Nature – Gaudaré et al. (2023): Soil organic carbon stocks potentially at risk of decline with organic farming expansion
Ulysse Gaudaré, Matthias Kuhnert, Pete Smith, Manuel Martin, Pietro Barbieri, Sylvain Pellerin, Thomas Nesme IN: Nat. Clim. Chang. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01721-5
Here the authors use a spatially explicit biogeochemical model to show that the complete conversion of global cropland to organic farming without the use of cover crops and plant residue (normative scenario) will result in a 40% reduction of global soil carbon input and 9% decline in SOC stock. An optimal organic scenario that supports widespread cover cropping and enhanced residue recycling will reduce global soil carbon input by 31%, and SOC can be preserved after 20 yr following conversion to organic farming.