm and 5–10 cm depths were evaluated for five treatments: (1) alley cropping with Leucaena leucocephala established on the contour at 4‐m intervals; (2) mucuna (Mucuna utilis) fallowing for 1 year followed by maize (Zea mays)‐cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) cultivation for 2 years on severely degraded land; (3) fallowing with mucuna on moderately degraded soils; (4) ley farming involving growing improved pastures for 1 year, grazing for the second year, and growing maize‐cowpea for the third year on severely degraded land; (5) ley farming on moderately degraded soils. Soil chemical properties were measured once every year from 1982 through 1986 during the dry season, and included pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total soil nitrogen (TSN), Bray‐P, exchangeable cations, and effective cation exchange capacity (CEC). Regardless of the cropping system treatments, soil chemical quality decreased with cultivation time. The rate of decrease at 0–5 cm depth was 0·23 units year⁻¹ for pH, 0·05 per cent year⁻¹ for SOC, 0·012 per cent year⁻¹ for TSN, 0·49 cmol kg⁻¹ year⁻¹ for Ca²⁺, 0·03 cmol kg⁻¹ year⁻¹ for Mg²⁺, 0·018 cmol kg⁻¹ year⁻¹ for K⁺, and 0·48 cmol kg⁻¹ year⁻¹ for CEC. Although there was also a general decrease in soil chemical quality at 5–10 cm depth, the trends were not clearly defined. In contrast to the decrease in soil properties given above, there was an increase in concentration at 0–5 cm depth of total acidity with cultivation time at the rate of 0·62 cmol kg⁻¹ year⁻¹, and of Mn³⁺ concentration at the rate of 0·081 cmol kg⁻¹ year⁻¹. Continuous cropping also increased the concentration of Bray‐P at 0–5 cm depth due to application of phosphatic fertilizer. Trends in soil chemical properties were not clearly defined with regards to cropping system treatments. In general, however, soil chemical properties were relatively favorable in ley farming and mucuna fallowing treatments imposed on moderately degraded soils. Results are discussed in terms of recommended rates of fertilizer use, in view of soil test values, expected yields, and critical limits of soil properties.

Management Controls on Soil Carbon

Chapter

Aug 2019

Impacts of Agriculture on Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

Chapter

Aug 2019

Soil Carbon Accumulation or Loss Following Deforestation for Pasture in the Brazilian Amazon

Chapter

Apr 2019

Impact of Land Use and Management Practices on Organic Carbon Dynamics in Soils of India

Chapter

Apr 2019

Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Carbon Sequestration in Australian Tropical Soils

Chapter

Apr 2019

Feasibility of Minimum Tillage Practices for Annual Cropping Systems in France

Chapter

Sep 2017

Approaches Toward Conservation Tillage in Germany

Chapter

Sep 2017

Reduced Cultivation and Direct Drilling for Cereals in Great Britain

Chapter

Sep 2017

Overcoming constraints to conservation tillage in New Zealand

Chapter

Jan 2017

The constraints on conservation tillage in New Zealand are more philosophical than technical. New Zealand does not desperately need conservation tillage, and yet it has spawned some of the longest running and most productive research and development programs in the world. This apparent anomaly has arisen from a somewhat different approach to research than that dictated by the problems of erosion and time constraints in many of the world’s major arable cropping zones. It is not that New Zealand has lagged behind. On the contrary, New Zealand has produced some of the more innovative conservation tillage technology and practices known, but New Zealand has had the luxury of time to achieve its objectives.

Effects of drainage on the characteristics of paddy soils in China.

Article

Jan 1984

Yun-Sheng Cheng

For heavy paddy soils, it is the water regime that to a greater extent restricts yields. Only through its improvement can added organic matter become beneficial. Field drainage contributes to the improvement of the physical conditions of paddy soils and fertility and helps improve soil aeration conditions as a result of increasing the gaseous fraction. It may also lead to improved development of plant roots, with an increase of 10-20% in yield. -from Author

MINELAND RECLAMATION AND SOIL ORGANIC CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN OHI0

Article

Jan 1999

Soil carbon dynamics in relation to soil surface management and cropping systems in Australian agroecosystems

Chapter

Jan 1998

Methods for assessment of soil degradation

Article

Jan 1998

Quantitative Indicators of Soil Quality: A Minimum Data Set

Chapter

Jan 1996

Defining and Assessing Soil Quality

Chapter

Jan 1994

Recycling organic waste: From urban pollutant to farm resource

Article

Aug 1997

G. Gardner

Introduction: Importance of Soil Quality to Health and Sustainable Land Management

