*Global CA-CoP* *CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE*

*for sustainable production intensification and land management*

Dear Susbscribers,

Please see the link for the article entitled:  *Soil carbon 4 per mille. By
Budiman Minasny et al. Geoderma 292 (2017) 59–86 *(
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.01.002)

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706117300095

Thank you Hendrik Smith for sharing.

*Abstract*

The ‘4 per mille Soils for Food Security and Climate’ was launched at the
COP21 with an aspiration to increase global soil organic matter stocks by 4
per 1000 (or 0.4 %) per year as a compensation for the global emissions of
greenhouse gases by anthropogenic sources. This paper surveyed the soil
organic carbon (SOC) stock estimates and sequestration potentials from 20
regions in the world (New Zealand, Chile, South Africa, Australia,
Tanzania, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, India, China Taiwan, South Korea,
China Mainland, United States of America, France, Canada, Belgium, England
& Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and Russia). We asked whether the 4 per mille
initiative is feasible for the region. The outcomes highlight region
specific efforts and scopes for soil carbon sequestration. Reported soil C
sequestration rates globally show that under best management practices, 4
per mille or even higher sequestration rates can be accomplished. High C
sequestration rates (up to 10 per mille) can be achieved for soils with low
initial SOC stock (topsoil less than 30 t C ha− 1), and at the first twenty
years after implementation of best management practices. In addition, areas
which have reached equilibrium will not be able to further increase their
sequestration. We found that most studies on SOC sequestration only
consider topsoil (up to 0.3 m depth), as it is considered to be most
affected by management techniques. The 4 per mille number was based on a
blanket calculation of the whole global soil profile C stock, however the
potential to increase SOC is mostly on managed agricultural lands. If we
consider 4 per mille in the top 1m of global agricultural soils, SOC
sequestration is between 2-3 Gt C year− 1, which effectively offset 20–35%
of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. As a strategy for climate
change mitigation, soil carbon sequestration buys time over the next ten to
twenty years while other effective sequestration and low carbon
technologies become viable. The challenge for cropping farmers is to find
disruptive technologies that will further improve soil condition and
deliver increased soil carbon. Progress in 4 per mille requires
collaboration and communication between scientists, farmers, policy makers,
and marketeers.

*Amir Kassam *

*Moderator*

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[image: Inline image 1]



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Hendrik Smith <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, Jan 20, 2017 at 11:01 AM
Subject: NB Article: Soil carbon 4 per mille - Geoderma, April 2017
To: [log in to unmask]


http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706117300095

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