Soil management to mitigate climate change (journal paper)

Climate-smart soils

Improved soil management can substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions from soils and sequester some of the carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere by plants, as carbon (C) in soil organic matter. In addition, wise soil management that increases organic matter and tightens the soil nitrogen (N) cycle can yield powerful synergies, such as enhanced fertility and productivity, increased soil biodiversity, reduced erosion, runoff and water pollution, and can help buffer crop and pasture systems against the impacts of climate change. This article highlights ‘state of the art’ soil greenhouse gas research, summarises mitigation practices and potentials, identifies gaps in data and understanding and suggests ways to close such gaps through new research, technology and collaboration.

If you'd like some less technical reading, you might enjoy this summary article.

Although soils contribute a major share (37%; mainly as N2O and CH4) of agricultural emissions3, improved soil management can substantially reduce these emissions and sequester some of the CO2 removed from the atmosphere by plants, as carbon (C) in soil organic matter (in this Perspective, our discussion of soil C refers solely to organic C). In addition to decreasing GHG emissions and sequestering C,  wise soil management that increases organic matter and tightens the soil nitrogen (N) cycle can yield powerful synergies, such as enhanced fertility and productivity, increased soil biodiversity, reduced erosion, runoff and water pollution, and can help buffer crop and pasture systems against the impacts of climate change4.Although soils contribute a major share (37%; mainly

as N

2

O and CH

4

) of agricultural emissions

3

, improved soil management

can substantially reduce these emissions and sequester some of the CO

2

removed from the atmosphere by plants, as carbon (C) in soil organic

matter (in this Perspective, our discussion of soil C refers solely to

organic C). In addition to decreasing GHG emissions and sequestering C,

wise soil management that increases organic matter and tightens the

soil nitrogen (N) cycle can yield powerful synergies, such as enhanced

fertility and productivity, increased soil biodiversity, reduced erosion,

runoff and water pollution, and can help buffer crop and pasture systems

against the impacts of climate change

4

.

Although soils contribute a major share (37%; mainly

as N

2

O and CH

4

) of agricultural emissions

3

, improved soil management

can substantially reduce these emissions and sequester some of the CO

2

removed from the atmosphere by plants, as carbon (C) in soil organic

matter (in this Perspective, our discussion of soil C refers solely to

organic C). In addition to decreasing GHG emissions and sequestering C,

wise soil management that increases organic matter and tightens the

soil nitrogen (N) cycle can yield powerful synergies, such as enhanced

fertility and productivity, increased soil biodiversity, reduced erosion,

runoff and water pollution, and can help buffer crop and pasture systems

against the impacts of climate change

4

.