Search

• Accounting methods of agricultural methane are summarized. • Influencing factors of emission sources from agricultural sources were analyzed. • Mitigation strategies based on accounting and actual situation are proposed. Methane is one of the major greenhouse gases (GHGs) and agriculture is recognized as its primary emitter. Methane accounting is a prerequisite for developing effective agriculture mitigation strategies. In this review, methane accounting methods and research status for various agricultural emission source including rice fields, animal enteric fermentation and livestock and poultry manure management were overview, and the influencing factors of each emission source were analyzed and discussed. At the same time, it analyzes the different research efforts involving agricultural methane accounting and makes recommendations based on the actual situation. Finally, mitigation strategies based on accounting results and actual situation are proposed. This review aims to provide basic data and reference for agriculture-oriented countries and regions to actively participate in climate action and carry out effective methane emission mitigation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of soil health and the determination of carbon stability in soils are current challenges that have gained momentum through initiatives at national as well as international scales. However, inferring universally valid soil health parameters that are directly linked to carbon permanence remains challenging. Our aim was to evaluate the potential of simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) for an improved monitoring of soil health advances in the context of carbon farming strategies. For this purpose, an on-farm comparison of soil health in ten conservation agricultural systems with adjacent conventional farms was performed based on STA and thermal measures were related to key biological and physical indicators for monitoring soil functions. Using an autocorrelation-based approach, we identified independent thermal indicators, revealing that carbon farming efforts predominantly increased labile soil organic matter fractions in the range of 300–400 ° C , while thermally more recalcitrant fractions did not respond to farming system transformation. Similarly, most soil health indicators revealed highest correlation with temperature ranges of mass loss of labile organic matter fractions. The relation of STA with commonly used soil health indicators was highest for soil organic carbon (SOC, r = 0. 971) and total nitrogen (TN, r = 0. 981). However, also inference on microbial activity parameters such as dimethylsulfoxid reduction, microbial biomass carbon and substrate-induced respiration could be demonstrated with r > 0. 663. The results thus highlight key temperature ranges of organic matter stability for future soil monitoring tasks of climate change mitigation potentials of carbon farming and related advances in soil health. • We tested simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) as a tool for soil health assessment. • We did so by an on-farm comparison of conventional and conservation farming systems. • Improvements by conservation farming were mainly detected for labile C fractions. • Specific STA mass loss ranges correlated well with several soil health indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Higher model performance for granulometry than SOC% using seedbed spectra. • PLSR outperformed other algorithms for SOC% estimation, CR for granulometry. • Low contribution of seedbed spectra to the DSM of SOC% using environmental covariates. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is central to the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, has climate mitigation potential and provides several benefits for soil health. Understanding the spatial distribution of SOC can help formulate sustainable soil management practices. Digital soil mapping (DSM) uses advanced statistical and geostatistical methods to estimate soil properties across large areas. DSM integrates climate data, topographic features, geology, legacy soil maps, land management and remote sensing data. Bare soil spectra may reflect the presence of particular soil components, making satellite derived spectra suitable predictors of SOC. Bare soil spectra derived from Sentinel-2 were used to estimate SOC concentration (SOC%) and granulometric fractions in the plough layer (0–30 cm) of agricultural parcels in northern Belgium. Thereafter, the estimation performance of SOC% was compared for three DSM models: one with bare soil spectra, one with environmental covariates (topography, granulometry and vegetation), and a combined model with bare soil spectra and environmental covariates. The estimation performance of sand, silt and clay fractions using bare soil spectra from the spring seedbed (R2: 0.53–0.74; RPD: 1.49–2.05; RPIQ: 1.52–2.39) was higher than that of SOC% (R2: 0.16; RPD: 1.08; RPIQ: 1.32). The highest estimation performance of SOC% was obtained for a DSM model including all covariates (R2: 0.28; RPD: 1.18; RPIQ: 1.44), but the contribution of spring seedbed spectra to a model containing environmental covariates was small. The results provide valuable insights for refining soil property estimation using DSM with spectral and environmental covariates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy and market incentives are rapidly expanding to promote soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in