Sustainable Soil Management under Changing Climate and Desertification

Abstract

Desertification, soil/land degradation in arid regions is estimated to affect 3.5 billion hectares and 24% of the global population of 7 billion. Risks of desertification are exacerbated by the projected climate change caused by anthropogenic emissions of greenhouses gases (GHGs), because the terrestrial biosphere (soil and vegetation) may become a major source through depletion of the ecosystem C pool by accelerated erosion, salinization, depletion of nutrient and water holding capacity, etc. The downward spiral can be reversed by a widespread adoption of recommended management practices (RMPs) which improve soil quality and enhance ecosystem resilience. Even with a modest increase of 0.5 Mg C ha-1 yr-1 in soils and vegetation, conversion to a restorative land use and adoption of RMPs have a technical potential to sequester 1.75 Pg C yr-1 for 25 to 50 years until the sink capacity is filled. Adoption of RMPs, based on water harvesting and recycling and soil fertility enhancement through integrated nutrient management, can be promoted through payments to land managers for ecosystem services. Desertification control and restoration of soil quality are a truly win-win strategy with co-benefits of improving the environment, adapting to and mitigation of the climate change, and advancing global food security. Key words: Recommend management practices, water harvesting, soil carbon sequestration, payments of ecosystem services.