Soil Management Vis-à-Vis Carbon Sequestration in Relation to Land Use Cover/Change in Terrestrial Ecosystem—A Review

Abstract

Soil carbon (C) sequestration has gained worldwide attention for sustainable agricultural production while mitigating C footprints through reduced greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission. Soil organic C (SOC) directly impacts the soil health and long-term sustainability of terrestrial cropland ecosystems. SOC pool of surface soils (0–30 cm) across India and the world varied from 0.12–7.67 Pg (1 Pg = 1015 g) and 17–162 Pg, respectively, while 0.34–20.3 and 38–267 Pg in a soil profile (upto 100 cm depth). The restoration of historic losses of SOC levels (42–72 Pg) in soils requires an understanding of the ecological processes in relation to crop production and soil management practices. Among the best agricultural management practices (BMPs), conservation tillage including zero tillage (ZT), cropping systems, nutrient management, inclusion of legume in cropping systems, crop cultivars, crop residue management, crop diversification, agri- and industrial waste management, land use management, biochar application, and irrigation management are considered important with considerable potential of C sequestration in soil. Nutrient management had considerable importance in sequestering the higher fraction of atmospheric C back into the soil. Crop residue management within the ecosystem helps conserving soil C with multifaceted impacts on crop productivity in terms of increased plant-mediated C input and C sustainability with mitigated environmental implications. Irrigation water management had considerable impacts on C sequestration and GHGs emissions especially related to the methane (CH4) emissions under anaerobic soil environment. Rice-based ecosystems had considerable capabilities to sequester C in recalcitrant pool. Agroforestry system has potential significance for ecosystems’ C budget with high C input into soils.