global croplands. Evidence suggests that long-term increases in SOC can influence both crop yield and nitrogen (N) fertilizer requirements, with the potential to help address two important sustainability challenges. However, increases in SOC may also trigger higher soil nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions, which would represent an important tradeoff for climate change mitigation. We tested the hypothesis that long-term increases in SOC are associated with higher crop yields and fertilizer N use efficiency (NUE), but at the cost of higher N 2 O emissions. Wheat was grown in two soils (SOC low and SOC high) under three N fertilizer rates (0, 100, and 200 kg N ha−1) in a mesocosm experiment. Soils were obtained (0–25 cm) from a 22-yr field experiment on no-till and cover cropping in California. Results indicate that total biomass and grain yield were higher for SOC low than SOC high at 100 kg N ha−1 but not the other N levels. Crop N uptake was also 28% greater for SOC low at 200 kg N ha−1, resulting in higher overall NUE. Soil N 2 O emissions increased for SOC high by 25–112% compared to SOC low , likely due to long-term changes in labile C and N pools, microbial activity, and soil structure influencing porosity and gas diffusion. While there are well-documented crop and environmental benefits from enhancing SOC in agricultural soils, results from this study suggest that changes in soil N 2 O emissions should be considered to accurately determine net GHG emission reductions. • Soil N 2 O emissions increased 25–112% with long-term soil carbon sequestration • Crop yields were not higher with increased SOC • Crop nitrogen uptake and nitrogen use efficiency decreased with increased SOC • Elevated N 2 O emissions presented a tradeoff for net GHG emission reductions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a set of aspirational objectives for the world, addressing interlinked themes including poverty, hunger, and climate action. Meeting these goals requires a similarly integrated and interdisciplinary approach. One component of such an approach may be agrivoltaic systems (AVS): dual use solar and agricultural systems wherein crops are grown beneath and between solar panels. Given their intersectoral nature, AVS will have complex impacts on the achievement of the SDGs. This analysis seeks to evaluate how AVS could impact progress towards the SDGs based on literature around the impacts of agriculture, solar, and AVS, and the indicators measuring progress towards the SDGs. It uses a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) framework and applies it in a unique way to understand the direct and immediate impacts to the SDGs following the installation of an AVS (i.e., strengths and weaknesses), and the potential impacts on the SDGs based on secondary or supplementary actions taken once an AVS is installed (i.e., opportunities and threats). Though the most obvious of AVS' impacts to the SDGs will be on Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), evaluation of individual indicators shows that AVS can quantifiably impact 14 out of 17 SDGs, largely in a positive manner. However, evaluating impacts on the SDGs indicator by indicator also reveals possible negative, and unexpected, consequences of AVS. Yet, impacts on the SDGs will vary by location-specific factors such as climate, and so this analysis concludes with an application of the SWOT framework in Ethiopia for a farm where an AVS is under consideration. Altogether, this work should provide a means for evaluating the impacts of AVS on SDGs and insights into how to mitigate possible detrimental impacts while capitalizing on benefits. • Agrivoltaics measurably impact 13 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. • Impacts of agrivoltaics depend on a reference case: single use agriculture or solar. • Agrivoltaic systems can underpin rural electrification of farms and schools. • Targeted government initiatives can capitalize on the benefits of agrivoltaics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hedgerows and adjacent croplands at 23 sites across Germany were sampled. • Under hedgerows, 36 ± 49 % more soil organic carbon (SOC) was stored compared to cropland. • 41 % of absolute SOC stock increase was found in subsoil below 30 cm soil depth. • SOC stocks were also increased along the transect from the hedgerow to the cropland. • Planting hedgerows on 3 % of German cropland could increase SOC stocks by 13 Tg C. Carbon dioxide removal strategies are becoming increasingly important as a fundamental component of comprehensive climate policies. One strategy to increase carbon (C) sinks is the integration of hedgerows into agricultural landscapes. Besides additional C storage in above-ground and below-ground hedgerow biomass, the establishment of hedgerows has the potential to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. However, empirical data regarding the magnitude of SOC accrual with hedgerow establishment are still limited. We sampled 23 sites across Germany in a paired-plot approach with the aim of estimating SOC stock change with hedgerow establishment on cropland. At 21 sites, SOC stocks were higher beneath hedgerows than in the reference cropland. On average, SOC stock accrual was 29 ± 22 Mg ha−1 (36 ± 49 %) in 0–100 cm soil depth. SOC stocks were significantly different in both topsoil and subsoil. Subsoils below 30 cm depth contributed 41 % (12 ± 17 Mg C ha−1) of the total SOC