CarboSeq
| Start: | 1 February 2021 |
| Duration: | 48 Months |
| Aim: | To estimate the feasible SOCsequestration potential taking into account technical and socio-economic constraints. |
| Contact: | Project manager: Axel Don (axel.don@thuenen.de) Project communication representative: Daria Seitz (daria.seitz@thuenen.de) |
Carbon sequestration in soils is a negative emission technology that can contribute to mitigate climate change. However, for European soils, a comprehensive assessment is missing on how much soil organic carbon (SOC) can be sequestered with different management options using also national data on agricultural management.
The aim of CarboSeq is thus to estimate the feasible SOCsequestration potential taking into account technical and socio-economic constraints. The project will align with the current FAO activity for a global SOC-sequestration potential map (GSOCseq).
The key for SOC-sequestration is an enhanced input of biomass (e.g. crop residues) to the soil. for which a new database will be built to facilitate model runs with RothC and other soil SOC models for different management scenarios. The potential area of implementation will be developed together with all partners of CarboSeq and the national expert hubs.
All partners will run RothC at national levels. The SOC-sequestration potential maps for different management options will guide policy makers regional specific to the most efficient agricultural management options to sequester SOC for climate mitigation.
Call text: CM2
Quantification of the potential of agricultural soils to sequester more carbon and reduce GHGs emissions at the regional / national scale in the different partner countries.
Rationale
To design adequate policies that promote climate mitigation options in agriculture, countries need to know the potential of C sequestration in their conditions, at the national or regional scale, and in particular for agricultural soils. This potential depends on the pedo-climatic conditions, on the current soil organic carbon stocks and on the management practices promoting SOC accumulation that can be implemented.
Scope
The project will aim to evaluate the technical potential to store additional carbon in agricultural soils by implementing appropriate agricultural practices in cropland and grassland. Depending on the information available in countries on current SOC stocks, agricultural practices and soil properties, appropriate methodologies should be used, with either Tier 2 or Tier 3 approaches. In addition to a technical estimate, the cost of implementing the different management options should be estimated, in order to evaluate the cost of the quantified SOC additional storage potential in agricultural soils.
Output/Expected impact
Improved spatially explicit quantification of the potential of agricultural soils to sequester more carbon under different cropping, soil management systems and land use change scenarios (e.g. grassland-cropland), in different pedo-climatic conditions, at the regional and national scale, associated with an estimate of the incurred costs. Analysis of the consequences of these options on GHG emissions. Identification of SOC sequestration potentials of the European agro-pedoclimatic regions.
Project type
A single project is expected to be funded (large, 3 to 4 years, 350 PM), gathering partners from at least 20 participating member states (Annex 1). A synergistic effort of the different partners is called for. Core activities of this consortium would concern the methodology that can be used, defining a set of reference methodologies to be used. Each involved partner would then perform the evaluation for its own country, using the selected methodology.
Available funding: 4.03 M€
Relation to EJP SOIL objectives and tasks
This project should consider outputs of EJP SOIL stocktake T2.4.3. (publication planned by the end of 2020) assessing carbon accounting systems and methods currently used in EJP SOIL countries to estimate SOC storage and storage potentials.