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Science 16 April 2004:
Vol. 304. no. 5669, p. 393
DOI: 10.1126/science.1093079
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Policy Forum

ECOLOGY:
Managing Soil Carbon

Rattan Lal,1* Michael Griffin,2 Jay Apt,2,3 Lester Lave,2,3 M. Granger Morgan3

Current farming practices deplete soil carbon, which degrades soil quality, reduces productivity, and results in the need for more fertilization, irrigation, and pesticides. No-till farming with residue mulching would reverse these effects by slowing soil erosion and pollution runoff, benefiting aquatic ecosystems, improving agronomic productivity, and achieving food security. The authors of this Policy Forum urge support for its wider use. Although there may be short-term yield reductions in some soils and climates, this is a win-win opportunity for the vast majority of the 95% of the cropland that does not use these more sustainable practices.

1Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210; 2Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213; 3Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.

*Author for correspondence. E-mail: lal.1{at}osu.edu

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Nondestructive System for Analyzing Carbon in the Soil.
L. Wielopolski, G. Hendrey, K. H. Johnsen, S. Mitra, S. A. Prior, H. H. Rogers, and H. A. Torbert (2008)
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 72, 1269-1277
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Do Productivity and Environmental Trade-offs Justify Periodically Cultivating No-till Cropping Systems?.
A. S. Grandy, G. P. Robertson, and K. D. Thelen (2006)
Agron. J. 98, 1377-1383
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Tillage and Nitrogen Effects on Soil Organic Matter Fractions in Wheat-based Systems.
F. Dou and F. M. Hons (2006)
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 70, 1896-1905
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Nitrogen Fertilization and Cropping System Impacts on Soil Quality in Midwestern Mollisols.
A. E. Russell, D. A. Laird, and A. P. Mallarino (2006)
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 70, 249-255
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Comment on "Managing Soil Carbon" (I).
K. Van Oost, G. Govers, T. A. Quine, and G. Heckrath (2004)
Science 305, 1567b
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Comment on "Managing Soil Carbon" (II).
W. H. Renwick, S. V. Smith, R. O. Sleezer, and R. W. Buddemeier (2004)
Science 305, 1567c
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Soil Carbon Sequestration Impacts on Global Climate Change and Food Security.
R. Lal (2004)
Science 304, 1623-1627
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


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