An evaluation of soil carbon models and their role on finding ways to net-zero carbon in agricultural systems

Autores
Vazquez Amabile, Gabriel; Studdert, Guillermo; Ogle, Stephen M.; Beltran, Marcelo Javier; Said, Andrés Demián; Galbusera, Sebastián; Montiel, Fátima Soledad; Moreno, Rocio; Ricard, María Florencia
Año de publicación
2025
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
The estimation of changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key issue for national green-house gasses (GHG) inventories, climate change mitigation programs and the estimation of carbon footprint of farm products in life cycle assessments. Any strategy related to net-zero carbon in agricultural systems needs to quantify the SOC balance. In this way, SOC models help decision makers involved in agriculture to understand the dynamics of the SOC and the interaction between all variables related to soil, climate, land use, and management, to design the best solution to reduce emissions or enable carbon sequestration. Likewise, it is important to identify suitable models for the region. This study aims to address three main subjects: a) a discussion on the importance of SOC estimation for GHG inventories and the carbon footprint of crops, using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 1 method and AMG model; b) an evaluation and brief description of the IPCC “Steady State Method” (SSM), using experimental data from two sites in Argentina, comparing these results to AMG and RothC models (both previously validated at those sites); and c) a brief discussion about the potential use of SOC models for what-if management scenarios, their real limitations and future research needs. The three models were consistent in predicting the impact of tillage and the long-term trends in changes in SOC stocks under different management practices. The SSM model was evaluated for the first time in Argentina and performed even better than the other two models. It was consistent with the observed values, when predicting the effect of tillage system under different crop rotations, including pasture systems. Regarding efficiencies of the models, they showed acceptable Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) values, and the root mean square error (RMSE) was also acceptable between 3 % and 7 %, within a range of 4–5 Mg C.ha−1. Therefore, the SSM model proved to be a valuable tool to estimate SOC trends for crop and pasture rotations under different management scenarios (i.e., tillage systems and fertilization), to identify best practices that allow for a zero or positive SOC balance, in two different soil and climate conditions of the Pampean Region of Argentina. In our study, the SSM did have a better fit to the data and, furthermore, this Tier 2 method is simpler than the Tier 3 models, and, therefore, is advantageous for conducting regional assessments and GHG inventories.
Instituto de Suelos
Fil: Vazquez Amabile, Gabriel. Asociación Argentina de Consorcios Regionales de Experimentación Agrícola; Argentina.
Fil: Vazquez Amabile, Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; Argentina.
Fil: Studdert, Guillermo Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Unidad Integrada; Argentina
Fil: Studdert, Guillermo Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Unidad Integrada; Argentina
Fil: Ogle, Stephen M. Colorado State University. Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; Estados Unidos
Fil: Ogle, Stephen M. Colorado State University. Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory; Estados Unidos
Fil: Beltran, Marcelo Javier. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos; Argentina
Fil: Beltran, Marcelo Javier. Universidad Nacional de San Antonio de Areco; Argentina
Fil: Said, Andrés Demián. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina
Fil: Said, Andrés Demián. Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca de la Nación; Argentina
Fil: Galbusera, Sebastián. Secretaría de Turismo, Ambiente y Deportes de la Nación, Dirección Nacional de Cambio Climático; Argentina
Fil: Montiel, Fátima Soledad. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Unidad Integrada; Argentina
Fil: Montiel, Fátima Soledad. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Unidad Integrada; Argentina
Fil: Moreno, Rocío. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Unidad Integrada; Argentina
Fil: Moreno, Rocío. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Unidad Integrada; Argentina
Fil: Ricard, María Florencia. Provincia de La Pampa. Secretaría de Ambiente y Cambio Climático; Argentina
Fil: Ricard, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa; Argentina
Fil: Ricard, Maria Florencia. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa; Argentina
Fil: Ricard, Maria Florencia. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina
Fuente
Soil and Tillage Research 246 : 106342. (February 2025)
Materia
Carbono Orgánico del Suelo
Carbono
Sistemas de Explotación
Huella de Carbono
Gases de Efecto Invernadero
Soil Organic Carbon
Carbon
Farming Systems
Carbon Footprint
Greenhouse Gases
Agricultural Systems
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso restringido
Condiciones de uso
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Repositorio
INTA Digital (INTA)
Institución
Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
OAI Identificador
oai:localhost:20.500.12123/21751

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spelling An evaluation of soil carbon models and their role on finding ways to net-zero carbon in agricultural systemsVazquez Amabile, GabrielStuddert, GuillermoOgle, Stephen M.Beltran, Marcelo JavierSaid, Andrés DemiánGalbusera, SebastiánMontiel, Fátima SoledadMoreno, RocioRicard, María FlorenciaCarbono Orgánico del SueloCarbonoSistemas de ExplotaciónHuella de CarbonoGases de Efecto InvernaderoSoil Organic CarbonCarbonFarming SystemsCarbon FootprintGreenhouse GasesAgricultural SystemsThe estimation of changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key issue for national green-house gasses (GHG) inventories, climate change mitigation programs and the estimation of carbon footprint of farm products in life cycle assessments. Any strategy related to net-zero carbon in agricultural systems needs to quantify the SOC balance. In this way, SOC models help decision makers involved in agriculture to understand the dynamics of the SOC and the interaction between all variables related to soil, climate, land use, and management, to design the best solution to reduce emissions or enable carbon sequestration. Likewise, it is important to identify suitable models for the region. This study aims to address three main subjects: a) a discussion on the importance of SOC estimation for GHG inventories and the carbon footprint of crops, using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 1 method and AMG model; b) an evaluation and brief description of the IPCC “Steady State Method” (SSM), using experimental data from two sites in Argentina, comparing these results to AMG and RothC models (both previously validated at those sites); and c) a brief discussion about the potential use of SOC models for what-if management scenarios, their real limitations and future research needs. The three models were consistent in predicting the impact of tillage and the long-term trends in changes in SOC stocks under different management practices. The SSM model was evaluated for the first time in Argentina and performed even better than the other two models. It was consistent with the observed values, when predicting the effect of tillage system under different crop rotations, including pasture systems. Regarding efficiencies of the models, they showed acceptable Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) values, and the root mean square error (RMSE) was also acceptable between 3 % and 7 %, within a range of 4–5 Mg C.ha−1. Therefore, the SSM model proved to be a valuable tool to estimate SOC trends for crop and pasture rotations under different management scenarios (i.e., tillage systems and fertilization), to identify best practices that allow for a zero or positive SOC balance, in two different soil and climate conditions of the Pampean Region of Argentina. In our study, the SSM did have a better fit to the data and, furthermore, this Tier 2 method is simpler than the Tier 3 models, and, therefore, is advantageous for conducting regional assessments and GHG inventories.Instituto de SuelosFil: Vazquez Amabile, Gabriel. Asociación Argentina de Consorcios Regionales de Experimentación Agrícola; Argentina.Fil: Vazquez Amabile, Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; Argentina.Fil: Studdert, Guillermo Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Unidad Integrada; ArgentinaFil: Studdert, Guillermo Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Unidad Integrada; ArgentinaFil: Ogle, Stephen M. Colorado State University. Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; Estados UnidosFil: Ogle, Stephen M. Colorado State University. Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Beltran, Marcelo Javier. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos; ArgentinaFil: Beltran, Marcelo Javier. Universidad Nacional de San Antonio de Areco; ArgentinaFil: Said, Andrés Demián. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Said, Andrés Demián. Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca de la Nación; ArgentinaFil: Galbusera, Sebastián. Secretaría de Turismo, Ambiente y Deportes de la Nación, Dirección Nacional de Cambio Climático; ArgentinaFil: Montiel, Fátima Soledad. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Unidad Integrada; ArgentinaFil: Montiel, Fátima Soledad. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Unidad Integrada; ArgentinaFil: Moreno, Rocío. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Unidad Integrada; ArgentinaFil: Moreno, Rocío. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Unidad Integrada; ArgentinaFil: Ricard, María Florencia. Provincia de La Pampa. Secretaría de Ambiente y Cambio Climático; ArgentinaFil: Ricard, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: Ricard, Maria Florencia. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: Ricard, Maria Florencia. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaElsevier2025-03-20T13:13:58Z2025-03-20T13:13:58Z2025-02info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/21751https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016719872400343X0167-19871879-3444https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2024.106342Soil and Tillage Research 246 : 106342. (February 2025)reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariaenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)2025-09-29T13:47:12Zoai:localhost:20.500.12123/21751instacron:INTAInstitucionalhttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/oai/requesttripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:l2025-09-29 13:47:13.129INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariafalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv An evaluation of soil carbon models and their role on finding ways to net-zero carbon in agricultural systems
