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The potential for enhancing soil carbon levels through the use of organic soil amendments in Queensland, Australia

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Abstract

Application of organic amendments such as livestock manures and compost is commonly listed amongst strategies with potential to sequester soil organic carbon (SOC) in agriculture and contribute to climate change mitigation. However, quantifying this potential is hampered by the paucity of data on amounts and characteristics of organic amendments applied to land, and limited understanding of the carbon dynamics during storage, processing and following land application. The objective of this study was to evaluate this potential for the State of Queensland, Australia, by collating and analysing information on organic amendments and modelling SOC sequestration in illustrative cropping locations. An estimated 2.7 million tonnes (Mt) dry matter (dm) of organic amendments has likely been land applied in Queensland in 2015/16, supplying significant quantities of carbon (C) to the soil. Simulations with Australia’s national inventory modelling tool predicted that, in a favourable location, high annual applications of manure and compost (10 t / 15 t fresh matter (fm) per hectare and year (ha−1 yr−1) could result in SOC increases of 0.9% and 0.55%, respectively, per year averaged over 20 years of continuous cropping, exceeding the aspirational goal of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 4 per 1000 Initiative. In less favourable conditions, C stocks may continue to decline but at a slower rate than without organic amendments. Based on regional analysis and review of current understanding of the dynamics of organic matter in soils, we identified a set of research priorities to enable more accurate assessments of the C sequestration potential to support development of policies and frameworks for use of organic amendments in agricultural soils for climate, food security and waste management benefits.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Miss Kelly Bryant, Senior Land Resource Officer, Queensland Department of Environment and Science for her help in navigating the ABBA data and methodologies. Likewise, we are grateful to Jessica Allen, Environmental Officer, Arkwood Organic Recycling for help aligning biosolids quantities, and determining biosolids land application areas.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Johannes Biala, Shweta Singh & Joshua Bennett-Jones

  2. Centre for Recycling of Organic Waste & Nutrients, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia

    Johannes Biala

  3. Frontier Ag & Environment, Smythes Creek, Australia

    Kevin Wilkinson

  4. Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

    Beverley Henry & Daniele De Rosa

Authors
  1. Johannes Biala
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  2. Kevin Wilkinson
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  3. Beverley Henry
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  4. Shweta Singh
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  5. Joshua Bennett-Jones
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  6. Daniele De Rosa
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Correspondence to Johannes Biala.

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Communicated by Cornelia Rumpel and accepted by Topical Collection Chief Editor Christopher Reyer

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Regional management practices with positive effects on soil carbon to meet the goals of the 4p1000 initiative

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Biala, J., Wilkinson, K., Henry, B. et al. The potential for enhancing soil carbon levels through the use of organic soil amendments in Queensland, Australia. Reg Environ Change 21, 95 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-021-01813-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-021-01813-y

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