Implication of soil C sequestration on sustainable agriculture and environment.
Soil organic matter (SOM) is the largest C stock of the continental biosphere with 1550Pg. The size of C reservoir in the soil and environmental concerns on climate change have recently attracted the attention of scientist and politicians on C sequestration as an effective strategy to tackle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It has been estimated that the potential for C storage in world cropland is relevant (about 0.6-1.2PgCy(-1)). However, there are several constraints of C sequestration that raise concern about its effectiveness as a strategy to offset climate change. C sequestration is finite in quantity and time, reversible, and can be further decreased by socio-economic restrictions. Given these limitations, C sequestration can play only a minor role in the reduction of emissions (2-5% of total GHG emission under the highest emission scenarios). Yet, C sequestration is still attractive for two main reasons: it is likely to be particularly effective in reducing atmospheric CO2 levels in the first 20-30yr of its implementation and presents ancillary benefits for environment and sustainability that make it a real win-win strategy. These beneficial implications are discussed in this paper with emphasis on the need of C sequestration not only to offset climatic changes, but also for the equilibria of the environment and for the sustainability of agriculture and of entire human society.
Mondini
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C.R.A. - Istituto Sperimentale per la Nutrizione delle Piante, sez. di Gorizia, Via Trieste, 23, I-34170 Gorizia, Italy. claudio.mondini@entecra.it
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D000383:Agriculture; D002244:Carbon; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004777:Environment; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D012987:Soil
D012987:Soil; D002244:Carbon