Article

Jan 1996

Conservation tillage in the Southeastern Australian wheat-sheep belt

Article

Jan 1994

Trends in reduced tillage research and practice in Scandinavia

Article

Jan 1994

Conservation tillage for sustainable agriculture: Tropics versus temperate environments

Article

Jan 1989
ADV AGRON

Rattan Lal

Changes in the storage of terrestrial carbon since 1850

Article

Jan 1995

R.A. Houghton

Global soil erosion by water and carbon dynamics

Article

Rattan Lal

Conservation Tillage for Sustainable Agriculture: Tropics Versus Temperate Environments

Chapter

Dec 1989
ADV AGRON

Rattan Lai

This chapter discusses the relation between conservation tillage and sustainable agriculture, and identifies appropriate conservation tillage systems for different soils, crops, and agroecological region. Conservation tillage is a generic term encompassing many different soil management practices. It is generally defined as any tillage system that reduces loss of soil or water relative to conventional tillage and often a form of noninversion tillage that retains protective amounts of residue mulch on the surface. Timing of tillage operations can also be adjusted to facilitate operations during the periods of peak labor demand. The latter includes practices such as plowing at the end of rains in the tropics and fall plowing followed by spring disking in temperate zone. A no-till system has proved effective for soil and water conservation and for production of pastures and grain crops on Alfisols prone to crusting and accelerated erosion in Northern Territory, Australia. There are subtle differences in tropical vis-a-vis temperate regions that must be considered when assessing the applicability of the no-till system. It is found that for soils prone to crusting and hard-setting, shallow tillage without inversion and with the crop residue retained on the surface as mulch is the most appropriate conservation tillage.

Conservation Tillage: An Ecological Approach to Soil Management

Chapter

Dec 1993
ADV AGRON

Salt-Affected Soils: Their Reclamation and Management for Crop Production

Chapter

Jan 1990

Agricultural production in the arid and semiarid regions of the world is limited by poor water resources, limited rainfall, and the detrimental effects associated with an excess of soluble salts, constrained to a localized area or sometimes extending over the whole of the basin. In order to minimize vagaries of arid weather, bring more land under irrigation, and produce and stabilize greater yields per unit area, numerous water development projects have been commissioned all over the world. Extension of irrigation to the arid regions, however, usually had led to an increase in the area affected by shallow water tables and to intensifying and expanding the hazards of salinity. This is because irrigation water brings in additional salts and releases immobilized salts in the soil through mineral dissolution and weathering, and losing water volumes through evapotranspiration and concentrating the dissolved salts in soil solution. Fertilizers and decaying organic matter also serve as additional salt sources. Atmospheric salt depositions, though varying with location, may be an important source along the coasts. The relative significance of each source in contributing soluble salts depends on the natural drainage conditions, soil properties, water quality, soil water, and agronomic management practices followed for crop production.

Defining Soil Quality for a Sustainable Environment

Book

Jan 1994

Conservation Tillage Impacts on National Soil and Atmospheric Carbon Levels

Article

Jan 2009

Soil organic matter is the largest global terrestrial C pool and is a source of CO[sub 2], CH[sub 4], and other greenhouse gases. Changes in soil organic C (SOC) content and fossil fuel C emissions in response to conversion of conventional tillage to conservation tillage in the contiguous USA for field crop production by the year 2020 were projected by developing a model based on published data, and geographic databases of current conservation tillage usage and agricultural SOC. Three scenarios of conservation tillage use 27%, 57%, and 76% of field cropland planted, were considered. Maintaining current levels of conventional tillage until 2020 would result in 31 to 52 Tg SOC loss, Scenario 2 conventional tillage resulted in 18 to 30 Tg C SOC loss, and Scenario 3 yielded 9 to 16 Tg SOC loss, which were C savings of 21 to 36 Tg C over maintaining current levels of tillage. Conversion of conventional tillage to no-till resulted in 80 to 129 Tg C gain in soil for Scenario 2, and 286 to 468 Tg C for Scenario 3. No-till can conventional tillage had similar SOC contents below the 15-cm depth. Minimum tillage conserved current levels of SOC but did not consistently increase SOC above levels of conventional tillage. Fossil fuel emissions from field manipulations and herbicide production for conventional tillage are 53 kg C ha[sup [minus]1] yr[sup [minus]1], minimum tillage is 45 kg C ha[sup [minus]1] yr[sup [minus]1], and 29 kg C ha[sup [minus]1] yr[sup [minus]1], for no-till. Fuel emissions for maintaining current levels of tillage practices are 157 Tg C, 149 Tg C for Scenario 2, and 146 Tg C for Scenario 3 for 30 yr. Increasing the amount of conservation tillage to Scenario 3 levels will change these agricultural systems from sources of C (188-209 Tg C) to C sinks (131-306 Tg C). The SOC benefit of Scenario 3 (277-452 Tg C) is equivalent to 0.7 to 1.1% of the total projected US fossil fuel C emissions for the next 30 yr. 63 refs., 7 figs., 8 tabs.

