Carbon sequestration potential, challenges, and strategies towards climate action in smallholder agricultural systems of South Asia

• DOI: 10.1016/j.crope.2022.03.005
• Publication Date: 2022-03-28T12:22:00Z
• Authors: Mangi L. Jat; Debashis Chakraborty; Jagdish K. Ladha; Chhiter M. Parihar; Ashim Datta; Biswapati Mandal; Hari S. Nayak; Pragati Maity; Dharamvir S. Rana; Suresh K. Chaudhari; Bruno Gerard
• Keywords: Conservation Agriculture; Soil carbon; Crop Residue

South Asia is a global hotspot for climate change with enormous pressure on land and water resources feeding the burgeoning population. The agricultural production systems are highly vulnerable in region primarily dominated by small marginal farmers intensive farming practices that had favored loss of carbon (C) from soil. This review discusses potential soil crop management such as minimum/reduced/no-tillage, use organic manure, balanced integrated plant nutrient application, precision levelling, pest management, residue cropping system optimization to maintain C-equilibrium between atmosphere enhance C-sequestration long run. Results meta-analysis show 36% increase C stock top 0–15 cm layer this which amounts ∼18 Mg stocks ha−1. Improved across crops environment may reduce methane em0ission 12% resulting an 8% reduction warming (GWP), while non-submerged condition led 51% GWP rice. Conservation agriculture fertilization also reduced 11 14%, respectively. Although several innovative resilient technologies having significant have been developed, there urgent need their scaling accelerated adoption C-sequestration. Policies programs be devised incentivizing adopt more C-neutral or C-positive practices. national governments other agencies should work towards together initiatives "4 per 1000" Initiative Global Soil Partnership, regional public-private partnership credits Regenerative Agriculture Grow Indigo-CIMMYT-ICAR India, addition research policy changes. will vital success sequestration action Asia.