Summary
This global meta-analysis synthesises empirical data on soil organic carbon dynamics under perennial crops, comparing transitions from annual cropping, natural pasture, and forest systems. Conversion from annual to perennial crops yielded a 20% SOC gain in the top 30 cm (6.0 ± 4.6 Mg/ha) over 20 years, whilst transitions from pasture resulted in SOC losses. The authors present evidence supporting perennial crop adoption as a climate change mitigation strategy, with temperature and crop age identified as primary drivers of SOC accumulation.
UK applicability
The findings are potentially relevant to UK policy on perennial crop adoption and soil carbon sequestration targets, though the global dataset may not fully capture UK-specific soil conditions, climate gradients, or perennial crop types (e.g. energy grasses, agroforestry systems) commonly deployed in British agriculture. Site-specific validation would be needed to apply these estimates to UK baseline and projection scenarios.
Key measures
Soil organic carbon stocks (Mg/ha) at 0–30 cm and 0–100 cm soil depth; percentage change in SOC following land use transitions; temporal accumulation rates; driver variables including temperature, crop age, soil bulk density, clay content, and depth
Outcomes reported
The study quantified changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks following conversion from annual to perennial crops, and from other land uses to perennial crops, using a global paired-comparison dataset. It developed an empirical model to predict SOC changes as a function of time, land use, site characteristics, and crop type.
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