Soil carbon sequestration in grazing systems: managing expectations

Cécile M. Godde (), Imke J. M. Boer, Erasmus zu Ermgassen, Mario Herrero, Corina E. Middelaar, Adrian Muller, Elin Röös, Christian Schader, Pete Smith, Hannah H. E. Zanten and Tara Garnett
Additional contact information
Cécile M. Godde: The University of Queensland
Imke J. M. Boer: Wageningen University & Research
Erasmus zu Ermgassen: UCLouvain
Mario Herrero: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Corina E. Middelaar: Wageningen University & Research
Adrian Muller: Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL
Elin Röös: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Christian Schader: Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL
Pete Smith: University of Aberdeen
Hannah H. E. Zanten: Wageningen University & Research
Tara Garnett: University of Oxford

Climatic Change, 2020, vol. 161, issue 3, No 1, 385-391

Abstract: Abstract Grazing systems emit greenhouse gases, which can, under specific agro-ecological conditions, be partly or entirely offset by soil carbon sequestration. However, any sequestration is time-limited, reversible, and at a global level outweighed by emissions from grazing systems. Thus, grazing systems are globally a net contributor to climate change and the time scale of key processes needs to be factored into any mitigation efforts. Failing to do so leads to unrealistic expectations of soil carbon management in grazing systems as a mitigation strategy. Protecting the large carbon stocks in grazing lands is also essential in order to avoid further climate change from additional CO2 release. Despite the time-limited and reversible nature of soil carbon sequestration in grazing lands, sequestration should be promoted in cases where it delivers environmental and agronomic benefits as well as for its potential, particularly on degraded land, to increase the feasibility of limiting global warming to less than 2 or preferably 1.5 °C. Some peer-reviewed sequestration estimates are of a similar order of magnitude to other food systems mitigation options over a 10–20 years period, such as reducing food loss and waste by 15% or aligning diets with current health related dietary-recommendations. However, caution should be applied to such comparisons since mitigation estimates are associated with large uncertainties and will ultimately depend on the economic cost-benefit relation, feasibility of implementation and time frame considered.

Keywords: Grasslands; Soil carbon; Climate change; Livestock; Cattle; Greenhouse gases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10584-020-02673-x

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