Organic vegetable farming system enhancing soil carbon sequestration in Bali, Indonesia

Abstract

Climate change as an implication of global warming due to the influence of increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has become an important issue in recent decades. Organic farming plays an important role in mitigating climate change by reducing atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions through increased soil carbon sequestration. This study was designed to compare soil carbon sequestration levels between conventional and organic vegetable farming fields in Bali, Indonesia. Soil samples were taken from organic fields and conventional fields in pairs. Variables of soil organic carbon, soil labile carbon, and soil bulk density are measured. Vegetable yields were estimated by fresh weights from a quadrant of 45 plants (1.12 m2) in each farming system, which is then converted to the fresh weight per hectare. The results from soil analysis indicate that organic farming leads to soil with significantly higher soil carbon storage capacity than conventional farming. The labile C fraction shows a more significant increase compared to total C. Organic farming can increase by 1.13 tons C per hectare per year compared with the conventional farming system. The use of manure compost as an alternative in vegetable fields of Bali has resulted in increased soil organic carbon storage and gross benefits for farming. Although more research is needed on the actual emissions of CO2 gas from organic and conventional farming, this research can be used as an early indication that organic vegetable farming system can increase the mitigation of global warming, and build sustainable agriculture in Bali, Indonesia.