Effective soil erosion control represents a significant net carbon sequestration.

ABSTRACT: The debate over whether soil erosion is a carbon (C) sink or atmospheric CO₂ source remains highly controversial. For the first time, we report the magnitude of C stabilization associated with soil erosion control for an entire large river basin. The soil erosion of the Yellow River basin in northern China is among the most severe worldwide. Progressive soil conservation has been implemented by the Chinese government since the 1970s, including the largest ever revegetation programme, the Grain-for-Green Project, which began in 1999. Based on compiled hydrological records and organic carbon (OC) data, together with primary production estimates, we evaluated the sequestered OC resulting from soil conservation. Compared with that at baseline in 1950-1970, in which significant soil

SUBMITTER: Ran L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6089926 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature