Adaptation to and Mitigation of Climate Change by Soil Management.

Adaptation and Mitigation of Climate Change by Soil Management

World soils, comprising global pool of 4000 Pg C to 3-m depth (5 times the atmospheric and 6.5 times the biotic pools) can be a major sink of atmospheric CO₂ through conversion to a restorative land use and adoption of innovative management practices. The strategy is to restore soils degraded (by different processes (i.e., erosion, salinization, nutrient and organic matter depletion, acidification, pollution, contamination), and establish a protective vegetation cover. Soil and crop management practices, which create a positive ecosystem C budget, include no-till farming with crop residue mulch, cover cropping diverse crop rotations, integrated nutrients management, improved pastures and controlled grazing. Adaption of recommended practices can be promoted through payments for ecosystem services. The rate of soil C sequestration, depending on soil type and climate, may range from 50 to 1500 kg/ha/yr for soil organic C, and 2-10 Kg/ha/yr for soil inorganic C. The C sequestration potential of world cropland soils is 0.4 to 1.2 Pg C/yr. or ~5 to 15% of the fossil fuel combustion.