Articles
CAN THE USE OF COMPOSTS AND OTHER ORGANIC AMENDMENTS IN HORTICULTURE HELP TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE?
Article number
1076_1
Pages
19 – 28
Language
English
Abstract
The anthropogenic role in the global warming phenomenon and its related
harmful consequences is now well-documented.
Various man-made emission sources of
greenhouse gases (GHGs) are mainly related to transportation, energy generation,
heating, waste treatment etc., but also to agricultural activities such as husbandry, rice
production and others.
Simultaneously, carbon sequestration by previously active sinks
(oceans, forests, peat bogs) is declining due to human activities.
Moreover, current
agricultural management practices such as monoculture, inverting deep tillage,
residues removal and chemical fertilization all lead to soil degradation and accelerated
soil erosion, salinization, and gradual decrease in soil organic matter (SOM) and are
leading to a decline in potential soil fertility.
It is therefore clear that our civilization
must make whatever possible efforts to mitigate GHG emission while strengthening
carbon sinks.
In this context, the following paper will review the potential contributions
of the horticultural sector to carbon sequestration.
In particular the potential role of
soil amendment with composts, green manures, biochars and other organic amendments
will be critically reviewed as to their potential to sustainably sequester carbon for
the long run.
It is our claim that advanced horticulture can, in addition to supplying
enough food for the global population, provide various ecological services while
restoring soil fertility, especially based on organic amendments.
Two production
systems will serve as test cases for enhanced carbon sequestration: Organic Agriculture
and growing in soilless media.
harmful consequences is now well-documented.
Various man-made emission sources of
greenhouse gases (GHGs) are mainly related to transportation, energy generation,
heating, waste treatment etc., but also to agricultural activities such as husbandry, rice
production and others.
Simultaneously, carbon sequestration by previously active sinks
(oceans, forests, peat bogs) is declining due to human activities.
Moreover, current
agricultural management practices such as monoculture, inverting deep tillage,
residues removal and chemical fertilization all lead to soil degradation and accelerated
soil erosion, salinization, and gradual decrease in soil organic matter (SOM) and are
leading to a decline in potential soil fertility.
It is therefore clear that our civilization
must make whatever possible efforts to mitigate GHG emission while strengthening
carbon sinks.
In this context, the following paper will review the potential contributions
of the horticultural sector to carbon sequestration.
In particular the potential role of
soil amendment with composts, green manures, biochars and other organic amendments
will be critically reviewed as to their potential to sustainably sequester carbon for
the long run.
It is our claim that advanced horticulture can, in addition to supplying
enough food for the global population, provide various ecological services while
restoring soil fertility, especially based on organic amendments.
Two production
systems will serve as test cases for enhanced carbon sequestration: Organic Agriculture
and growing in soilless media.
Authors
M. Raviv
Keywords
biochar, carbon sequestration, compost, greenhouse gases, growing media, organic farming, soil organic matter
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