Summary
This Swiss modelling study presents an integrated assessment linking soil carbon sequestration potential to food production and agricultural GHG emissions across three management scenarios to 2050 and beyond. The analysis reveals that whilst cover cropping, biochar addition, and agroforestry-biochar addition can sequester 0.30–2.3 t CO2-eq ha−1 yr−1 in the near term, these rates decline substantially after 2050 due to competing constraints on land, biomass availability, and the need to maintain food production for a growing population. The findings emphasise that sustainable net-zero strategies require integrated assessment of trade-offs between carbon sequestration and food security.
UK applicability
The modelling framework and constraint-based approach are methodologically relevant to UK agricultural planning; however, the findings are calibrated for Swiss agroclimatic conditions, topography, and food system structure. UK applicability would require analogous modelling using domestic land availability, cropping patterns, and population projections.
Key measures
Soil carbon sequestration rates (t CO2-eq ha−1 yr−1); agricultural greenhouse gas emissions; constraints from land availability, biomass availability, and population growth
Outcomes reported
The study modelled soil carbon sequestration (SCS) rates under three agricultural practices (cover cropping, biochar addition, and agroforestry-biochar) from 2020–2050 and beyond 2050, whilst accounting for constraints imposed by land availability, biomass availability, population growth, and food production requirements. It quantified both SCS potential and associated agricultural greenhouse gas emissions to inform net-zero strategy planning.
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