Water Management Effects on Mineralization of Soil Organic Matter and Corn Residue

Article

Jul 1995

Water table control is being used on large areas of poorly drained Atlantic Coastal Plain soils during the winter to reduce N losses to surface waters. This study was conducted to determine the effect of water table depth (WTD) and control on N mineralization of added corn (Zea mays L.) residue. Soil columns (15-cm-diam.) were extracted to 70-cm depth from a Portsmouth loam (fine-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, thermic Typic Umbraquult), placed in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) water table columns, and buried even with the surrounding soil surface. Labeled corn residue (18.01 atom % excess 15 N was incorporated in the upper 15 cm of the PVC columns and WTDs of 0, 15, 30, and 45 cm maintained. Soil microsamples were taken over time for N analyses. After 209 d, approximately 8 to 13% of the inorganic N came from the N added as plant residue, even though the added N was only 1.1% of the total soil N. Although the 0- and 15-cm WTD treatments accumulated little 15 NO 3 -N, they contained appreciable 15 NH 4 -N. In contrast, the 30- and 45-cm WTD treatments accumulated primarily 15 NO 3 -N as inorganic N accumulation increased with time and rising soil temperatures. It was concluded that WTD control could be used during the winter to promote denitrification of available NO 3 -N and thus to minimize NO 3 -N lost to drainage water.

Long-Term Effects of No-Tillage, Crop Residue, and Nitrogen Application on Properties of a Vertisol

Article

Sep 1989

Ram C Dalal

The objective was to compare the effects of 13 yr of conventional tillage vs. no-tillage, crop residue retained vs. burned, and no fertilizer N vs. application of 23 and 69 kg N ha-1 yr-1 on organic C content, total N, mineralizable N, pH, electrical conductivity, chloride, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and aggregation index (undispersed fraction <20 μm silt + clay) in a fine-textured Vertisol (650 g clay kg-1 soil). Tillage and crop residue management can substantially affect soil organic matter and microbial activity in the surface layers, and water relations and salt movement to at least 1.2-m depth, even in a fine-textured Vertisol. -from Author

The Rothamsted Long-Term Experiments: Are They Still of Use?

Article

Jan 1991

D. S. Jenkinson

The Rothamsted long-term experiments-the Classicals-were started almost 150 yr ago. These experiments were originally de signed to study the N, P, K, Na, Mg, and Si needs of the field crops then grown in England. This was done by comparing these inorganic nutrients, in various combinations, with farmyard manure, the traditional source of fertility at that time. Although the questions the experiments were originally designed to answer have long been re-solved, the experiments continue to give results of interest to agron omists, ecologists, soil scientists, plant pathologists, and others. The experiments show that grain yields can be sustained (and even in creased) for almost 150 years in monocultures of wheat and barley given organic or inorganic fertilizer annually. They provide data on the long-term effects of inorganic fertilizers and organic manures on soil organic matter levels. These data have been used to test computer-based models for the turnover of organic matter in soil. Again, long-term N balances show that there are considerable inputs of N to the soil/plant system, amounting to some 30 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in unfertilized wheat and up to 65 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in an arable soil reverting to woodland. These and other results are used to consider the advantages and disadvantages of long-term experiments. Wisely used, long-term experimental sites provide information on the long-term sustainability of agricultural systems that can be obtained in no other way. Please view the pdf by using the Full Text (PDF) link under 'View' to the left. Copyright © . .

