A global meta‐analysis of cover crop response on soil carbon storage within a corn production system
- Department of Agronomy, Horticulture &, Plant Science South Dakota State University Brookings South Dakota USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering South Dakota School of Mines &, Technology Rapid City South Dakota USA
- Energy Systems and Infrastructure Analysis Division Argonne National Laboratory Lemont Illinois USA
- North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory USDA Agriculture Research Service Morris Minnesota USA
- Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science Tennessee State University Nashville Tennessee USA
Abstract
By influencing soil organic carbon (SOC), cover crops play a key role in shaping soil health and hence the system's long‐term sustainability. However, the magnitude by which cover crops impacts SOC depends on multiple factors, including soil type, climate, crop rotation, tillage type, cover crop growth, and years under management. To elucidate how these multiple factors influence the relative impact of cover crops on SOC, we conducted a meta‐analysis on the impacts of cover crops within rotations that included corn ( Zea mays L.) on SOC accumulation. Information on climatic conditions, soil characteristics, management, and cover crop performance was extracted, resulting in 198 paired comparisons from 61 peer‐reviewed studies. Over the course of each study, cover crops on average increased SOC by 7.3% (95% CI, 4.9%–9.6%). Furthermore, the impact of cover crop–induced increases in percent change SOC was evaluated across soil textures, cover crop types, crop rotations, biomass amounts, cover crop durations, tillage practices, and climatic zones. Our results suggest that current cover crop–based corn production systems are sequestering 5.5 million Mg of SOC per year in the United States and have the potential to sequester 175 million Mg SOC per year globally. These findings can be used to improve carbon footprint calculations and develop science‐based policy recommendations. Taken altogether, cover cropping is a promising strategy to sequester atmospheric C and hence make corn production systems more resilient to changing climates.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 1973182
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 2375880
OSTI ID: 1983544
- Journal Information:
- Agronomy Journal, Journal Name: Agronomy Journal Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 115; ISSN 0002-1962
- Publisher:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English