stock change, stressing the importance of subsoil SOC for the total SOC stocks of hedgerow systems. The positive effect of hedgerows on SOC stocks extended laterally beyond the hedgerow area itself. SOC stock in the grassy hedgerow edge also increased significantly by 22 ± 22 Mg C ha−1 (28 ± 30 %) and SOC stock in the cropland directly adjacent to the hedgerow were 9 ± 19 Mg C ha−1 (12 ± 25 %) higher than in the reference cropland. Particularly high C stock differences between hedgerows and reference cropland soils were found in old hedgerows (>200 years) planted on hedgebanks, which are typically found in northern Germany. Our study confirmed that SOC stocks increase with hedgerow establishment on cropland throughout the whole soil profile. If hedgerows were to be established on 3 % of Germany's cropland area, SOC stocks would increase by 13 Tg C equivalent 48 Mio. t CO 2 , highlighting that hedgerows are a promising and multi-functional climate change mitigation option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil-based carbon farming has been identified in previous research as a win-win for farm productivity and the mitigation of climate change through carbon sequestration. However, it faces numerous barriers to adoption, including low carbon prices, high transaction costs, information barriers and high uncertainty around future outcomes, markets and policy conditions. Collaboration between landholders and other stakeholders has been proposed as a potential means of overcoming some of these barriers, while maximising the benefits of soil-based carbon farming. In this article, we present the results of a two-stage process investigating collaborative soil-based carbon farming in Australia, involving national-scale key informant interviews and a regional-scale Participatory Rural Appraisal. Fifty-three interviews were undertaken with key carbon farming stakeholders, including landholders, landholder groups, carbon service providers, government, researchers and the financial sector. Collaboration was seen to offer the greatest advantages in relation to knowledge-sharing and social support, followed by its potential to increase carbon income through enhanced bargaining power and the optimisation of co-benefits. The advantages of collaboration were less clear in relation to reducing costs or maximising farm productivity and collaboration also presents new challenges around risk and complexity. Under current conditions, informal collaboration models were seen to offer the best balance between the benefits and risks, with existing cooperatives also well-placed to diversify into carbon. Alternative conditions in the future or in other locations would be needed to facilitate models involving joint projects, pooled credits, shared land management and/or the creation of new carbon-specific cooperatives. • Soil-based carbon farming benefits both carbon sequestration and farm productivity. • Advantages of collaboration are greatest for knowledge-sharing and social support. • Collaboration less beneficial in relation to cost-reduction and farm productivity. • Informal models for collaboration preferred by study participants. • Existing agricultural cooperatives are well-placed to diversify into carbon farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate-smart agriculture aims amongst others at protecting and increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. The allocation of metabolised carbon (C) between soil microbial growth and respiration, i.e. C use efficiency (CUE) is crucial for SOC dynamics. We hypothesised that raising soil pH would alleviate CUE-limiting conditions and that liming could thus increase CUE, thereby supporting SOC accrual. This study investigated whether CUE can be manipulated by liming and how this might contribute to SOC stock changes. The effects of liming on CUE, microbial biomass C, abundance of microbial domains, SOC stocks and OC inputs were assessed for soils from three European long-term field experiments. Field control soils were additionally limed in the laboratory to assess immediate effects. The shift in soil pH H2O from 4.5 to 7.3 with long-term liming reduced CUE by 40 %, whereas the shift from 5.5 to 8.6 and from 6.5 to 7.8 was associated with increases in CUE by 16 % and 24 %, respectively. The overall relationship between CUE and soil pH followed a U-shaped (i.e. quadratic) curve, implying that in agricultural soils CUE may be lowest at pH H2O = 6.4. The immediate CUE response to liming followed the same trends. Changes in CUE with long-term liming contributed to the net effect of liming on SOC stocks. Our study confirms the value of liming as a management practice for climate-smart agriculture, but demonstrates that it remains difficult to predict the impact on SOC stocks due its complex effects on the C cycle. [Display omitted] • Liming altered CUE depending on the initial soil pH and the span of the pH shift. • At low pH, CUE declined with liming likely due to microbial community shifts. • At high pH, CUE increased with liming likely due to altered nutrient availability. • Liming increased microbial biomass C in all cases. • Changes in CUE with liming were not the primary cause for changes in SOC stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical rainforests serve as invaluable global carbon stocks with long-term climate mitigation potential and important ecosystem functions and biodiversity. Recent scholarship has identified agriculture as the main driver