The knowns, known unknowns and unknowns of sequestration of soil organic carbon

Stockmann, Uta, Adams, Mark A., Crawford, John W., Field, Damien J., Henakaarchchi, Nilusha, Jenkins, Meaghan, Minasny, Budiman, McBratney, Alex B., de Courcelles, Vivien de Remy, Singh, Kanika, Wheeler, Ichsani, Abbott, Lynette, Angers, Denis A., Baldock, Jeffrey, Bird, Michael, Brookes, Philip C., Chenu, Claire, Jastrowh, Julie D., Lal, Rattan, Lehmann, Johannes, O'Donnell, Anthony G., Parton, William J., Whitehead, David, and Zimmermann, Michael (2013) The knowns, known unknowns and unknowns of sequestration of soil organic carbon. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 164. pp. 80-99.

[img] PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2012.10...
 
926
2


Abstract

Soil contains approximately 2344 Gt (1 gigaton = 1 billion tonnes) of organic carbon globally and is the largest terrestrial pool of organic carbon. Small changes in the soil organic carbon stock could result in significant impacts on the atmospheric carbon concentration. The fluxes of soil organic carbon vary in response to a host of potential environmental and anthropogenic driving factors. Scientists worldwide are contemplating questions such as: 'What is the average net change in soil organic carbon due to environmental conditions or management practices?', 'How can soil organic carbon sequestration be enhanced to achieve some mitigation of atmospheric carbon dioxide?' and 'Will this secure soil quality?'. These questions are far reaching, because maintaining and improving the world's soil resource is imperative to providing sufficient food and fibre to a growing population. Additional challenges are expected through climate change and its potential to increase food shortages. This review highlights knowledge of the amount of carbon stored in soils globally, and the potential for carbon sequestration in soil. It also discusses successful methods and models used to determine and estimate carbon pools and fluxes. This knowledge and technology underpins decisions to protect the soil resource.

Item ID: 28316
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1873-2305
Keywords: soil carbon sequestration, soil carbon pools, soil carbon modelling
Funders: The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of this work by the Dow Sustainability Program and ALCOA.
Date Deposited: 17 Jul 2013 05:29
FoR Codes: 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0503 Soil Sciences > 050301 Carbon Sequestration Science @ 50%
05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0503 Soil Sciences > 050302 Land Capability and Soil Degradation @ 50%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9614 Soils > 961402 Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland Soils @ 100%
Downloads: Total: 2
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page