Carbon Farming: Prospects and Challenges

Abstract

Carbon farming is a capable strategy for more sustainable production of food and other related products. It seeks to produce the diverse array of natural farming methods and marketable products simultaneously. In agroforestry system, carbon sequestration is done by incorporating carbon dioxide (CO2) into plant biomass via photosynthesis. Carbon is, thus, stored in reserves of above-ground biomass, such as timber or branches, and below-ground biomass such as roots, or organic carbon in the soil. In addition to the significance of carbon sequestration in climate change mitigation, soil organic carbon (SOC) is an imperative indicator for the soil health as well as fertility. The change in SOC can explain whether the land use pattern degrades or improves the soil fertility. SOC, found in the soil in the form of soil organic matter (SOM), helps to improve soil health either directly or indirectly. Its direct consequence is related to the process of mineralization. Further, agroforestry is highly capable of generating huge amounts of bio-mass. In fact, agroforestry is believed to be particularly suitable for replenishment of SOC. Therefore, efforts should be made to convince farmers for their resource-use efficiency and soil conserving ability in order to get maximum benefits out of agriculture. According to food and agriculture organization (FAO,) agriculture, forestry, and other land use practices account for 24% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and total global livestock emissions of 7.1 gigatons of CO2-equivalent per year, representing 14.5% of total anthropogenic GHG emissions. Agroforestry system that deliberately integrates trees and crops with livestock in the agricultural production could potentially increase carbon sequestration and decrease GHG emission from the terrestrial ecosystems, thus, helping in global climatic change mitigation. This study, therefore, aimed at clarification about carbon farming, modifications in carbon cycle and carbon sequestration during agricultural development in addition to benefits of agroforestry.

Carbon farming in paddy soil to increase soil C and soil health as an implementation of soil carbon 4 per mille

“…Carbon emission and carbon farming in paddy soils as illustrated in Figure 1. Carbon farming is the opportunity to maintain biodiversity, economic and social enhancement, and reduction of terrestrial carbon [11]. It is related to three crucial carbon processes [10]: biomass fixation, transformation and decomposition of organic matter, and mineralization SOC [7].…”

“…Carbon farming is the transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to store in terrestrial through carbon sequestration, proposed as a component important for reducing GHG emissions [10]. Carbon farming will restore the lost soil functions and health and strengthen ecosystem services [11]. The most promising carbon farming includes adopting sustainable soil management practices, native forest restoration, and grassland/pastureland reclamation [12] [13].…”

Analysis of regional agricultural carbon emission efficiency and influencing factors: Case study of Hubei Province in China

“…It should also pay more attention to the reduction of overall agricultural energy consumption and carbon emissions in the case of increasing agricultural energy consumption [ 3 ]. An agroforestry system that deliberately integrates trees and crops with livestock in agricultural production could potentially increase carbon sequestration and decrease greenhouse gas emissions from terrestrial ecosystems, thus mitigating global climate change [ 4 ]. Under the background of increasingly severe global warming, China––as a traditional agricultural country––advocates for low-carbon agriculture as the inevitable choice to realize the harmonious development of economic growth and the ecological environment and promote sustainable development of agriculture.…”