Management of Saline and Sodic Soils for Carbon Sequestration
Prabhsimran Singh, Gurmeet Singh Dheri, Gazala Nazir
Abstract
Climate change is a critical global environmental issue that demands urgent, multifaceted scientific approaches to mitigate its adverse effects. It involves persistent changes in temperature and established weather patterns both locally and globally. The scientific community widely recognizes the link between rising atmospheric temperatures and increased CO2 levels due to human activities. One promising method to combat global warming is the enhancement of soil carbon storage through terrestrial soil carbon sequestration. The success of these strategies, however, depends on soil composition, local climatic conditions, and agricultural practices. Globally, 932 million hectares (Mha) of land, including 831 Mha of agricultural land, are affected by salinity and span 120 countries. In India, 6.74 Mha of land is currently salt-affected, with projections indicating an increase to 16.2 Mha by 2050. Salinity negatively impacts the soil carbon pool, potentially leading to a loss of 6.8 petagrams (Pg) of soil organic carbon (SOC) by 2100. The presence of salinity and alkalinity poses significant challenges to agricultural productivity due to their adverse effects on the decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM). SOM plays a crucial role in the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Therefore, understanding the carbon storage potential in salt-affected soils, across various agricultural practices, is essential for achieving carbon-neutral agriculture. This study will examine the effects of different management strategies on the storage and sequestration of soil carbon in salt-affected soils, with an emphasis on their potential to mitigate climate change.