Summary
This study integrates soil carbon dynamic modelling (RothC) with life cycle assessment to evaluate the full environmental profile of three carbon farming practices on arable land in Northern Italy. Whilst farmyard manure application achieved the highest carbon sequestration (4.89 t C ha⁻¹ over 20 years), it substantially increased acidification, eutrophication and ozone formation impacts compared to conventional agriculture. Cover crops and reduced tillage offered more balanced environmental profiles with moderate carbon benefits and reduced trade-offs, suggesting that comprehensive system-level assessment is essential to avoid optimising solely for carbon sequestration whilst exacerbating other environmental impacts.
UK applicability
The findings are relevant to UK arable systems, particularly regarding the application of manure-based carbon farming practices and their unintended environmental consequences. However, results are specific to Northern Italian soil and climate conditions, and UK farms should commission context-specific LCA assessments before adopting these practices, especially given potential differences in soil type, rainfall and baseline management intensity.
Key measures
SOC sequestration (t C ha⁻¹ over 20 years and t CO₂ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹); GHG emissions; acidification potential; marine eutrophication; terrestrial eutrophication; photochemical ozone formation
Outcomes reported
The study quantified soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and comprehensive environmental impacts (GHG emissions, acidification, eutrophication, ozone formation) across three carbon farming practices on arable land in Northern Italy using RothC modelling and life cycle assessment.
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