Carbon Fluxes in Sustainable Tree Crops: Field, Ecosystem and Global Dimension

Abstract

Carbon (C) budget at cropping systems has not only agronomic but also environmental relevance because of their contribution to both emissions and removals of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Ideally, sustainable orchards are expected to remove atmospheric CO2 at a rate greater than that of the emissions because of (i) optimized biology of the system and (ii) reduced on-site/offsite inputs sourced by the technosphere. However, such a computation might produce inconsistent results and in turn biased communication on sustainability of the cropping systems because C accounting framework(s) are used under unclear context. This study examined the sustainability of orchards in terms of impact on GHGs focusing its significance at the field, ecosystem and global dimension analyzing some operational aspects and limitations of existing frameworks (e.g., net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB), life cycle assessment (LCA)). Global relevance of sustainable orchard was also discussed considering the C sequestration at cropland as instructed by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The uniqueness of olive tree lifespan duration and C sequestration is discussed within the Product Environmental Footprint of agrifood product. The paper also highlighted overlapping components among the NECB, LCA and IPCC frameworks and the need for an integrated C accounting scheme for a more comprehensive and detailed mapping of sustainability in agriculture.

Optimized Land Use through Integrated Land Suitability and GIS Approach in West El-Minia Governorate, Upper Egypt

“…With regard to soil erosion, mechanical settlement should be avoided to mitigate the potential unfortunate consequences of compaction and soil structure degradation that may exacerbate soil erosion. Agriculture may play an important role for climate change mitigation through storage of C in soil, above and belowground biomass as well as litter [51]. With regard to alkaline soils, it is recommended to use ammonium or potassium sulfate to reduce the alkalinity of the soil.…”

Driving the Ecological Transition of Agriculture through Voluntary Certification of Environmental Impacts: An Exploratory Literature Review on the Olive-Oil Sector

“…Olive ecosystems could store CO 2 at an amount close to 12.2 t C ha −1 per year as biomass, making it a crucial and important crop to mitigate climate change (see [178] for review). Under sustainable practices, a large amount of carbon might also be sequestered in the soil (up to about 1.0 t C per year) [179].…”

“…Accounting for these, the carbon sequestration ability within an LCA-based methodology would support the development of a more complete valuation of the olive sector's ecological sustainability. The specific features of olive trees to be considered for new incorporation between several ecological effect assessment methods have been discussed in [178]. Briefly, it was pointed out that, for harmonizing methodologies that are based on LCA, the European Commission initiated the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) project in 2014.…”

Multi-Decadal Assessment of Soil Loss in a Mediterranean Region Characterized by Contrasting Local Climates

“…Arable lands are the main cover also in the centraleastern zone (Matera Hills), characterized by the so-called calanchi, i.e., badlands with bare clay hills strongly affected by erosional processes [59]. The Metaponto Plain, a strip of land overlooking the Ionian Sea, is the core of the specialized agriculture of Basilicata (fruit trees and orchards, see [60]) where salinization phenomena have threaten groundwater quality and soil productivity [61,62]. The peculiarity of Basilicata is the coexistence of the different and, in some ways, contrasting climates it encompasses: the temperate climates (Csa and Csb), the steppic climate (Bsk), and the Mediterranean mountain climates (Dsb and Dsb) characterizing some isolated mountainous areas of the Apennine Chain [63].…”