A paradigm shift to CO₂ sequestration to manage global warming - With the emphasis on developing countries

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Climate Change Mitigation

Background:

• Global land use change driven by population growth is turning agricultural soils from carbon sinks into sources.
• Anthropogenic carbon emissions necessitate effective strategies to offset C release, making agricultural carbon sequestration (CS) a critical area of research.
• Existing hypotheses on CS require scrutiny to drive innovation in agricultural techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review global perspectives on agricultural carbon sequestration (CS) practices, focusing on five key developing countries (DCs).
• To analyze the impact of various global practices like tillage, agroforestry, silvopasture, and the 4p1000 initiative on CO2 sequestration.
• To discuss global policies and measurement tools for CS and emphasize farmer inclusion in policy design.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of global land use changes and agricultural management practices.
• Focus on five developing countries (Bangladesh, Brazil, Argentina, Nigeria, Mexico) significant to the global carbon budget.
• Analysis of impacts of tillage (no-tillage, reduced tillage), agroforestry systems, silvopasture, and the 4p1000 initiative on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration.

Main Results:

• Agroforestry systems emerge as the most promising CS practice, offering significant C credits and benefits to farmers and climate.
• No-tillage practices show ambiguous results, with benefits primarily limited to the topsoil (0-10 cm).
• Grasses, cereals, and cover crops demonstrate higher potential for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration.

Conclusions:

• Agroforestry conversion is highly favorable for both farmers and climate change mitigation, unlike potentially over-hyped strategies like no-tillage.
• The 4p1000 initiative shows potential but requires further validation; farmer inclusion is crucial for effective policy and carbon market development.
• Accurate SOC stock analysis through models or direct measurements is essential for evaluating CS effectiveness, with climate-smart agriculture being vital for increasing SOC globally, especially in developing countries.