8416: Agricultural influences on carbon emissions and sequestration

Ball, Andrew S and Pretty, Jules N (2002) Agricultural influences on carbon emissions and sequestration. Paper presented at UK Organic Research 2002 Conference, Aberystwyth, 26-28 March 2002; Published in Powell, Jane and et al., , Eds. Proceedings of the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference, page pp. 247-250. Organic Centre Wales, Institute of Rural Studies, University of Wales Aberystwyth.

Summary

This report was presented at the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference. Agricultural systems contribute to carbon emissions through several mechanisms: the direct use of fossil fuels in farm operations, the indirect use of embodied energy in inputs that are energy intensive to manufacture (e.g. fertilizers), and the cultivation of soils resulting in the loss of soil organic matter. However agriculture can also sequester carbon when organic matter accumulates in the soil or above-ground woody biomass acts as a permanent sink or is used as an energy source that substitutes for fossil fuels. The latest empirical data on agricultural carbon emissions and carbon sequestration opportunities in agricultural systems are reviewed and the necessary land use and management practices that will need to be employed to optimise carbon sequestration are considered.

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