of tropical rainforest deforestation worldwide, yet effective policy action needs to understand why farmers continue to clear land, beyond broad-brush attributions of blame. This study highlights the constellation of social forces that drive deforestation in a subsection of the Mache Chindul Ecological Reserve (REMACH) in northwest Ecuador. Rather than simply assuming that farmers are either indifferent to or ignorant of the effects of deforestation, we highlight the perspective of farmers themselves as they reflect on, both, their relationship with other key actors and the broader contextual factors informing their own land-use decisions. We surveyed 70 rural households using a 45-question data collection tool, conducted semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders such as local conservation practitioners and community elders, employed participant observation and reviewed government documents. We find that colonist farmers who live in and around the REMACH clear land because they view doing so as their most reliable means of securing a livelihood for themselves and their children in a context of political and economic hardship and uncertainty. A history of government incentives to clear land, a deeply ambiguous land tenure system, and a sudden influx of externally-funded conservation NGOs to the region have all contributed to exclude farmers from the decision-making process, while simultaneously exacerbating the conditions that make deforestation farmers' most practical option—despite their awareness of its environmental impact. The data underscore that locals are, in fact, highly invested in the idea of conserving a healthy environment for future generations, but are nonetheless driven to act against this interest by their own precarity. By helping governmental and non-governmental conservation practitioners better understand farmers' land-use decisions, the study reframes the latter group not as the problem, but as vital future partners. • Complex social dynamics drive deforestation in Ecuador's Mache Chindul Reserve. • Historical policies and conservation interventions drive ongoing deforestation. • Farmers seek livelihood amid political, economic, and environmental hardship. • Conservation efforts must include farmers' needs and values. • Contextual and interpretative explanations are crucial in addressing deforestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mitigation of climate change requires that agricultural development would proceed in accordance with green and sustainable practices. This implies that economic performance should be improved while minimizing the impact on the environment. One way to assess the underlying costs of sustainable agricultural development, and to model the relationship between the environment and the economy in general, is to use the carbon shadow price (CSP). In this paper, we utilize a by-production model within a non-parametric framework to estimate the agricultural CSP from 1997 to 2020 in 31 provinces of China. The patterns of the agricultural CSP are unveiled through kernel density analysis and convergence tests. Additionally, this paper constructs a comprehensive agricultural informatization indicator using the entropy method. We then empirically investigate its influence on agricultural CSP. The results reveal that China's agricultural CSP has demonstrated consistent growth over the past two decades which suggests serious improvement in environmental performance. Furthermore, the CSP show cross-province variation, albeit with conditional β convergence. Our empirical findings indicate that agricultural information technology contributes to an increase in CSP, thereby indicating its positive role on the green growth of agriculture in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Soil water regulation was improved by enrollment in stewardship programs. • Greater soil carbon was observed with enrollment in stewardship programs. • Grassland set-aside with winter cover cropping improved soil organic carbon storage potential. • Enrollment in stewardship programs can lead to regenerative outcomes. Agricultural stewardship programs that incentivize practices such as winter cover cropping (WCC), grassland set-asides (GLSA), and hedgerows (HR) for intensive annual agricultural production are often implemented to improve both soil conditions and provision of wildlife habitat in coastal agricultural systems of the Fraser River Delta, British Columbia (BC). Although these programs have been shown to support numerous ecosystem services, it is unclear how they contribute to regenerative agricultural outcomes. Regenerative agricultural practices aim to increase soil carbon inputs and reduce carbon dioxide losses which in turn improves soil structure, optimizes soil water regulation, and provides climate mitigation and resiliency of agricultural systems. The objectives of this study were to quantify the effects of agricultural stewardship programs for regenerative outcomes through indicators of climate mitigation and adaptation. Twenty-six fields in the southwestern, BC were grouped by those that participated in stewardship programs between 1992 and 2016 and those that did not. In the spring of 2018, soil samples were collected; soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations were measured, and stocks were calculated; pedo-transfer functions were used to estimate soil water regulation indicators; and differences among stewardship program and non-program