Soil Carbon Sequestration for Climate Change Mitigation …
165
9 Management Practices and Soil Carbon Sequestration
The dynamics of the SOC stocks are depending on the balance between C inputs and
outputs through different pathways and is strongly influenced by soil management
practices. It has been shown from different studies that balanced fertilization with
NPK in combination with manures increased SOC concentrations and maintained
high crop yields [17]. However, soils have lost 50–75% of the original SOC stock in
the managed ecosystems. The main reason of SOC stock depletion when converting
natural to managed ecosystems is lower C input into the agricultural ecosystems,
in addition to higher losses in managed ecosystems than natural ecosystem due to
erosion, mineralization and leaching. Tillage and other soil disturbances may cause a
decline in SOC stock through disrupting soil aggregates, then considerably accelerate
the decomposition of SOC because of exposure of organic molecules to biological
attack or air. Some studies indicate the possibility of SOC to redistribution and
release into the atmosphere to the water through soil erosion [30]. The maximum
soil C sink capacity approximately equals the historic C loss, is the amount of C
that can potentially be stored in the soil [54]. Improved management practices, such
as fertilization, applications of animal manure, the incorporation of straw in the soil
and residue management practices, can increase SOC stocks of agro-ecosystems [27,
54]. However, improving and maintaining SOC stock particularly in dryland soils
are major challenges due to high temperature and frequent drought stress. Therefore, application of plant nutrients and organic amendments, including the legumes
incorporation in the crop rotation, enhance soil fertility and sustainability [54], crop
rotation [38]. Thus, optimizing agricultural management through the efficient use of
fertilizers, irrigation, and tillage operations can often enhance C sequestration while
simultaneously reducing the C emissions associated with agricultural inputs such as
fertilizers and on-farm fuels [15]. Wright and Hons [46] mentioned that management
strategies, such as no-till and rotations with multiple crops high-intensity cropping
sequences, play significant roles in SOC and SON sequestration.
10 Soil Carbon Sequestration in Arid and Mediterranean
Sea Region
Agricultural soils have lost about up to 50% of C from the plow layer compared with
undisturbed systems and for this reason, provide an opportunity for C sequestration.
Utilizing agricultural management practices such as growing cover crops and adopting minimum tillage and no-till practices instead of conventional tillage has been
shown to lead to enhanced soil C sequestration. The application of such practices
regarding increase sequestration of C in the soil has received increasing attention
under the aim of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, but information is limited
with respect to arid and semiarid climates [68]. Generally, soils in the Mediterranean
region are characterized by low OM content (around 1%) due to the great majority
165
9 Management Practices and Soil Carbon Sequestration
The dynamics of the SOC stocks are depending on the balance between C inputs and
outputs through different pathways and is strongly influenced by soil management
practices. It has been shown from different studies that balanced fertilization with
NPK in combination with manures increased SOC concentrations and maintained
high crop yields [17]. However, soils have lost 50–75% of the original SOC stock in
the managed ecosystems. The main reason of SOC stock depletion when converting
natural to managed ecosystems is lower C input into the agricultural ecosystems,
in addition to higher losses in managed ecosystems than natural ecosystem due to
erosion, mineralization and leaching. Tillage and other soil disturbances may cause a
decline in SOC stock through disrupting soil aggregates, then considerably accelerate
the decomposition of SOC because of exposure of organic molecules to biological
attack or air. Some studies indicate the possibility of SOC to redistribution and
release into the atmosphere to the water through soil erosion [30]. The maximum
soil C sink capacity approximately equals the historic C loss, is the amount of C
that can potentially be stored in the soil [54]. Improved management practices, such
as fertilization, applications of animal manure, the incorporation of straw in the soil
and residue management practices, can increase SOC stocks of agro-ecosystems [27,
54]. However, improving and maintaining SOC stock particularly in dryland soils
are major challenges due to high temperature and frequent drought stress. Therefore, application of plant nutrients and organic amendments, including the legumes
incorporation in the crop rotation, enhance soil fertility and sustainability [54], crop
rotation [38]. Thus, optimizing agricultural management through the efficient use of
fertilizers, irrigation, and tillage operations can often enhance C sequestration while
simultaneously reducing the C emissions associated with agricultural inputs such as
fertilizers and on-farm fuels [15]. Wright and Hons [46] mentioned that management
strategies, such as no-till and rotations with multiple crops high-intensity cropping
sequences, play significant roles in SOC and SON sequestration.
10 Soil Carbon Sequestration in Arid and Mediterranean
Sea Region
Agricultural soils have lost about up to 50% of C from the plow layer compared with
undisturbed systems and for this reason, provide an opportunity for C sequestration.
Utilizing agricultural management practices such as growing cover crops and adopting minimum tillage and no-till practices instead of conventional tillage has been
shown to lead to enhanced soil C sequestration. The application of such practices
regarding increase sequestration of C in the soil has received increasing attention
under the aim of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, but information is limited
with respect to arid and semiarid climates [68]. Generally, soils in the Mediterranean
region are characterized by low OM content (around 1%) due to the great majority