Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration by Tillage and Crop Rotation: A Global Data Analysis

West, T. O.; Post, W. M.

doi:10.3334/CDIAC/TCM.002

Title: Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration by Tillage and Crop Rotation: A Global Data Analysis

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Abstract

Changes in agricultural management can potentially increase the accumulation rate of soil organic carbon (SOC), thereby sequestering CO2 from the atmosphere. This study was conducted to quantify potential soil carbon (C) sequestration rates for different crops in response to decreasing tillage intensity or enhancing rotation complexity, and to estimate the duration of time over which sequestration may occur. Analyses of C sequestration rates were completed using a global database of 67 long-term agricultural experiments, consisting of 276 paired treatments. Results indicate, on average, that a change from conventional tillage (CT) to no-till (NT) can sequester 57 ± 14 g C m–2 yr–1, excluding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow systems which may not result in SOC accumulation with a change from CT to NT. Enhancing rotation complexity can sequester an average 14 ± 11 g C m–2 yr–1, excluding a change from continuous corn (Zea mays L.) to corn-soybean (Glycine max L.) which may not result in a significant accumulation of SOC. Carbon sequestration rates, with a change from CT to NT, can be expected to peak in 5-10 yr with SOC reaching a new equilibrium in 15-20 yr. Following initiation of an enhancement in rotation complexity, SOC may reach a newmore »« less

Authors:

West, T. O.; Post, W. M.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Division

Publication Date:: Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2002

Other Number(s):: doi:10.3334/CDIAC/TCM.002; cdiac:doi 10.3334/CDIAC/tcm.002

DOE Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

Research Org.:: Environmental System Science Data Infrastructure for a Virtual Ecosystem (ESS-DIVE) (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: U.S. DOE > Office of Science (SC) > Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23)

Collaborations:: Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC)

Subject:: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Keywords:: carbon sequestration; soil organic carbon; tillage; crop rotation; CARBON SEQUESTRATION-TERRESTRIAL; Soil Organic Carbon

Geolocation:: 59.93,175.45|-43.21,175.45|-43.21,-120.21|59.93,-120.21|59.93,175.45

OSTI Identifier:: 1389519

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.3334/CDIAC/TCM.002

Project Location:

Citation Formats


                    West, T. O., and Post, W. M. Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration by Tillage and Crop Rotation: A Global Data Analysis.  United States: N. p., 2002. 
        Web.  doi:10.3334/CDIAC/TCM.002.

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                    West, T. O., & Post, W. M. Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration by Tillage and Crop Rotation: A Global Data Analysis.  United States.  doi:https://doi.org/10.3334/CDIAC/TCM.002

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                    West, T. O., and Post, W. M. 2002.  
"Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration by Tillage and Crop Rotation: A Global Data Analysis".  United States.  doi:https://doi.org/10.3334/CDIAC/TCM.002.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1389519. Pub date:Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2002

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@article{osti_1389519,

  title        = {Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration by Tillage and Crop Rotation: A Global Data Analysis},

  author       = {West, T. O. and Post, W. M.},

  abstractNote = {Changes in agricultural management can potentially increase the accumulation rate of soil organic carbon (SOC), thereby sequestering CO2 from the atmosphere. This study was conducted to quantify potential soil carbon (C) sequestration rates for different crops in response to decreasing tillage intensity or enhancing rotation complexity, and to estimate the duration of time over which sequestration may occur. Analyses of C sequestration rates were completed using a global database of 67 long-term agricultural experiments, consisting of 276 paired treatments. Results indicate, on average, that a change from conventional tillage (CT) to no-till (NT) can sequester 57 ± 14 g C m–2 yr–1, excluding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow systems which may not result in SOC accumulation with a change from CT to NT. Enhancing rotation complexity can sequester an average 14 ± 11 g C m–2 yr–1, excluding a change from continuous corn (Zea mays L.) to corn-soybean (Glycine max L.) which may not result in a significant accumulation of SOC. Carbon sequestration rates, with a change from CT to NT, can be expected to peak in 5-10 yr with SOC reaching a new equilibrium in 15-20 yr. Following initiation of an enhancement in rotation complexity, SOC may reach a new equilibrium in approximately 40-60 yr. Carbon sequestration rates, estimated for a number of individual crops and crop rotations in this study, can be used in spatial modeling analyses to more accurately predict regional, national, and global C sequestration potentials.For access to the data files, click this link to the CDIAC data transition website: http://cdiac.ess-dive.lbl.gov/programs/CSEQ/terrestrial/westpost2002/westpost2002.html},

  doi          = {10.3334/CDIAC/TCM.002},

  journal      = {},

  number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2002},

  month        = {Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2002}

}

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3334/CDIAC/TCM.002

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