title An evaluation of soil carbon models and their role on finding ways to net-zero carbon in agricultural systems
spellingShingle An evaluation of soil carbon models and their role on finding ways to net-zero carbon in agricultural systems
Vazquez Amabile, Gabriel
Carbono Orgánico del Suelo
Carbono
Sistemas de Explotación
Huella de Carbono
Gases de Efecto Invernadero
Soil Organic Carbon
Carbon
Farming Systems
Carbon Footprint
Greenhouse Gases
Agricultural Systems
title_short An evaluation of soil carbon models and their role on finding ways to net-zero carbon in agricultural systems
title_full An evaluation of soil carbon models and their role on finding ways to net-zero carbon in agricultural systems
title_fullStr An evaluation of soil carbon models and their role on finding ways to net-zero carbon in agricultural systems
title_full_unstemmed An evaluation of soil carbon models and their role on finding ways to net-zero carbon in agricultural systems
title_sort An evaluation of soil carbon models and their role on finding ways to net-zero carbon in agricultural systems
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Vazquez Amabile, Gabriel
Studdert, Guillermo
Ogle, Stephen M.
Beltran, Marcelo Javier
Said, Andrés Demián
Galbusera, Sebastián
Montiel, Fátima Soledad
Moreno, Rocio
Ricard, María Florencia
author Vazquez Amabile, Gabriel
author_facet Vazquez Amabile, Gabriel
Studdert, Guillermo
Ogle, Stephen M.
Beltran, Marcelo Javier
Said, Andrés Demián
Galbusera, Sebastián
Montiel, Fátima Soledad
Moreno, Rocio
Ricard, María Florencia
author_role author
author2 Studdert, Guillermo
Ogle, Stephen M.
Beltran, Marcelo Javier
Said, Andrés Demián
Galbusera, Sebastián
Montiel, Fátima Soledad
Moreno, Rocio
Ricard, María Florencia
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Carbono Orgánico del Suelo
Carbono
Sistemas de Explotación
Huella de Carbono
Gases de Efecto Invernadero
Soil Organic Carbon
Carbon
Farming Systems
Carbon Footprint
Greenhouse Gases
Agricultural Systems
topic Carbono Orgánico del Suelo
Carbono
Sistemas de Explotación
Huella de Carbono
Gases de Efecto Invernadero
Soil Organic Carbon
Carbon
Farming Systems
Carbon Footprint
Greenhouse Gases
Agricultural Systems
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv The estimation of changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key issue for national green-house gasses (GHG) inventories, climate change mitigation programs and the estimation of carbon footprint of farm products in life cycle assessments. Any strategy related to net-zero carbon in agricultural systems needs to quantify the SOC balance. In this way, SOC models help decision makers involved in agriculture to understand the dynamics of the SOC and the interaction between all variables related to soil, climate, land use, and management, to design the best solution to reduce emissions or enable carbon sequestration. Likewise, it is important to identify suitable models for the region. This study aims to address three main subjects: a) a discussion on the importance of SOC estimation for GHG inventories and the carbon footprint of crops, using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 1 method and AMG model; b) an evaluation and brief description of the IPCC “Steady State Method” (SSM), using experimental data from two sites in Argentina, comparing these results to AMG and RothC models (both previously validated at those sites); and c) a brief discussion about the potential use of SOC models for what-if management scenarios, their real limitations and future research needs. The three models were consistent in predicting the impact of tillage and the long-term trends in changes in SOC stocks under different management practices. The SSM model was evaluated for the first time in Argentina and performed even better than the other two models. It was consistent with the observed values, when predicting the effect of tillage system under different crop rotations, including pasture systems. Regarding efficiencies of the models, they showed acceptable Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) values, and the root mean square error (RMSE) was also acceptable between 3 % and 7 %, within a range of 4–5 Mg C.ha−1. Therefore, the SSM model proved to be a valuable tool to estimate SOC trends for crop and pasture rotations under different management scenarios (i.e., tillage systems and fertilization), to identify best practices that allow for a zero or positive SOC balance, in two different soil and climate conditions of the Pampean Region of Argentina. In our study, the SSM did have a better fit to the data and, furthermore, this Tier 2 method is simpler than the Tier 3 models, and, therefore, is advantageous for conducting regional assessments and GHG inventories.
