Thesis
Investigating Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics: Implications for Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change Mitigation in Southeast Asia
Masters by Research, Murdoch University
2024
Abstract
Context: Global estimates of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and soil carbon sequestration (SCS) potentials have come at the expense of more precise scales of analysis which have been identified as requiring significant development. Southeast Asia presents a valuable opportunity to develop on SOC research at these scales and is still significantly underrepresented in the existing literature and there is an opportunity to expand upon current SOC research.
Aims: The aim of this investigation was to develop a greater understanding of SOC dynamics within Southeast Asian agricultural systems and quantify the efficacy of sustainable practices to improve SOC stocks, specifically focusing on assessing four Conservation Agriculture (CA) approaches.
Methods: A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted investigating the impact of 4 key CA practices [conservation tillage (CT), nutrient management (NM), crop management (CM) and agroforestry (Agf)] compared to conventional cultivation (CC) in Southeast Asia, following strict adherence to SLR quality control protocols.
Results: 43 studies were assessed out of an initial 1769 (2.6% inclusion rate). Strict inclusion criteria meant that there was an unequal reporting of data by countries, restricting the capacity for national SOC stock estimations. Mean SOC stock for CC, CT, NM, CM and Agf were 39, 48, 37, 53 and 53 Mg C ha-1 respectively, but with no significant statistical difference (Kruskal Wallis p-value: 0.005, Dunn’s Post-hoc p-values >0.025). Analyses with climatic variable showed no meaningful relationship with SOC.
Conclusion: No clear trends between CA practices, climate and SOC were evident. However, the significance of these results is limited by the paucity of available data, restricting the conduct of a robust meta-analysis while maintaining SLR quality. There is a need for improved and uniform monitoring, reporting, and verifying protocols when measuring SOC stocks before SOC sequestration can be relied upon as a strategy for climate change mitigation.
Details
- Title
- Investigating Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics: Implications for Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change Mitigation in Southeast Asia
- Authors/Creators
- Sion Chiew
- Contributors
- Daniel Murphy (Supervisor) - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
- Awarding Institution
- Murdoch University; Masters by Research
- Identifiers
- 991005657665607891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems; SoilsWest
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Note
- Master of Research with Training
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