Vinasse application and cessation of burning in sugarcane management can have positive impact on soil carbon stocks

Zani, Caio F.; Barneze, Arlete S.; Robertson, Andy D.; Keith, Aidan M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9619-1320; Cerri, Carlos E.P.; McNamara, Niall P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5143-5819; Cerri, Carlos C.. 2018 Vinasse application and cessation of burning in sugarcane management can have positive impact on soil carbon stocks. PeerJ, 6, e5398. 30, pp. 10.7717/peerj.5398

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Abstract/Summary

Bioenergy crops, such as sugarcane, have the potential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions through fossil fuel substitution. However, increased sugarcane propagation and recent management changes have raised concerns that these practices may deplete soil carbon (C) stocks, thereby limiting the net greenhouse gas benefit. In this study, we use both a measured and modelled approach to evaluate the impacts of two common sugarcane management practices on soil C sequestration potential in Brazil. We explore how transitions from conventional (mineral fertiliser/burning) to improved (vinasse application/unburned) practices influence soil C stocks in total and in physically fractionated soil down to one metre. Results suggest that vinasse application leads to an accumulation of soil C of 0.55 Mg ha−1yr−1 at 0–30 cm depth and applying unburned management led to gains of ∼0.7 Mg ha−1yr−1 at 30–60 cm depth. Soil C concentration in the Silt+Clay fraction of topsoil (0–20 cm) showed higher C content in unburned management but it did not differ under vinasse application. The CENTURY model was used to simulate the consequences of management changes beyond the temporal extent of the measurements. Simulations indicated that vinasse was not the key factor driving increases in soil C stocks but its application may be the most readily available practice to prevent the soil C losses under burned management. Furthermore, cessation of burning may increase topsoil C by 40% after ∼50 years. These are the first data comparing different sugarcane management transitions within a single area. Our findings indicate that both vinasse application and the cessation of burning can play an important role in reducing the time required for sugarcane ethanol production to reach a net C benefit (payback time).

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.7717/peerj.5398
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-) Unaffiliated
ISSN:	2167-8359
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	soil science, natural resource management, biogeochemistry, physical fractionation, soil carbon profile, payback time, CENTURY model, bioenergy crop, management practice changes
NORA Subject Terms:	Agriculture and Soil Science
Date made live:	15 Aug 2018 09:51 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/520708

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