Summary
This Nature perspective paper, authored by leading soil scientists, synthesises evidence on how climate-smart soil management practices—including reduced tillage, cover cropping, manure application, and erosion control—can simultaneously mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and enhance agricultural resilience to climate variability. The authors argue that optimising soil carbon sequestration and reducing soil-based emissions represents a significant but underutilised opportunity within global climate mitigation strategies, whilst improving soil function and productivity. The paper suggests that context-specific soil management solutions are essential, as effectiveness varies by soil type, climate, and farming system.
UK applicability
Findings are broadly applicable to UK farming, particularly for arable and mixed systems where adoption of reduced tillage, cover crops, and integrated nutrient management are compatible with existing agricultural policy frameworks. The emphasis on regionally-tailored approaches aligns well with UK soil variability and differing climatic zones across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Key measures
Soil carbon stocks, greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, CH4, N2O), soil water retention, soil health indicators, climate resilience metrics
Outcomes reported
The paper examines how soil management practices can contribute to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, whilst enhancing soil resilience and adaptive capacity in agricultural systems.
Topic tags
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