Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2023 · 149 citations · 55 references
AgricultureCrop SciencesSoil SciencesCrop-livestock IntegrationIntegrated Crop-livestock SystemsSoil Organic MatterCrop RotationCropping System IntensificationCropping System SustainabilityTillage Effects On Soil CarbonTillage SystemsTopsoil ManagementAgricultural Intensification Effects On Soil Carbon LossMineral-associated Organic MatterRegenerative AgricultureSoil Organic CarbonSoil Organic Carbon DynamicsSoil Organic Matter RecoverySoil RegenerationTillage Frequency
Sustainability of agricultural production and mitigation of global warming rely on the regeneration of soil organic carbon (SOC), in particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) forms. We conducted a global systematic meta-analysis of the effects of regenerative management practices on SOC, POC, and MAOC in cropland, finding: 1) no-till (NT) and cropping system intensification increase SOC (11.3% and 12.4%, respectively), MAOC (8.5% and 7.1%, respectively), and POC (19.7% and 33.3%, respectively) in topsoil (0 to 20 cm), but not in subsoil (>20 cm); 2) experimental duration, tillage frequency, the intensification type, and rotation diversity moderate the effects of regenerative management; and 3) NT synergized with integrated crop-livestock (ICL) systems to greatly increase POC (38.1%) and cropping intensification synergized with ICL systems to greatly increase MAOC (33.1 to 53.6%). This analysis shows that regenerative agriculture is a key strategy to reduce the soil C deficit inherent to agriculture to promote both soil health and long-term C stabilization.
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Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement
David Moher, A. Liberati, Jennifer Tetzlaff et al. · BMJ · 2009 · 83.3K citations · Full text
Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test
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