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CSIRO Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture - key findings
Summary of major management options
Page 3 of 3 Summary of major management options for sequestering carbon in agricultural soils
Management Sequestration potential Confidence in estimate Justification

1. Shifts within an existing/mixed cropping system a. Maximizing efficiencies 1. water-use 2. nutrient-use b. Increased productivity 1. irrigation 2. fertilisation c. Stubble management 1. Eliminate burning/grazing d. Tillage 1. Reduced tillage 2. Direct drilling Medium Low NIL-Low Medium 1. Reduced till has shown little SOC benefit 2. Direct drill reduces erosion and destruction of soil structure thus slowing decomposition rates; however, surface residues decompose with only minor contribution to SOC pool. e. Rotation 1. Eliminate fallow with cover crop 2. Inc. proportion of pasture to crops 3. Pasture cropping Moderate
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NIL-Low

Low

Yield and efficiency increases do not necessarily translate to increased C return to soil

NIL-Low

Low

Potential trade-off between increased C return to soil and increased decomposition rates

Low

Medium

Greater C return to the soil should increase SOC stocks

1. Losses continue during fallow without any new C Medium Low High Low-Moderate Medium inputs cover crops mitigate this 2. Pastures generally return more C to soil than crops 3. Pasture cropping increases C return with the benefits of perennial grasses (listed below) but studies lacking.

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Moderate f. Organic matter and other offsite additions Moderate-high High Direct input of C , often in a more stable form, into the soil additional stimulation of plant productivity (see above). 2. Shifts within an existing pastoral system a. Increased productivity 1. irrigation 2. fertilisation b. Rotational grazing Low Low Increased productivity, inc. root turnover and incorporation of residues by trampling but lacking field evidence c. Shift to perennial species 3. Shift to different system a. C onventional to organic farming system NIL-lowmoderate Low Likely highly variable depending on the specifics of the organic system (i.e. manuring, cover crops, etc.) b. C ropping to pasture system Low-moderate Medium Generally greater C return to soil in pasture systems; will likely depend greatly upon the specifics of the switch b. Retirement of land and restoration of degraded land Moderate-high High Annual production, minus natural loss, is now returned to soil; active management to replant native species often results in large C gains Moderate Medium Plants can utilize water throughout year, increased belowground allocation but few studies to date NIL-Low Low Potential trade-off between increased C return to soil and increased decomposition rates

Download the report at: Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential: A review for Australian agriculture report.

Fast facts
Australian cropping lands are, on average, still losing soil carbon Adoption of many carbon friendly farming practices can mitigate soil carbon losses resulting in avoided emissions relative to business-as-usual Relative gains in soil carbon of 0.1 0.3 tonnes carbon per ha per year were found for most improved management options within existing agricultural systems Larger soil carbon gains are possible for major shifts in land management such as conversion from cropping to permanent pasture and retirement/restoration of land

Contact Information
Dr Jonathan Sanderman (BSc PhD)

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Research Scientist Phone: +61 8 8273 8135 Email: Jonathan.Sanderman@csiro.au Mr Roger Nicoll Communication Manager Ecosystem Sciences Phone: +61 2 6246 4040 Alt Phone: +61 4 0421 3801 Email: roger.nicoll@csiro.au

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