SOIL CARBON SEQUESTRATION THROUGH REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

INTRODUCTION:

Since the beginning of agriculture, around 133 gigatons of carbon have been removed from soil worldwide, equivalent to 480 Gt CO2 emissions. Much of this loss has been due to deforestation, overgrazing, plowing of prairies and draining of wetlands for growing crops, as well as degrading practices such as intensive tillage, monoculture farming, fallows land, and heavy reliance on chemical fertilizer use since the 19th century. These agricultural practices damage the microorganisms on which fertile, carbon-rich soils depend. Most people are unaware of the impact of agriculture on our planet. The manner in which our ecosystem is being destroyed at an increasingly alarming rate due to desertification, loss of biodiversity, habitat, and topsoil degradation, as well as pollution of the air and water, is one area of concern. Agriculture also plays a major role in contributing to climate change. This is not a new phenomenon, but has existed for thousands of years due to a poor understanding of how soils and ecosystems work. Our large-scale conventional farming practices today are degenerative, degrading the natural systems that are essential to our survival. Instead of acting as a source of carbon emissions, farmland can become a carbon sink. At both regional and global levels, a growing body of scientific literature is identifying the potential that regenerative agricultural practices can play in sequestering carbon to mitigate climate change while making farmland more productive and resilient as the planet warms. In recent years, some extravagant claims have been made about soil's potential to absorb up to 1 trillion tons of carbon dioxide. This potential is found in regenerative agriculture methods, which focus on improving soil health by using strategies like crop rotation, cover crops, and low tillage. Regenerative agriculture offers a sustainable approach for food production and ecosystem restoration, while also holding promise for reducing the effects of climate change by utilizing the natural processes of soil carbon sequestration. Regenerative agriculture not only seeks to stop the degradation of our ecosystem, but actually improve it while continuing to produce our food, fiber and plant fuels. These are not new practices. Indigenous cultures have interacted with nature in regenerative, reciprocal ways for thousands of years. We have the opportunity to combine indigenous knowledge with science and rapidly transform the way we practice agriculture around the world, creating a future of abundance instead of one of scarcity. We must remember that we are nature and not separate from it, and how we interact with nature has profound implications for our society and the planet.

SOIL CARBON SEQUESTRATION: - CONCEPT AND SIGNIFICANCE

The process of absorbing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere as organic carbon in the soil is known as soil carbon sequestration (SCS). This process is critical for mitigating climate change as it helps offset the increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, which is a major driver of global warming. SCS is a natural and essential process that plays a vital role in maintaining ecosystem health, soil fertility, and agricultural productivity.

CONCEPT:

The concept of SCS revolves around the carbon cycle, where carbon moves between different reservoirs in the Earth system, including the atmosphere, oceans, vegetation, and soils. Soil acts as a significant carbon sink, sequestering more carbon than the atmosphere and vegetation combined. The process involves the uptake of atmospheric CO2 by plants during photosynthesis. Then, through plant leftovers, root exudates, and organic debris, this carbon is incorporated into the soil. Various factors influence carbon storage, including climate, land use, soil type, vegetation cover, and agricultural practices. By promoting the accumulation of carbon in soils, we can mitigate the climate change impacts and foster sustainable agriculture.

SIGNIFICANCE:

Climate Change Mitigation: Soil carbon sequestration is a vital strategy to mitigate climate change. By sequestering carbon in the soil, the atmosphere's CO2 can be taken out and stored in a more stable form. This helps to reduction of greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere which ultimately slows down global warming and its associated adverse effects.

Sustainable Agriculture: The sequestration of carbon improves soil fertility and health, which increases agriculture production. Higher carbon levels improve soil structure, water holding capacity, and nutrient availability, enhancing soil resistance to fluctuating climate and extreme weather. This, in turn results in reduction in need for chemical fertilizers and synthetic inputs, promoting more sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

Biodiversity Conservation: Soil carbon sequestration supports biodiversity conservation by providing a habitat for diverse microbial communities and beneficial soil organisms. Healthy soils support a rich and varied ecosystem, fostering the plant growth and contributing to overall ecosystem resilience.

Soil Erosion Control: Soil carbon plays a crucial role in maintaining soil structure and stability, thereby reducing soil erosion. Fertile topsoil loses due to erosion, which can have detrimental effects on agricultural productivity and ecosystem health. By enhancing soil carbon levels, we can mitigate erosion and protect valuable soil resources.

Water Quality and Quantity: Soils with higher carbon content have improved water-holding capacity, reduced water runoff and increasing water infiltration. This contributes to groundwater recharge and helps maintain water quality by reducing the transport of pollutants into water bodies.

Long-Term Carbon Storage: Carbon held in the soil can be sequestered for long periods of time, in contrast to carbon stored in vegetation, which can be released back into the atmosphere relatively fast through decomposition or wildfires. Soil carbon sequestration acts as an useful tool in the battle against climate change because of its capacity for long-term storage.

