Role of tillage and straw management on SOC sequestration: a sustainable approach of soil conservation

• Published in: Pure and applied biology Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 160 - 181
• Main Author: Kubar, Kashif Ali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Quetta International Society of Pure and Applied Biology 10.03.2021
• Subjects: Agricultural management; Agricultural practices; Agriculture; Biological properties; Carbon sequestration; Climate change; Crop residues; Crops; Decomposition; Developing countries; Ecosystems; Environmental changes; Field tests; LDCs; Nutrients; Organic carbon; Organic soils; Respiration; Reviews; Soil conservation; Soil fertility; Soil management; Soil profiles; Soil properties; Soil quality; Straw; Surface layers; Terrestrial environments; Tillage; Canada
• ISSN: 2304-2478; 2304-2478
• DOI: 10.19045/bspab.2021.100018

Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration can be achieved by changing the conventional practices to less intensive methods, i.e., no-tillage with straw management. The present review aimed to comprehend the existing knowledge on the impact of tillage and straw management practices on SOC sequestration. Along with the benefits/effects of no-tillage and straw management practices, the limitations and prospects in the context of SOC sequestration were also discussed. The present review provided the contemporary synthesis of existing information on the benefits of soil conservative practices over conventional tillage concerning physicochemical and biological properties. No-tillage with straw management have the potential effects for SOC on surface layers. However, additional studies are wanted to investigate the potential influences of tillage and straw management practices on the SOC distribution either in the surface layer or deeper layers. It has been widely reviewed from the complied litrature review that no-till soils have increased the SOC in surface layers but might not be accompanying with increased SOC throughout the soil profile. There is still knowledge gaps exist especially about SOC sequestration, which must be talked, i.e., sampling depth, and study places distribution, etc. Moreover, the mechanisms of SOC sequestration are still not fully understood. The valuation of soil quality is complex, and demands widespread and systematic research. The present review also summarized the suitable options to increase the SOC sequestration by tillage and straw management practices. Innovative approaches are needed for the application of straw management in combination with no- tillage, require further practical assessment under long-term field experiments. Available evidence still evokes that soil management practices in the agriculture have the potential in long-term studies to increase terrestrial SOC sequestration with potential benefits to environmental ecosystems.