IL CONTRIBUTO DELLO STOCCAGGIO DI CARBONIO NEI SUOLI AGRICOLI ALLA MITIGAZIONE DEL CAMBIAMENTO CLIMATICO

Abstract

In recent years, the awareness of the key role played by agriculture and soil health in climate change mitigation and adaptation policies has increased. Although agricultural lands were subjected to relevant organic carbon losses during last centuries, they are globally characterised by a soil organic carbon (SOC) content that is three times higher than the atmospheric carbon pool; thus an increase in SOC content as low as a few percentage units can determine an important potential sink for atmospheric CO2. To implement a mitigation action a significant effort in deepening scientific knowledge is needed, focusing on determining key parameters and main limitations affecting SOC content monitoring over space and time. Further researches on these topics could help develop effective policies regarding soil management practices and setting up an affordable SOC stocks monitoring methodology. The present publication presents a scientific review of the state of the art of the connection between the SOC stock and climate change mitigation policies. Following a preliminary thematic introduction, several soil management practices that may contribute to increase SOC content, depending on climatic and environmental local conditions, are presented. Although the magnitude of the effective carbon storage achievable with the implementation of best management practices (e.g. no-till or biochar application) is still debated because of uncertainties and methodological issues related to the SOC estimates, the high theoretical potential and the related co-benefits on the resilience of the agricultural system encourage a further development of national and regional policies in this direction. Finally, a review of different policies (international agreements, regulations, taxation systems, subsidies systems and carbon credits voluntary markets) that could foster the implementation of agricultural land management practices with high CO2 sequestration potential is presented.