Enhancing natural cycles in agro-ecosystems to boost plant carbon capture and soil storage

Wolfram Buss, Kirsty Yeates, Eelco J Rohling, Justin Borevitz Abstract One of society’s greatest challenges is sequestering vast amounts of carbon to avoid dangerous climate change without driving competition for land and resources. Here we assess the potential of an integrated approach based on enhancement of natural biogeochemical cycles in agro-ecosystems that stimulate carbon capture and storage while increasing resilience and long-term productivity. The method integrates plant photosynthesis in the form of (cover) crops and agroforestry, which drives carbon capture. Belowground plant-carbon is efficiently stored as stable soil organic ...