Trade-offs and synergies of soil carbon sequestration : addressing knowledge gaps related to soil management strategies

Maenhout, Peter (author), Govednik, Anton (author), Mavsar, Sara (author), Mihelič, Rok (author), Schwarzmann, Ana (author), Suhadolc, Marjetka (author), Valkama, Elena (author)

Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in agricultural soils is an importanttool for climate change mitigation within the EU soil strategy for 2030 and canbe achieved via the adoption of soil management strategies (SMS). These strategies may induce synergistic effects by simultaneously reducing greenhousegas (GHG) emissions and/or nitrogen (N) leaching. In contrast, other SMS maystimulate emissions of GHG such as nitrous oxide (N$_2$O) or methane (CH$_4$),offsetting the climate change mitigation gained via SOC sequestration. Despitethe importance of understanding trade-offs and synergies for selecting sustain-able SMS for European agriculture, knowledge on these effects remains lim-ited. This review synthesizes existing knowledge, identifies knowledge gapsand provides research recommendations on trade-offs and synergies betweenSOC sequestration or SOC accrual, non-CO$_2$ GHG emissions and N leachingrelated to selected SMS. We investigated 87 peer-reviewed articles that addressSMS and categorized them under tillage management, cropping systems, watermanagement and fertilization and organic matter (OM) inputs. SMS, such as conservation tillage, adapted crop rotations, adapted water management, OMinputs by cover crops (CC), organic amendments (OA) and biochar, contributeto increase SOC stocks and reduce N leaching. Adoption of leguminous CC orspecific cropping systems and adapted water management tend to create trade-offs by stimulating N$_2$O emissions, while specific cropping systems or application of biochar can mitigate N$_2$O emissions. The effect of crop residues on N$_2$O emissions depends strongly on their C/N ratio. Organic agriculture and agro-forestry clearly mitigate CH$_4$ emissions but the impact of other SMS requiresadditional study. More experimental research is needed to study the impact ofboth the pedoclimatic conditions and the long-term dynamics of trade-offs andsynergies. Researchers should simultaneously assess the impact of (multiple)agricultural SMS on SOC stocks, GHG emissions and N leaching. This reviewprovides guidance to policymakers as well as a framework to design fieldexperiments and model simulations, which can address knowledge gaps andnon-intentional effects of applying agricultural SMS meant to increase SOC sequestration.

• Language: English
• Keywords: CH$_4$, climate change mitigation, conservation agriculture, cropping systems, EJP SOIL, N$_2$O, nitrogen leaching, organic matter inputs, tillage, water management
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 21 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 75, Iss. 3, art. e13515
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-158446
• UDC: 631.4
• ISSN on article: 1351-0754
• DOI: 10.1111/ejss.13515
• COBISS.SI-ID: 198370819
• Publication date in RUL: 10.06.2024

MAENHOUT, Peter, GOVEDNIK, Anton, MAVSAR, Sara, MIHELIČ, Rok, SCHWARZMANN, Ana, SUHADOLC, Marjetka and VALKAMA, Elena, 2024, Trade-offs and synergies of soil carbon sequestration : addressing knowledge gaps related to soil management strategies. European journal of soil science [online]. 2024. Vol. 75, no. 3,  e13515. [Accessed 5 April 2025]. DOI 10.1111/ejss.13515. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=158446

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: European journal of soil science
• Shortened title: Eur. j. soil sci.
• Publisher: Blackwell
• ISSN: 1351-0754
• COBISS.SI-ID: 52063488

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: pedologija, tla, trajnostno gospodarjenje s tlemi, ohranitveno kmetijstvo, blažitev klimatskih sprememb, izpiranje dušika, obdelava tal, upravljanje z vodami

Projects

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program
• Project number: 862695EJPSOIL
• Name: ∑ommit - sustainable management of soil organic matter to mitigate trade-offs between C sequestration and nitrousoxide, methane and nitrate losses

• Funder: Other - Other funder or multiple funders
• Funding programme: Austrian climate and energy fund
• Project number: ACRP11—CASAS— KR18AC0K14633