Soil Erosion Impact on Agronomic Productivity and Environment Quality

Article

Jul 1998

Rattan Lal

Soil erosion is a global issue because of its severe adverse economic and environmental impacts. Economic impacts on productivity may be due to direct effects on crops/plants on-site and off-site, and environmental consequences are primarily off-site due either to pollution of natural waters or adverse effects on air quality due to dust and emissions of radiatively active gases. Off-site economic effects of erosion are related to the damage to civil structure, siltation of water ways and reservoirs, and additional costs involved in water treatment. There are numerous reports regarding the on-site effects of erosion on productivity. However, a vast majority of these are from the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe, and only a few from soils of the tropics and subtropics. On-site effects of erosion on agronomic productivity are assessed with a wide range of methods, which can be broadly grouped into three categories: agronomic/soil quality evaluation, economic assessment, and knowledge surveys. Agronomic methods involve greenhouse and field experiments to assess erosion-induced changes in soil quality in relation to productivity. A widely used technique is to establish field plots on the same soil series but with different severity of past erosion. Different erosional phases must be located on the same landscape position. Impact of past erosion on productivity can also be assessed by relating plant growth to the depth of a root-restrictive horizon. Impact of current erosion rate on productivity can be assessed using field runoff plots or paired watersheds, and that of future erosion using topsoil removal and addition technique. Economic evaluation of the on-site impact involves assessment of the losses of plant available water and nutrients and other additional inputs needed due to erosion. Knowledge surveys are conducted as a qualitative substitute for locations where quantitative data are not available. Results obtained from these different techniques are not comparable, and there is a need to standardize the methods and develop scaling procedures to extrapolate the data from plot or soil level to regional and global scale. There is also a need to assess on-site impact of erosion in relation to soil loss tolerance, soil life, soil resilience or ease of restoration, and soil management options for sustainable use of soil and water resources. Restoration of degraded soils is a high global priority. If about 1.5×109 ha of soils in the world prone to erosion can be managed to effectively control soil erosion, it would improve air and water quality, sequester C in the pedosphere at the rate of about 1.5 Pg/year, and increase food production. The risks of global annual loss of food production due to accelerated erosion may be as high as 190×106 Mg of cereals, 6×106 Mg of soybeans, 3×106 Mg of pulses, and 73×106 Mg of roots and tubers. The actual loss may depend on weather conditions during the growing season, farming systems, soil management, and soil ameliorative input used. Erosion-caused losses of food production are most severe in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and elsewhere in the tropics rather than in other regions.

Interaction of tree crops with a sodic soil environment: Potential for rehabilitation of degraded environments

Article

Jan 1998
LAND DEGRAD DEV

V. K. Garg

Tree species of Acacia nilotica, Dalbergia sissoo, Prosopis juliflora and Terminalia arjuna were grown on sodic land for a decade at the Biomass Research Centre, Banthra (of National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow) India (80°45′–53′E and 26°40′–45′N) with the objective of discovering their relationship with the sodic soil environment to rehabilitate it for maximum fuelwood production. Results showed a marked improvement in biogeochemical characteristics of soil by increasing the water holding capacity (WHC), and by the addition of organic carbon, nutrients and fungal microflora. It was found that D. sissoo and P. juliflora were more efficient than were A. nilotica and T. arjuna in rehabilitating the land. Litter production by the first two was greater than that provided by A. nilotica and T. arjuna, which subsequently caused depletion in soil pH and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) values. It was found that there was a greater circulation of Ca, Mg and Fe than the other nutrients by all four tree species, which was a desirable factor. Microbial activity was enhanced due to the accumulation of humus through decomposition of leaf litter and root decay. The potential extent of the biological rejuvenation of the sodic land was related to the distribution of tree roots in the soil profile. To obtain better results a combination of such tree species should be selected in order to provide maximum and constant litter mulch throughout the year. This, in turn, would protect the land from desiccation. Thus, sodic lands could be rehabilitated effectively to restore degraded environments through appropriate mixed tree cropping systems. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Potential of mine land reclamation for soil organic carbon sequestration in Ohio

