Carbon Sequestration Under Different Agricultural Land Use in Croatia

Igor Bogunovic ()
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Igor Bogunovic: Department of General Agronomy, University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Svetosimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-18

Abstract: In order to help mitigate climate change, carbon farming methods must be urgently introduced. The research systematically reviewed peer-reviewed literature, national statistical reports, and policy documents published between 2000 and 2024, focusing on the impact of land management on soil organic carbon in Croatia. This paper provides an overview of current agricultural practices on croplands and grasslands in Croatia. It identifies the weak points of current soil management and suggests possible measures for carbon sequestration in cropland and grassland soils. About 89% of Croatian soils are tilled conventionally, along with other harmful practices such as uncontrolled grazing and improper fertilization, which contribute to increasing carbon losses and soil degradation. Different practices are presented and discussed as possible solutions, each adapted to the specific environmental and soil conditions of Croatia. For example, studies in Croatian Stagnosols report 5% lower CO 2 emissions under conservation tillage compared to conventional tillage, while long-term grass cover in perennial croplands has shown soil organic carbon increases of up to 51%. The recommendations are categorised according to the possibility of a change in carbon stocks over time and the associated carbon storage potential. Croatia needs to recognize any shortcomings in the existing system and create incentives and policies to transform management practices into site and environment-specific regional practices.

Keywords: agricultural areas; nature-based solutions; soil conservation; natural conditions; management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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