Increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks is a promising way to mitigate the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration. Based on a simple ratio between CO2 anthropogenic emissions and SOC stocks worldwide, it has been suggested that a 0.4% (4 per 1000) yearly increase in SOC stocks could compensate for current anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Here, we used a reverse RothC modelling approach to estimate the amount of C inputs to soils required to sustain current SOC stocks and to increase them by 4\uffe2\uff80\uffb0 per year over a period of 30\uffc2\uffa0years. We assessed the feasibility of this aspirational target first by comparing the required C input with net primary productivity (NPP) flowing to the soil, and second by considering the SOC saturation concept. Calculations were performed for mainland France, at a 1\uffc2\uffa0km grid cell resolution. Results showed that a 30%\uffe2\uff80\uff9340% increase in C inputs to soil would be needed to obtain a 4\uffe2\uff80\uffb0 increase per year over a 30\uffe2\uff80\uff90year period. 88.4% of cropland areas were considered unsaturated in terms of mineral\uffe2\uff80\uff90associated SOC, but characterized by a below target C balance, that is, less NPP available than required to reach the 4\uffe2\uff80\uffb0 aspirational target. Conversely, 90.4% of unimproved grasslands were characterized by an above target C balance, that is, enough NPP to reach the 4\uffe2\uff80\uffb0 objective, but 59.1% were also saturated. The situation of improved grasslands and forests was more evenly distributed among the four categories (saturated vs. unsaturated and above vs below target C balance). Future data from soil monitoring networks should enable to validate these results. Overall, our results suggest that, for mainland France, priorities should be (1) to increase NPP returns in cropland soils that are unsaturated and have a below target carbon balance and (2) to preserve SOC stocks in other land uses.
", "keywords": ["[SDV.SA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences", "Carbon Sequestration", "550", "[SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes", "RothC", "01 natural sciences", "630", "climate change mitigation", "Soil", "4 per 1000", "net primary productivity", "[SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces", " environment", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences", "[SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean", " Atmosphere", "2. Zero hunger", "[SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean", "[SDV.SA] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences", "Atmosphere", "[SDU.OCEAN] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean", " Atmosphere", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Primary Research Articles", "[SDU.ENVI] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces", " environment", "Carbon", "soil organic carbon", "[SDE.MCG] Environmental Sciences/Global Changes", "13. Climate action", "SOC saturation", "Feasibility Studies", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "France", "[SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces", "environment"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/gcb.15547"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15547"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Global%20Change%20Biology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1111/gcb.15547", "name": "item", "description": "10.1111/gcb.15547", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1111/gcb.15547"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2021-04-08T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0111965", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-10-06T16:18:37Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2015-06-08", "title": "The Effect Of Chemical Amendments Used For Phosphorus Abatement On Greenhouse Gas And Ammonia Emissions From Dairy Cattle Slurry: Synergies And Pollution", "description": "Land application of cattle slurry can result in incidental and chronic phosphorus (P) loss to waterbodies, leading to eutrophication. Chemical amendment of slurry has been proposed as a management practice, allowing slurry nutrients to remain available to plants whilst mitigating P losses in runoff. The effectiveness of amendments is well understood but their impacts on other loss pathways (so-called 'pollution swapping' potential) and therefore the feasibility of using such amendments has not been examined to date. The aim of this laboratory scale study was to determine how the chemical amendment of slurry affects losses of NH3, CH4, N2O, and CO2. Alum, FeCl2, Polyaluminium chloride (PAC)-and biochar reduced NH3 emissions by 92, 54, 65 and 77% compared to the slurry control, while lime increased emissions by 114%. Cumulative N2O emissions of cattle slurry increased when amended with alum and FeCl2 by 202% and 154% compared to the slurry only treatment. Lime, PAC and biochar resulted in a reduction of 44, 29 and 63% in cumulative N2O loss compared to the slurry only treatment. Addition of amendments to slurry did not significantly affect soil CO2 release during the study while CH4 emissions followed a similar trend for all of the amended slurries applied, with an initial increase in losses followed by a rapid decrease for the duration of the study. All of the amendments examined reduced the initial peak in CH4 emissions compared to the slurry only treatment. There was no significant effect of slurry amendments on global warming potential (GWP) caused by slurry land application, with the exception of biochar. After considering pollution swapping in conjunction with amendment effectiveness, the amendments recommended for further field study are PAC, alum and lime. This study has also shown that biochar has potential to reduce GHG losses arising from slurry application.", "keywords": ["Greenhouse Effect", "Time Factors", "Science", "methane emissions", "Nitrous Oxide", "n2o emissions", "Environment", "Global Warming", "soil", "12. Responsible consumption", "Ammonia", "Air Pollution", "Animals", "volatilization", "2. Zero hunger", "Air Pollutants", "Sewage", "Q", "Pollution swapping", "R", "Phosphorus", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Carbon Dioxide", "15. Life on land", "Greenhouse Gas", "field", "6. Clean water", "livestock slurry", "Dairying", "Slurries", "13. Climate action", "manure", "nitrous-oxide emission", "Medicine", "Feasibility Studies", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Cattle", "grassland", "Methane", "charcoal", "Research Article"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0111965"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/PLOS%20ONE", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1371/journal.pone.0111965", "name": "item", "description": "10.1371/journal.pone.0111965", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1371/journal.pone.0111965"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2015-06-08T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "3128171785", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-10-06T16:23:22Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2021-02-06", "title": "Feasibility of the 4 per 1000 aspirational target for soil carbon: A case study for France", "description": "AbstractIncreasing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks is a promising way to mitigate the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration. Based on a simple ratio between CO2 anthropogenic emissions and SOC stocks worldwide, it has been suggested that a 0.4% (4 per 1000) yearly increase in SOC stocks could compensate for current anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Here, we used a reverse RothC modelling approach to estimate the amount of C inputs to soils required to sustain current SOC stocks and to increase them by 4\uffe2\uff80\uffb0 per year over a period of 30\uffc2\uffa0years. We assessed the feasibility of this aspirational target first by comparing the required C input with net primary productivity (NPP) flowing to the soil, and second by considering the SOC saturation concept. Calculations were performed for mainland France, at a 1\uffc2\uffa0km grid cell resolution. Results showed that a 30%\uffe2\uff80\uff9340% increase in C inputs to soil would be needed to obtain a 4\uffe2\uff80\uffb0 increase per year over a 30\uffe2\uff80\uff90year period. 88.4% of cropland areas were considered unsaturated in terms of mineral\uffe2\uff80\uff90associated SOC, but characterized by a below target C balance, that is, less NPP available than required to reach the 4\uffe2\uff80\uffb0 aspirational target. Conversely, 90.4% of unimproved grasslands were characterized by an above target C balance, that is, enough NPP to reach the 4\uffe2\uff80\uffb0 objective, but 59.1% were also saturated. The situation of improved grasslands and forests was more evenly distributed among the four categories (saturated vs. unsaturated and above vs below target C balance). Future data from soil monitoring networks should enable to validate these results. Overall, our results suggest that, for mainland France, priorities should be (1) to increase NPP returns in cropland soils that are unsaturated and have a below target carbon balance and (2) to preserve SOC stocks in other land uses.Increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks is a promising way to mitigate the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration. Based on a simple ratio between CO2 anthropogenic emissions and SOC stocks worldwide, it has been suggested that a 0.4% (4 per 1000) yearly increase in SOC stocks could compensate for current anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Here, we used a reverse RothC modelling approach to estimate the amount of C inputs to soils required to sustain current SOC stocks and to increase them by 4\uffe2\uff80\uffb0 per year over a period of 30\uffc2\uffa0years. We assessed the feasibility of this aspirational target first by comparing the required C input with net primary productivity (NPP) flowing to the soil, and second by considering the SOC saturation concept. Calculations were performed for mainland France, at a 1\uffc2\uffa0km grid cell resolution. Results showed that a 30%\uffe2\uff80\uff9340% increase in C inputs to soil would be needed to obtain a 4\uffe2\uff80\uffb0 increase per year over a 30\uffe2\uff80\uff90year period. 88.4% of cropland areas were considered unsaturated in terms of mineral\uffe2\uff80\uff90associated SOC, but characterized by a below target C balance, that is, less NPP available than required to reach the 4\uffe2\uff80\uffb0 aspirational target. Conversely, 90.4% of unimproved grasslands were characterized by an above target C balance, that is, enough NPP to reach the 4\uffe2\uff80\uffb0 objective, but 59.1% were also saturated. The situation of improved grasslands and forests was more evenly distributed among the four categories (saturated vs. unsaturated and above vs below target C balance). Future data from soil monitoring networks should enable to validate these results. Overall, our results suggest that, for mainland France, priorities should be (1) to increase NPP returns in cropland soils that are unsaturated and have a below target carbon balance and (2) to preserve SOC stocks in other land uses.