Abstract
Changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks significantly influence the atmospheric C concentration. Agricultural management practices that increase SOC stocks thus may have profound effects on climate mitigation. Additional benefits include higher soil fertility since increased SOC stocks improve the physical and biological properties of the soil. Intensification of agriculture and land-use change from grasslands to croplands are generally known to deplete SOC stocks. The depletion is exacerbated through agricultural practices with low return of organic material and various mechanisms, such as oxidation/mineralization, leaching and erosion. However, a systematic review comparing the efficacy of different agricultural management practices to increase SOC stocks has not yet been produced. Since there are diverging views on this matter, a systematic review would be timely for framing policies not only nationally in Sweden, but also internationally, for promoting long-term sustainable management of soils and mitigating climate change.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Environmental Evidence |
| Volume | 3 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| ISSN | 2047-2382 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Keywords
- Soil organic carbon
- Agricultural practices
- Long-term
- Tillage
- Fertilization
- Crop rotation
- Sequestration