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

Regenerative agricultural practices are a set of strategies for sustainable land management and principles aimed at improving soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning while promoting climate change mitigation and adaptation. These practices seek to restore and enhance the natural processes that govern agroecosystems, creating resilient and productive agricultural systems that are in harmony with the environment. Here are some key regenerative agricultural practices:

Cover cropping: Cover cropping involves planting non-cash crops, such as legumes or grasses, during fallow periods or alongside main crops. Cover crops prevent erosion of the soil, improve soil structure, and add organic matter to the soil when they are incorporated or left as mulch after termination. The added organic matter enriches the soil, enhancing its capacity to sequester carbon and support beneficial soil organisms.

Conservation tillage: Conservation tillage practices aim to minimize soil disturbance compared to conventional tillage. This can include no-till, reduced tillage, or strip-till methods. By reducing soil disturbance, conservation tillage helps maintain soil structure, prevents erosion, and preserves soil organic matter. This results in improved carbon storage and greater water infiltration.

Crop diversification and rotation: Crop rotation involves growing different crops in sequence on the same field over time. This practice breaks pest and disease cycles, reduces the buildup of soil-borne pathogens, and enhances nutrient cycling. Diversification, such as intercropping or mixed cropping, increases plant diversity, promotes beneficial interactions between plants, and contributes to soil carbon sequestration through enhanced root exudates.

Agroforestry and perennial crops: Agroforestry is the practice of integrating trees or shrubs with livestock systems or agricultural crops. Trees contribute to soil carbon sequestration through the incorporation of leaf litter and root biomass into the soil. Perennial crops, such as perennial grasses or legumes, have deeper root systems that strengthen soil structure and maximize carbon sequestration.

Livestock management and grazing practices: Regenerative livestock management involves rotational grazing, where livestock are moved across different pastures in a controlled manner. This practice allows for adequate rest and recovery of pastures, prevents overgrazing, and promotes soil carbon sequestration through the incorporation of manure and organic matter into the soil.

Composting and organic amendments: Adding compost and organic amendments to the soil improves soil fertility, increases water-holding capacity, and stimulates soil microbial activity. Composting organic waste materials diverts waste from landfills and contributes to carbon sequestration in the soil.

Agroecological approaches: Regenerative agricultural practices often incorporate agroecological principles, which emphasize understanding and working with natural ecosystems to optimize productivity. These principles include promoting biodiversity, reducing chemical inputs, and enhancing ecological interactions between plants, animals, and soil organisms.

Water management: Efficient water management techniques, include rain water collection, mulching, and drip irrigation, reduce water wastage and enhance soil moisture retention. Conserving water in the soil improves plant growth, nutrient uptake, and carbon sequestration.

CONCLUSION:

We are at the most critical moment in the history of our species. Climate change is a monumental opportunity to change course and move towards a future that embraces life, a future geared towards promoting health, a future where clean air and water are available to all. In many ways, a fundamental restructuring of the way we grow our food is at the heart of this shift. Widespread regenerative organic agriculture will be built on pillars that necessarily also support rural livelihoods, strengthen communities and restore health around the world. Regenerative organic farming is our best hope for creating a future we all want to live in and a future our children will be happy to inherit. Soil carbon storage through regenerative agriculture is a well-known, proven, technical tool to combat global warming: it gives humanity the time it needs to reduce CO2 emissions. By investing in multiple global studies of farming systems, we can both provide the data needed to support a widespread transition, work directly towards that transition by incubating capabilities, and provide a global, on-the-ground support network for farmers to support the advance the development of regenerative systems. Nearly 30 years later, the specter of climate change has presented an unprecedented opportunity to harness cutting-edge technological understanding, human ingenuity and the rich history of farmers working in tandem with the wisdom of natural ecosystems to achieve a stable climate by healing our land and ourselves.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

https://kisstheground.com

ISSS Fundamentals of soil science

Khan, S. A., Mulvaney, R. L., Ellsworth, T. R., & Boast, C. W. (2007). The myth of nitrogen fertilization for soil carbon sequestration.?Journal of environmental quality,?36(6), 1821-1832.

Lal, R. (2004). Soil carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change.?Geoderma,?123(1-2), 1-22.

Lal, R., Follett, R. F., Stewart, B. A., & Kimble, J. M. (2007). Soil carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change and advance food security.?Soil science,?172(12), 943-956.

Rogelj, J., McCollum, D. L., O’Neill, B. C., & Riahi, K. (2013). 2020 emissions levels required to limit warming to below 2° C.?Nature Climate Change,?3(4), 405-412.

UNEP. The emissions gap report 2013. (United Nations Environment Programme, 2013).

AUTHORS: Annabatula Sree Vidya Sanket Ingle Vaishnavi Rajput