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Quantifying direct yield benefits of soil carbon increases from cover cropping

Author

Listed:
  • Isaac Vendig

    (University of California)

  • Aidee Guzman

    (University of California)

  • Gisel Cerda

    (University of California)

  • Kenzo Esquivel

    (University of California)

  • Allegra C. Mayer

    (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • Lauren Ponisio

    (University of Oregon
    University of Oregon)

  • Timothy M. Bowles

    (University of California)

Abstract

Cropland management practices that restore soil organic carbon (SOC) are increasingly presented as climate solutions that also enhance yields. But how often these benefits align at the farm level—the scale of farmers’ decision making—remains uncertain. We examined concurrent SOC and yield responses to cover cropping, including their direct connection, with a global meta-analysis. Cover cropping simultaneously increased yields and SOC in 59.7% of 434 paired observations. Increases in SOC directly increased crop yields in soils with initial SOC concentrations below 11.6 g kg−1; for example, a change from 5 g kg−1 to 6 g kg−1 increased yields by +2.4%. These yield benefits of SOC did not decline as nitrogen inputs increased or when legume cover crops were used, suggesting fertility inputs cannot substitute for SOC effects. Regardless of direct effects of SOC increases on yields, integrating legume cover crops into systems with simplified rotations or with nitrogen inputs

Suggested Citation

  • Isaac Vendig & Aidee Guzman & Gisel Cerda & Kenzo Esquivel & Allegra C. Mayer & Lauren Ponisio & Timothy M. Bowles, 2023. "Quantifying direct yield benefits of soil carbon increases from cover cropping," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(9), pages 1125-1134, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:6:y:2023:i:9:d:10.1038_s41893-023-01131-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-023-01131-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Pollyana Mona Soares Dias & Jeane Cruz Portela & Joaquim Emanuel Fernandes Gondim & Rafael Oliveira Batista & Leticia Sequinatto Rossi & Jonatan Levi Ferreira Medeiros & Phâmella Kalliny Pereira Faria, 2023. "Soil Attributes and Their Interrelationships with Resistance to Root Penetration and Water Infiltration in Areas with Different Land Uses in the Apodi Plateau, Semiarid Region of Brazil," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-24, September.

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