Carbon stocks and carbon sequestration potentials in agricultural soils in Switzerland
FAL report Nr. 44
The present report has been prepared against the background of the Climate Convention and the Swiss commitments to report and to reduce anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. This is the last of a series of three reports dealing with the three important agricultural greenhouse gases - methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide.
In agriculture, mitigation of the greenhouse effect can be achieved by reducing nitrous oxide and methane emissions, and by sequestering carbon in soils. In this report, current carbon stocks of Swiss agricultural soils are estimated, and carbon sequestration potentials are discussed for various activities.
In conclusions, carbon sequestration and carbon savings have the potential to offset significant fractions of the agricultural emissions of nitrous oxide and methane. However, most activities would dramatically alter the agricultural structure and landscape scenery. Compared to studies of other regions (EU, USA), the contribution of carbon sequestration to the overall greenhouse gas budget is small .
The report «Carbon stocks and carbon sequestration potentials in agricultural soils in Switzerland» can be ordered at the Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture, FAL Reckenholz, Zurich, Reckenholzstr. 191, CH-8046 Zürich, Tel. ++41 1 377 71 11, .