Carbon sequestration in temperate grassland ecosystems and the influence of management, climate and elevated CO2

• Published in: The New phytologist 2004-12, Vol.164 (3), p.423-439
• Main Authors: Jones, M. B., Donnelly, Alison
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural soils; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon dioxide; Carbon sequestration; Clay soils; climate change; ecosystems; elevated CO2; environmental models; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grassland soils; grasslands; literature reviews; management practices; Organic soils; Soil biology; Soil ecology; Soil organic carbon; Soil organic matter; soil-atmosphere interactions; Synecology; Tansley Review; temperate grasslands; temperate zones; Terrestrial ecosystems
• ISSN: 0028-646X; 1469-8137
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01201.x

The substantial stocks of carbon sequestered in temperate grassland ecosystems are located largely below ground in roots and soil. Organic C in the soil is located in discrete pools, but the characteristics of these pools are still uncertain. Carbon sequestration can be determined directly by measuring changes in C pools, indirectly by using 13 C as a tracer, or by simulation modelling. All these methods have their limitations, but long-term estimates rely almost exclusively on modelling. Measured and modelled rates of C sequestration range from 0 to > 8 Mg C ha-1 yr-1. Management practices, climate and elevated CO2 strongly influence C sequestration rates and their influence on future C stocks in grassland soils is considered. Currently there is significant potential to increase C sequestration in temperate grassland systems by changes in management, but climate change and increasing CO5 concentrations in future will also have significant impacts. Global warming may negate any storage stimulated by changed management and elevated CO2, although there is increasing evidence that the reverse could be the case.