fields were statistically analyzed using a linear mixed effects model. The SOC (mg kg−1) from 0 to 15 cm was greater with implementation of stewardship programs. Topsoil equivalent soil mass SOC stocks (t/ha) were 71 % and 63 % greater in HR and WCC + GLSA program fields, respectively, compared to non-program fields. Soil workability threshold was 25 % and 14 % greater in HR and WCC + GLSA program fields, respectively, compared to non-program. Our results indicate that stewardship programs that include hedgerows and grassland set-asides promote accrual of soil carbon and improved soil water regulation and show that these programs can effectively enhance regenerative outcomes and improve agroecosystem resilience in this important agricultural region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe, increasing the area of legume crops has been identified as a key measure to achieve the objectives set by the European Green Deal and transition toward more sustainable food systems. Although the role of grain legumes in climate change mitigation has been closely examined, little research has focused on how climate change will challenge the development of these crops. This article systematically reviews recent simulation studies to assess the impact of climate change on grain legume performances in Europe and the effect of adaptation strategies. Forty papers using process-based, ecological niche, or statistical models were selected to simulate the response of eight grain legume species to future climate (2020–2100) in Europe. The lack of data on adaptation strategies in Europe was compensated for by enlarging the study area to climatically similar regions. The review highlights a notable imbalance between research about soybean versus other grain legumes, with soybean representing approximately 80% of selected studies. Studies focused on soybean found good agreement, with yield or suitability gains found in northern Europe and a higher probability of yield losses in southern and south-eastern Europe. While a similar spatial pattern may be expected for other grain legumes, the scarcity of data makes this result more uncertain. The review also shows that several adaptation strategies have the potential to mitigate the negative impact of climate change on grain legume performances or enhance its positive impact. The most promising strategies tested include irrigation, change in sowing date, and cultivar choice. In addition, we identify several knowledge gaps that, if addressed, would support legume development in Europe. In particular, key species such as field pea, faba bean, lentil, and chickpea remain blind spots, despite their prominent role in European environmental, agricultural, and nutritional policies. Other knowledge gaps include a lack of accounting for crop response to elevated CO 2 , ozone, and future biotic pressure, and a limited range of adaptation strategies tested and indicators assessed. Implementing multi-criteria analyses that involve stakeholders would help identify relevant inputs and outputs for future simulations. • We review 40 papers assessing grain legume response to climate change in Europe. • Grain legumes other than soybean are blind spots despite their role in policies. • For soybean, yield gains are expected in the north and yield losses in the south. • Adaptation strategies can mitigate the impact of climate change on grain legumes. • We identify several knowledge gaps, including a lack of data on key legume species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil security concept has been put forward to maintain and improve soil resources inter alia to provide food, clean water, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and to protect ecosystems. A provisional framework suggested indicators for the soil security dimensions, and a methodology to achieve a quantification. In this study, we illustrate the framework for the function soil carbon storage and the two dimensions of soil capacity and soil condition. The methodology consists of (i) the selection and quantification of a small set of soil indicators for capacity and condition, (ii) the transformation of indicator values to unitless utility values via expert-generated utility graphs, and (iii) a two-level aggregation of the utility values by soil profile and by dimension. For capacity, we used a set of three indicators: total organic and inorganic carbon content and mineral associated organic carbon in the fine fraction (MAOC) estimated via their reference value using existing maps of pedogenons and current landuse to identify areas of remnant genosoils (total organic and inorganic carbon) and the 90th percentile for MAOC. For condition we used the same set of indicators, but this time using the estimated current value and comparing with their reference-state values (calculated for capacity). The methodology was applied to the whole of Australia at a spatial resolution of 90 m × 90 m. The results show that the unitless indicator values supporting the function varied greatly in Australia. Aggregation of the indicators into the two dimensions of capacity and condition revealed that most of Australia has a relatively low capacity to support the function, but that most soils are in a generally good condition relative to that capacity, with some exceptions in agricultural areas, although more sampling of the remnant genosoils is required for corroboration and improvement. The maps of capacity and condition may serve as a