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Cited by 2,215Soil Carbon and Nitrogen DynamicsSoil Management and Crop YieldSoil erosion and sediment transport

Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Rates by Tillage and Crop Rotation: A Global Data Analysis

West, Tristram O., Post, Wilfred M.·2002·Soil Science Society of America Journal
DOI 10.2136/sssaj2002.1930
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Abstract

Changes in agricultural management can potentially increase the accumulation rate of soil organic C (SOC), thereby sequestering CO 2 from the atmosphere. This study was conducted to quantify potential soil C sequestration rates for different crops in response to decreasing tillage intensity or enhancing rotation complexity, and to estimate the duration of time over which sequestration may occur. Analyses of C sequestration rates were completed using a global database of 67 long‐term agricultural experiments, consisting of 276 paired treatments. Results indicate, on average, that a change from conventional tillage (CT) to no‐till (NT) can sequester 57 ± 14 g C m −2 yr −1 , excluding wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)‐fallow systems which may not result in SOC accumulation with a change from CT to NT. Enhancing rotation complexity can sequester an average 20 ± 12 g C m −2 yr −1 , excluding a change from continuous corn ( Zea mays L.) to corn‐soybean ( Glycine max L.) which may not result in a significant accumulation of SOC. Carbon sequestration rates, with a change from CT to NT, can be expected to peak in 5 to 10 yr with SOC reaching a new equilibrium in 15 to 20 yr. Following initiation of an enhancement in rotation complexity, SOC may reach a new equilibrium in approximately 40 to 60 yr. Carbon sequestration rates, estimated for a number of individual crops and crop rotations in this study, can be used in spatial modeling analyses to more accurately predict regional, national, and global C sequestration potentials.

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Crossref · 10.2136/sssaj2002.1930

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104 of 104 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Reduced tillage results in soil C sequestration.

    “Conversely, reduced tillage results in soil C sequestration (e.g., West & Post, 2002;Bernacchi et al., 2005;Grandy & Robertson, 2007), and SOC accumulation under perennial grasses grown on former cropland may be partially attributable to the cessation of tillage.”

    From Changes in soil organic carbon under biofuel crops (2009) · cites this paper as West & Post, 2002

  • A decrease in residue decomposition due to reduced soil tillage increases SOC.

    “A decrease in residue decomposition due to reduced soil tillage (Paustian et al. 2000, West and Post 2002) and reduced quality of crop residues (Heal et al. 1997) also increases SOC.”

    From LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF NET GREENHOUSE-GAS FLUX FOR BIOENERGY CROPPING SYSTEMS (2007) · cites this paper as West and Post 2002

  • Monoculture corn has been observed to have higher SOC than corn-soybean rotation.

    “Monoculture corn has been observed to have higher SOC than corn-soybean rotation (Havlin et al. 1990, Studdert and Echeverria 2000, West and Post 2002) since soybean provides less residue input to the soil than corn.”

    From LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF NET GREENHOUSE-GAS FLUX FOR BIOENERGY CROPPING SYSTEMS (2007) · cites this paper as West and Post 2002

  • The study does not assume any gains in soil organic carbon content in the AW scenarios between 1961 and 2005.

    “Although management practices, such as conservation tillage, can increase soil organic carbon content in both extensive and intensive systems ([15](#r15), [16](#r16)), we do not assume any such gains in the AW scenarios between 1961 and 2005.”

    From Greenhouse gas mitigation by agricultural intensification (2010) · cites this paper as [16]

  • No-till agriculture assists carbon sequestration and decreases soil erosion.

    “Ploughing releases SOC and, in a similar vein, no-till agriculture (that may also be used with perennial crops) assists carbon sequestration and decreases soil erosion (e.g.Paustian et al., 2000;West and Post, 2002;Sainju et al., 2003;Lal et al., 2004;Bernacchi et al., 2005;Amado et al., 2006;Montgomery, 2007;Huggins and Reganold, 2008;Villamil et al., 2008;Lo ´pez-Bellido et al., 2010)”

    From Breeding crop plants with deep roots: their role in sustainable carbon, nutrient and water sequestration (2011) · cites this paper as West and Post, 2002

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Authors
West, T. O., & Post, W. M.
Affiliations
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (US)
Corresponding author
West, Tristram O.
ORCID
Venue
Soil Science Society of America Journal
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2002-11
Volume
66
Issue
6
Pages
1930-1946
ISSN
  • 0361-5995 (ISSN-L)
  • 1435-0661
DOI
10.2136/sssaj2002.1930
OpenAlex
W136628441
Cited by
2,215
References
104
Citations by year
2026: 65 · 2025: 92 · 2024: 93 · 2023: 78 · 2022: 104 · 2021: 105 · 2020: 114 · 2019: 103 · 2018: 111 · 2017: 126 · 2016: 104 · 2015: 127 · 2014: 137 · 2013: 127 · 2012: 128
FWCI
62.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
Soil Science Society of America Journal (publishedVersion)
Funders
Curtin University of Technology
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Management and Crop Yield
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil erosion and sediment transport
Keywords
soil organic carbon sequestration, carbon sequestration rate, no-tillage, conventional tillage, long-term agricultural experiments, carbon sequestration potential

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