Carbon Cycle and Sequestration in Terrestrial Ecosystems with Specific Reference to Mediterranean and Boreal Regions

Abstract

Soil functions as a sink and contributes to the process of CO₂ reduction in the atmosphere. Benefits of terrestrial sequestration of carbon are well understood. About 75% of terrestrial carbon occurs in the soil and therefore soils are essential for carbon sequestration. The maximum capacity for sequestering carbon has not been well established. There is a strong need for applied research to determine the actual values that can be used to calculate the economic benefits of carbon sequestration. Numerous methods of sequestering carbon in agricultural land have been tested. Understanding how to increase soil carbon stocks in agricultural lands is critical to increasing the sustainability of food production. The lands in the Mediterranean area are characterized by a wide diversity of soils, landscape, vegetation, and formation time and, especially, the long-term influence of human activities. The effect of anthropogenic intervention on soil organic carbon (SOC) in these ecosystems is unknown. Strategies for sustainable soil management in Mediterranean regions include conserving soil organic matter, minimizing erosion, enhancing soil fertility, and balancing production with environmental sustainability, especially in areas subject to drought. Increasing numbers of research studies provide an excellent insight into understanding soil organic matter stocks and possibility sequestering carbon in soils around the Mediterranean region. Prairie soils in Boreal Canada have likely lost more than 50% of their original carbon. However, studies have suggested that with conservation tillage and adequate fertilization, a significant increase in soil organic carbon over present-day levels could be sequestered with time and consequently increase soil quality and productivity.