![]() ![]() With this carbon depletion, however, comes a significant opportunity, since soils are believed to have the capacity to store an additional 0.4–1.2 Gt C year −1 with the introduction of more judicious land management practices. It has been estimated that, worldwide, soils have lost between 42 and 78 Gt of their original SOC as a result of management pressures. Organic carbon in soils globally is estimated to be between 15 Gt to 1.0 m depth which represents a significant component of the global carbon cycle, storing more carbon than is contained in vegetation and the atmosphere combined. Land and soil management to increase soil organic matter content, soil condition and productivity is therefore a key need globally to safeguard agricultural production, food supply and environmental quality. An important component of this land degradation globally has been a diminished SOC stock with concomitant loss of soil condition and function, compromising food production and agricultural sustainability. Human–induced changes to land cover have been significant driving forces of this global environmental change, of which, soil degradation resulting from land conversion, agricultural intensification, soil disturbance and increased erosion have been key factors. Here we aimed to review current knowledge regarding the SOC storage potential of tropical grasses worldwide and identified knowledge gaps and current research needs for the use of tropical grasses in agricultural production system.Įnvironmental degradation and climate change are key current threats to world agriculture and food security. In addition, tropical pastures have the potential for SOC storage in subsoil horizons due to their deep root systems and can be used as biomass energy crops, which could further promote their use as a climate change mitigation option. Tropical pastures also have advantages over trees for biomass and carbon accumulation due to their rapid establishment, suitability for annual harvest, continual and rapid growth rates. Tropical pastures, which are adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions have particular potential in this regard and have been used extensively for land rehabilitation. Soil organic carbon sequestration through the use of plant species with high photosynthetic efficiency, deep roots and high biomass production is one important strategy to achieve this. Land management to improve soil organic matter content, condition and productivity is therefore a key strategy to safeguard agricultural production, food supply and environmental quality. An important component is land degradation which results in a diminished soil organic carbon (SOC) stock with concomitant loss of soil condition and function. ![]() Environmental degradation and climate change are key current threats to world agriculture and food security and human–induced changes have been significant driving forces of this global environmental change. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |