Enhancing the soil quality through carbon sequestration: A review

Abstract

Agricultural soils can either absorb or emit atmospheric CO2, depending on management practices and land use patterns. To address the progressive increase in greenhouse gases (GHGs) since the industrial era, carbon sequestration is crucial for maintaining optimal CO2 levels in the atmosphere, thereby reducing global warming. Soils store 2-4 times more carbon than the atmosphere and 4 times more than vegetation, with a potential carbon sequestration rate of 0.4-1.2 Gt C/year. Legume-based crop rotation is more effective in converting biomass carbon into soil organic carbon than grass-based rotation. Rotational grazing enhances grass quality and reduces CO2 emissions. Additionally, producing and mixing biochar into soil is another approach to sequester atmospheric carbon, highlighting the significant impact of soil carbon sinks on mitigating climate change.