basis to estimate a spatially-explicit local index of Australia's soil resilience to the threat of decarbonization. • Methodology based on the soil security assessment framework. • Quantification of the capacity and condition of the soil to store carbon. • Spatial estimation of the utility to support carbon storage for three indicators. • Australia has low capacity, but overall good condition to store carbon. • Intensive up-to-date sampling is required to corroborate the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry, a sustainable land-use system that integrates trees with crops and/or livestock, is recognized as an effective strategy for synergizing climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in India. However, the prevalence of limited land under agroforestry indicates the presence of significant constraints hindering its widespread implementation. To address this challenge, the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) represents a potentially potent policy tool for driving the expansion of agroforestry at the sub-national level. The aim of this study was to examine (i) how the SAPCCs recognized and reported the benefits of agroforestry for climate change adaptation and mitigation, and (ii) what policy approaches are put forth to operationalize agroforestry in India. For this study, the information on agroforestry was coded using a hybrid approach (a combination of deductive and inductive coding) followed by thematic analysis and peer debriefing (for validation of the generated codes and themes). Many of the mitigation and adaptation benefits of agroforestry are reflected in the SAPCCs. However, the predominant focus of these SAPCCs has been on tree-based agroforestry, with insufficient attention given to the crop-tree-livestock nexus, which could offer greater scope for reducing agricultural emissions. Furthermore, existing constraints to the expansion of agroforestry have not been adequately addressed, and the strategies proposed lack the necessary precision to enable effective implementation on the ground. These shortcomings are further compounded by the absence of accurate budgetary estimates, thereby hindering the ability to execute meaningful actions at the grassroots level. The results of this study could offer valuable perspectives on how the potential benefits of agroforestry may be harnessed more prudently to realize mitigation and adaptation outcomes in India while aligning with the country's Nationally Determined Contributions and building sustainable livelihood. [Display omitted] • India's sub-national climate change action plans acknowledge agroforestry's potential for climate change adaptation and mitigation. • However, the plans primarily focus on adding trees to expand agroforestry and overlook the potential of agrosilvopastoral systems. • The existing constraints of agroforestry adoption in India are not sufficiently addressed, and budget estimates vary significantly among states. • To address these issues, the plans require revision to incorporate specific actions and a clear implementation roadmap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural landscapes play a crucial role in global carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. The presence of trees outside forests has been recognized as a significant carbon pool, but it is crucial to acknowledge that these trees serve purposes beyond being a carbon sink. This study focuses on integrating border trees and home gardens as distinct land use classes in Indonesian Javanese agricultural land to assess their impact on carbon stock potential and biodiversity connections. The objective is to classify and quantify the tree composition of these classes, estimate their carbon stock potential, analyze plant species diversity, and identify the ecological connections between home gardens and field borders. To achieve this, high-resolution multispectral and Synthetic Aperture Radar images were used from four sampling areas covering 100 km2 each in Lamongan and Malang districts, East Java, Indonesia, for land cover/land use mapping. The land use function method was used to identify border trees and home gardens as separate land use classes. Carbon stock potential was estimated based on tree cover composition, while plant species diversity was analyzed through field surveys and farmer focus group discussions. Crops with border trees cover approximately 28% to 48% of the cropland area in the study sites, while home gardens represent about 74% to 85% of the settlement area. This suggests a potential to double tree presence in these sites by adopting border trees and home gardens practices across the entire area. The median tree cover ratio was around 27% for border trees and 33% for home gardens. This stratification approach identified 31% to 50% more carbon stock compared to calculations using standard classes. Furthermore, home gardens and border trees show a positive correlation with species richness, indicating their role as keepers of biodiversity. Therefore, home gardens and border trees could serve as a sustainability indicator for agricultural land in the Javanese farm system. This research contributes to sustainable agricultural practices and climate change mitigation. The stratification approach of identifying border trees and home gardens offers a cost-effective approach for the better computation of carbon stock and can lead to effective land use policies and conservation measures that promote