Soil and anthropogenic climate change
https://doi.org/10.19047/0136-1694-2026-127-62-71
Abstract
Among global issues of the 21st century are: 1) anthropogenic climate change, 2) under- and mal-nourishment, 3) water scarcity and eutrophication, 4) dwindling biodiversity, 5) soil degradation and desertification, etc. Most of these and other issues are caused and exacerbated by land misuse, and inappropriate practices of soil / crop / water mismanagement. Thus, agriculture must be transformed to be a part of the solution by producing more from less, reducing losses, and increasing use efficiency of inputs. Soil is the largest reservoir of C stock in the terrestrial biosphere and contains 2400 PgC to 1-m depth compared with 850 PgC in the atmosphere and 620 PgC in trees and woody perennials. Soils and ecosystems have been the source of greenhouse gases (GHGs) since the onset of agriculture because of deforestation, biomass burning, draining of wetlands, soil degradation, and inputs of agro-chemicals and energy-based inputs. Soils of agro-ecosystems can be transformed from a source to a sink of atmospheric CO2 by adoption of site-specific proven and best management practices. Upscaling C-farming can address food and nutritional security and advance Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
About the Author
R. Lal
CFAES Rattan Lal Center for Carbon Management and Sequestration, The Ohio State University
United States
United States
Rattan Lal
Columbus, Ohio, 43210
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Review
For citations:
Lal R. Soil and anthropogenic climate change. Dokuchaev Soil Bulletin. 2026;(127):62-71. https://doi.org/10.19047/0136-1694-2026-127-62-71
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