TRUESOIL
Carbon sequestration, carbon stability, and greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural land
The TRUESOIL project is investigating carbon sequestration, carbon stability, and greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural land. The project utilizes a range of existing data from field experiments across Europe and beyond to investigate the impact of different climatic conditions and farming practices.
Official name
True SOC sequestration: understanding trade-offs and dynamic interactions between SOC stocks and GHG emissions for climate-smart agri-soil management
Duration
2022–2025
Persons in charge
Prof. Ana Meijide (University of Göttingen), Prof. Mari Pihlatie (University of Helsinki; as regards Carbon Action)
Organisations
University of Göttingen, University of Helsinki, INRAE, University College Dublin, and 9 other partner organisations.
Funder
EJP Soil,
Ministy of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland, as regards Finland
The TRUESOIL project aims to better understand the processes and factors affecting soil carbon sequestration and stability, as well as greenhouse gas emissions under different climatic and environmental conditions. In particular, the aim is to increase organic carbon sequestration without increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The project will examine the effects of carbon sequestration on nitrous oxide emissions and mechanisms, and soil carbon saturation.
The project studies the effects of different soils, agricultural practices, and rainfall on carbon and nitrogen cycling and greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas measurements in the fields will be combined with the physico-chemical and microbiological properties of the soil.
The study covers the two main land uses in the EU, arable land and grassland, and their different agroecological farming practices. These are studied in different climatic zones both within and outside Europe. Field experiments also include rainfall manipulation experiments to study the effects of drought and rainfall on soil processes. Also included are long-term measurement sites in agricultural areas where various inorganic and organic soil amendments have been applied without carbon saturation being observed.
The project also includes laboratory studies to investigate the role of microbial community composition, as modified by farming practices, in soil organic matter stabilisation and nutrient exchange. Finally, modelling techniques will be used to investigate carbon and nitrogen cycling under different farming practices and climate scenarios
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Contact
Prof. Mari Pihlatie, University of Helsinki, mari.pihlatie@helsinki.fi
