Research project Soil organic carbon sequestration potential of agricultural soils in Europe

Complete EJPSOIL - CARBOSEQ 01/02/2021 → 31/01/2025

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Greet Ruysschaert

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General introduction

If all proven effective agricultural measures for increasing carbon storage in agricultural soils were applied in all areas where this is feasible, the amount of carbon stored would be equivalent to 10-20% of current agriculture-related greenhouse gas emissions in the EU+ region, compared to not applying the measures. This calculation was made in the CarboSeq project, an internal research project of EJP SOIL that specifically mapped how much carbon European agricultural soils can store and where this is feasible. ILVO's research showed that a higher proportion of leguminous fodder crops in the rotation is positively correlated with the organic carbon stock in the soil. Biochar proved to be a promising measure for increasing the organic carbon stock in the soil, but the limited availability of raw materials still poses an obstacle here.

CarboSeq approached the research question by quantifying the feasible carbon storage of various agricultural measures using two approaches. The first approach used newly derived European emission factors in combination with the estimated area where each measure can be implemented. The second approach involved modeling.

Research approach

ILVO was responsible for compiling a database of more than 450 European long-term field experiments that formed the basis for new emission factors for green cover crops, leguminous fodder crops, straw residue retention, tillage, irrigation, and agroforestry. ILVO's research showed that a higher proportion of leguminous fodder crops in the rotation is positively correlated with the organic carbon stock in the soil.

Relevance/Valorization

CarboSeq has provided insight into how much carbon European soils can store when effective measures are taken on a large scale. The findings support policymakers in designing climate and soil strategies based on realistic possibilities. The research also shows that local conditions, trade-offs, and co-benefits must be taken into account, and that economic incentives will be crucial in converting the technical potential into actual carbon storage on farms.