ecological resilience. The study provides valuable insights for similar agricultural contexts worldwide, guiding efforts toward a more sustainable agricultural future. [Display omitted] • Trees outside forests constitute significant carbon pools and play diverse ecological roles, not just carbon sinks. • Proposed classification categories of "home gardens" & "border trees" can enhance our understanding of their functions. • Multispectral and Synthetic Aperture Radar images were used for the analysis of land use and land cover. • This stratification approach identifies 31–50% more carbon stock than the conventional approach. • The home gardens and border trees area have a positive correlation with the number of species richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Climate smart practices increase soil carbon in a Corn Belt agricultural field. • Eddy covariance and soil sample analyses both detected increases in SOC. • Net Ecosystem Carbon Balance showed the most increase during the non-cash crop season. Climate smart agricultural practices have received considerable attention recently for their potential for climate change mitigation through sequestering atmospheric carbon. Despite the enthusiasm for climate smart practices, there is limited evidence they are more effective at removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the soil than current practices. We hypothesized that a field with aspirational (ASP) practices (i.e., no-till corn-soybean-wheat-hay rotation with cover crops) would accumulate more soil organic carbon (SOC) versus a business-as-usual (BAU) field (i.e., conventional-tillage, corn-soybean-soybean rotation). We used deep soil cores (1 m) to assess changes in soil organic carbon (ΔSOC) between 2016 and 2022 for the two fields and compare with estimates based on eddy covariance calculation of ΔSOC. We found that the ASP field had ΔSOC that was positive, and larger than the BAU field. Both the soil sample method (ΔSOC SS) and the eddy covariance method (ΔSOC EC) agreed on this point, but the magnitude of ΔSOC was much larger when estimated with soil samples (ΔSOC SS was 1.9 ± 1.7 % yr−1 and -0.7 ± 1.3 % yr−1 at ASP and BAU, respectively) than with eddy covariance (ΔSOC EC was 0.80 ± 0.09 % yr−1 and 0.12 ± 0.06 % yr−1 at ASP and BAU, respectively). Finally, we used the continuous measurements of carbon fluxes from the eddy covariance towers to examine how conservation practices (cover crops, no-till, or expanded crop rotation) led to increased carbon storage. We found that unharvested cover crops add carbon to the soil that offsets net carbon losses that otherwise reduce soil carbon storage when the field is fallow. No-till and expanded crop rotations also affect the carbon budget of the agro-ecosystems. Results from this study illustrate the value of conservation practices in a changing climate and the value of eddy covariance measurements for assessing climate smart practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop residue burning is a common practice in many parts of the world that causes air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Regenerative practices that return residues to the soil offer a 'no burn' pathway for addressing air pollution while building soil organic carbon (SOC). Nevertheless, GHG emissions in rice-based agricultural systems are complex and difficult to anticipate, particularly in production contexts with highly variable hydrologic conditions. Here we predict long-term net GHG fluxes for four rice residue management strategies in the context of rice-wheat cropping systems in Eastern India: burning, soil incorporation, livestock fodder, and biochar. Estimations were based on a combination of Tier 1, 2, and 3 modelling approaches, including 100-year DNDC simulations across three representative soil hydrologic categories (i.e., dry, median, and wet). Overall, residue burning resulted in total direct GHG fluxes of 2.5, 6.1, and 8.7 Mg CO 2 -e in the dry, median, and wet hydrologic categories, respectively. Relative to emissions from burning (positive values indicate an increase) for the same dry to wet hydrologic categories, soil incorporation resulted in a −0.2, 1.8, or 3.1 Mg CO 2 -e change in emissions whereas use of residues for livestock fodder increased emissions by 2.0, 2.1, or 2.3 Mg CO 2 -e. Biochar reduced emissions relative to burning by 2.9 Mg CO 2 -e in all hydrologic categories. This study showed that the production environment has a controlling effect on methane and, therefore, net GHG balance. For example, wetter sites had 2.8–4.0 times greater CH 4 emissions, on average, than dry sites when rice residues were returned to the soil. To effectively mitigate burning without undermining climate change mitigation goals, our results suggest that geographically-target approaches should be used in the rice-based systems of Eastern India to incentivize the adoption of regenerative 'no burn' residue management practices. • Efforts to build SOC for climate change mitigation, while simultaneously avoiding burning, may have unintended consequences. • Tier 1, 2, and 3 modelling approaches were used to compare no-burn rice residue pathways. • Field hydrology had a dominant effect on methane emissions. • Soil incorporation of residues increased emissions relative to open burning, except in comparatively dry fields. • Biochar is estimated to have the lowest GHG emissions of the evaluated 'no burn' alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]