Article

May 2000
LAND DEGRAD DEV

Soils are an effective sink for carbon storage and immobilization through biomass productivity and enhancement of soil organic carbon (SOC) pool. The SOC sink capacity depends on land use and management. Degraded lands lose large amounts of C through SOC decomposition, erosion, and leaching. Thus, restoration of disturbed and degraded mine lands can lead to increase in biomass productivity, improved soil quality and SOC enhancement and sequestration. Reclamation of mined lands is an aggrading process and offers significant potential to sequester C. A chronosequence study consisting of 0-, 5-, 10-, 15-, 20- and 25-year-old reclaimed mine soils in Ohio was initiated to assess the rate of C sequestration by pasture and forest establishment. Undisturbed pasture and forest were used as controls. The SOC pool of reclaimed pasture sites increased from 15·3 Mg ha−1 to 44·4 Mg ha−1 for 0–15 cm depth and from 10·8 Mg ha−1 to 18·3 Mg ha−1 for 15–30 cm depth over the period of 25 years. The SOC pool of reclaimed forest sites increased from 12·7 Mg ha−1 to 45·3 Mg ha−1 for 0–15 cm depth and from 9·1 Mg ha−1 to 13·6 Mg ha−1 for 15–30 cm depth over the same time period. The SOC pool of the pasture site stabilized earlier than that of the forest site which had not yet attained equilibrium. The SOC sequestered in 0–30 cm depth over 25 years was 36·7 Mg ha−1 for pasture and 37·1 Mg ha−1 for forest. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Agricultural Sustainability: Economic, Environmental and Statistical Considerations

Article

Mar 1996

Partial table of contents: BASIC ISSUES. Agricultural Sustainability: Concepts and Conundrums (R. Herdt & R. Steiner). Long--Term Experiments and Their Choice for the Research Study (R. Steiner). DETAILED STUDIES. Long--Term Cotton Productivity Under Organic, Chemical, and No Nitrogen Fertilizer Treatments, 1896 to 1992 (G. Traxler, et al.). Extrapolating Trends from Long--Term Experiments to Farmers' Fields: The Case of Irrigated Rice Systems in Asia (K. Cassman & P. Pingali). Multi--Crop Comparisons on Sanborn Fields Missouri, USA (J. Brown, et al.). Major Cropping Systems in India (K. Nambiar). REVIEW OF FINDINGS. Incorporating Externality Costs into Productivity Measures: A Case Study Using US Agriculture (R. Steiner, et al.). Long--Term Experiments and Productivity Indexes to Evaluate the Sustainability of Cropping Systems (K. Cassman, et al.). References. Index.

The potential of U.S. cropland to sequester carbon and mitigate the greenhouse effect. Ann Arbor Press

Article

Jan 1998

The Global Extent of Soil Degradation

Article

Jan 1994

L. R. Oldeman

Municipal Sludge Use for Land Reclamation

Article

Jan 1993

Sopper

This book has been an attempt to review all of the available literature, on an international scope, related to the use of municipal sludge to reclaim disturbed land and to evaluate the potential effects on the environment. The general conclusion was that stabilized municipal sludges, if applied properly according to present guidelines and regulations, can be used to revegetate disturbed lands in an environmentally safe manner with no major adverse effects on the vegetation, soil, or groundwater quality and does not pose any significant threat to animal or human health. This book should be of interest to researchers and practitioners working in the fields of mine land reclamation and land application of waste materials. It should be useful to consulting firms and businesses involved in land application of municipal sludge. It should also be useful to local, state, and federal officials involved in the development of guidelines and regulations for the beneficial uses of municipal sludge.

MINERAL-CYCLING ASPECTS WITHIN THE SAGEBRUSH ECOSYSTEM

Article

Assessment of alternative management practices and policies affecting soil Carbon in agroecosystems of the central United States

Article

Jan 1994

The goal of the U.S. EPA BIOME Agroecosystems Assessment Project is to evaluate the degree to which agroecosystems can be technically managed, on a sustainable basis, to conserve and sequester carbon, reduce the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and provide reference datasets and methodologies for agricultural assessment. The report provides preliminary estimates of carbon sequestration potential for the central United States including the Corn Belt, the Great Lakes, and portions of the Great Plains. This study region comprises 44% of the land area and 60% to 70% of the agricultural cropland of the conterminous United States. The assessment methodology includes the integration of the RAMS economic model, the Century soil carbon model, meteorologic and soils data bases, and GIS display and analysis capabilities in order to assess the impacts on soil carbon of current agricultural trends and conditions, alternative tillage practices, use of cover crops, and Conservation Reserve Program policy.

Bringing the Green Revolution to the Shifting Cultivator

Article

Oct 1975

D. J. Greenland

The Potential of World Cropland Soils to Sequester C and Mitigate the Greenhouse Effect

Abstract

No full-text available

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