Instituto de Suelos
Fil: Vazquez Amabile, Gabriel. Asociación Argentina de Consorcios Regionales de Experimentación Agrícola; Argentina.
Fil: Vazquez Amabile, Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales; Argentina.
Fil: Studdert, Guillermo Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Unidad Integrada; Argentina
Fil: Studdert, Guillermo Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Unidad Integrada; Argentina
Fil: Ogle, Stephen M. Colorado State University. Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; Estados Unidos
Fil: Ogle, Stephen M. Colorado State University. Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory; Estados Unidos
Fil: Beltran, Marcelo Javier. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos; Argentina
Fil: Beltran, Marcelo Javier. Universidad Nacional de San Antonio de Areco; Argentina
Fil: Said, Andrés Demián. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina
Fil: Said, Andrés Demián. Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca de la Nación; Argentina
Fil: Galbusera, Sebastián. Secretaría de Turismo, Ambiente y Deportes de la Nación, Dirección Nacional de Cambio Climático; Argentina
Fil: Montiel, Fátima Soledad. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Unidad Integrada; Argentina
Fil: Montiel, Fátima Soledad. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Unidad Integrada; Argentina
Fil: Moreno, Rocío. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Unidad Integrada; Argentina
Fil: Moreno, Rocío. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Unidad Integrada; Argentina
Fil: Ricard, María Florencia. Provincia de La Pampa. Secretaría de Ambiente y Cambio Climático; Argentina
Fil: Ricard, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa; Argentina
Fil: Ricard, Maria Florencia. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa; Argentina
Fil: Ricard, Maria Florencia. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina
description The estimation of changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key issue for national green-house gasses (GHG) inventories, climate change mitigation programs and the estimation of carbon footprint of farm products in life cycle assessments. Any strategy related to net-zero carbon in agricultural systems needs to quantify the SOC balance. In this way, SOC models help decision makers involved in agriculture to understand the dynamics of the SOC and the interaction between all variables related to soil, climate, land use, and management, to design the best solution to reduce emissions or enable carbon sequestration. Likewise, it is important to identify suitable models for the region. This study aims to address three main subjects: a) a discussion on the importance of SOC estimation for GHG inventories and the carbon footprint of crops, using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 1 method and AMG model; b) an evaluation and brief description of the IPCC “Steady State Method” (SSM), using experimental data from two sites in Argentina, comparing these results to AMG and RothC models (both previously validated at those sites); and c) a brief discussion about the potential use of SOC models for what-if management scenarios, their real limitations and future research needs. The three models were consistent in predicting the impact of tillage and the long-term trends in changes in SOC stocks under different management practices. The SSM model was evaluated for the first time in Argentina and performed even better than the other two models. It was consistent with the observed values, when predicting the effect of tillage system under different crop rotations, including pasture systems. Regarding efficiencies of the models, they showed acceptable Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) values, and the root mean square error (RMSE) was also acceptable between 3 % and 7 %, within a range of 4–5 Mg C.ha−1. Therefore, the SSM model proved to be a valuable tool to estimate SOC trends for crop and pasture rotations under different management scenarios (i.e., tillage systems and fertilization), to identify best practices that allow for a zero or positive SOC balance, in two different soil and climate conditions of the Pampean Region of Argentina. In our study, the SSM did have a better fit to the data and, furthermore, this Tier 2 method is simpler than the Tier 3 models, and, therefore, is advantageous for conducting regional assessments and GHG inventories.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-03-20T13:13:58Z
2025-03-20T13:13:58Z
2025-02
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format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/21751
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016719872400343X
0167-1987
1879-3444
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2024.106342
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/21751
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016719872400343X
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2024.106342
identifier_str_mv 0167-1987
1879-3444
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
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Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
eu_rights_str_mv restrictedAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Soil and Tillage Research 246 : 106342. (February 2025)
reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)
instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
reponame_str INTA Digital (INTA)
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instname_str Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.name.fl_str_mv INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.mail.fl_str_mv tripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.ar
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