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H. Elbasiouny and F. Elbehiry
affect microclimate differences, then affects the distribution of plant communities
and soil processes. Solar radiation influences the temperature regime, which affects
soil biological and chemical processes then vegetation distribution. Consequently,
soil temperature is a limiting factor controls the rate of biomass decomposition.
Therefore, OM content in soils in warm climates are usually less than its corresponding in cooler climates due to higher mineralization rates. On the other hand,
when the average annual of rainfall increases, the SOC content increases. Therefore, aspect, through its influence on soil temperature and water content, can affect
microorganism activity which leads to inhibiting or accelerating SOC decomposition, hence on SOC distribution [26]. Moreover, topography affects soil C through
erosion and distribution of both of fine soil particles and OM across the landscape,
and water is leading to variance in leaching, infiltration, and runoff potentials [64].
Land use along with topographic position (aspect) are two factors affecting SOC
accumulation. Therefore, considering the combined effects of these factors on SOC
accumulation is very important in restoring the ecosystem and sequestering C [26].
8 The Impact of Soil Carbon Sequestration
on the Sustainability of Agroecosystem and Crop
Productivity
Cropland soil has a huge potential to sequester C (0.4–0.8 Pg year
−1 ), which could
decrease atmospheric CO 2 and mitigate global emissions. Also, because SOC is crucial to soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, loss of SOC, the decline in
soil structure and overall degradation of the soil resources are standard features of
nonsustainable land use. Therefore, more SOC sequestration could help into reserve
these features and in sustaining soil fertility and agronomic productivity [65, 66].
Thus, soil C sequestration along with improving agricultural productivity is a win–
win strategy [67]. Hence, Lal et al. [67] stated that some reports indicate inducing
improvement in soil quality can lead to more C sequestration, climate change mitigation and improvement in agricultural productivity. However, they considered some
concerns of the significance of SOC sequestration to climate change mitigation and
on agronomic yield [67]. Since SOC is critical for the security of food production
because it provides substrate and energy, moreover it protects the biodiversity that
helps to preserve soil quality and the functioning of the ecosystem. Thus, the preservation and sequestration of SOC become great challenges that humanity must face to
highlight the double crisis of global change and food insecurity [30]. Although, the
major goal of any agricultural management strategy is enhancing crop productivity;
environmental sustainability is a major issue for the continuing stability of the agroecosystems. Therefore, maintaining SOC is essential for the long-term sustainability
especially in dryland agroecosystems [13].
H. Elbasiouny and F. Elbehiry
affect microclimate differences, then affects the distribution of plant communities
and soil processes. Solar radiation influences the temperature regime, which affects
soil biological and chemical processes then vegetation distribution. Consequently,
soil temperature is a limiting factor controls the rate of biomass decomposition.
Therefore, OM content in soils in warm climates are usually less than its corresponding in cooler climates due to higher mineralization rates. On the other hand,
when the average annual of rainfall increases, the SOC content increases. Therefore, aspect, through its influence on soil temperature and water content, can affect
microorganism activity which leads to inhibiting or accelerating SOC decomposition, hence on SOC distribution [26]. Moreover, topography affects soil C through
erosion and distribution of both of fine soil particles and OM across the landscape,
and water is leading to variance in leaching, infiltration, and runoff potentials [64].
Land use along with topographic position (aspect) are two factors affecting SOC
accumulation. Therefore, considering the combined effects of these factors on SOC
accumulation is very important in restoring the ecosystem and sequestering C [26].
8 The Impact of Soil Carbon Sequestration
on the Sustainability of Agroecosystem and Crop
Productivity
Cropland soil has a huge potential to sequester C (0.4–0.8 Pg year
−1 ), which could
decrease atmospheric CO 2 and mitigate global emissions. Also, because SOC is crucial to soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, loss of SOC, the decline in
soil structure and overall degradation of the soil resources are standard features of
nonsustainable land use. Therefore, more SOC sequestration could help into reserve
these features and in sustaining soil fertility and agronomic productivity [65, 66].
Thus, soil C sequestration along with improving agricultural productivity is a win–
win strategy [67]. Hence, Lal et al. [67] stated that some reports indicate inducing
improvement in soil quality can lead to more C sequestration, climate change mitigation and improvement in agricultural productivity. However, they considered some
concerns of the significance of SOC sequestration to climate change mitigation and
on agronomic yield [67]. Since SOC is critical for the security of food production
because it provides substrate and energy, moreover it protects the biodiversity that
helps to preserve soil quality and the functioning of the ecosystem. Thus, the preservation and sequestration of SOC become great challenges that humanity must face to
highlight the double crisis of global change and food insecurity [30]. Although, the
major goal of any agricultural management strategy is enhancing crop productivity;
environmental sustainability is a major issue for the continuing stability of the agroecosystems. Therefore, maintaining SOC is essential for the long-term sustainability
especially in dryland agroecosystems [13].