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Global estimates of soil carbon sequestration via livestock waste: a STELLA simulation

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Abstract

It has become increasingly well documented that human activities are enhancing the greenhouse effect and altering the global climate. Identifying strategies to mitigate atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions on the national level are therefore critical. Fossil fuel combustion is primarily responsible for the perturbation of the global carbon cycle, although the influence of humans extends far beyond the combustion of fossil fuels. Changes in land use arising from human activities contribute substantially to atmospheric carbon dioxide; however, land use changes can act as a carbon dioxide sink as well. A soil carbon model was built using STELLA to explore how soil organic carbon sequestration (SOC) varies over a range of values for key parameters and to estimate the amount of global soil carbon sequestration from livestock waste. To obtain soil carbon sequestration estimates, model simulations occurred for 11 different livestock types and with data for eight regions around the world. The model predicted that between 1980 and 1995, United States soils were responsible for the sequestration of 444–602 Tg C from livestock waste. Model simulations further predicted that during the same period, global soil carbon sequestration from livestock waste was 2,810–4,218 Tg C. Our estimates for global SOC sequestration are modest in proportion to other terrestrial carbon sinks (i.e. forest regrowth); however, livestock waste does represent a potential for long-term soil carbon gain. SOC generated from livestock waste is another example of how human activities and land use changes are altering soil processes around the world.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Kent Keller and Andy Ford for their guidance and insightful comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. This research was partially supported by a Lane Fellowship in Environmental Science and Regional Planning, Washington State University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA

    Jason B. Fellman

  2. Environmental Science and Regional Planning Program, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA

    Eldon H. Franz

  3. Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA

    Chelsea L. Crenshaw

  4. Water Resource Management and Policy Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Denise Elston

Authors
  1. Jason B. Fellman
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  2. Eldon H. Franz
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Correspondence to Jason B. Fellman.

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Appendix A

Appendix A

Countries included in this study and considered climatic exceptions. Information on temperature and available moisture factors was obtained from Safley et al. (1992)

North America

Canadaa

United States

Western Europe

Austria

Belgium

Denmark

Finlanda

France

West Germany

Greece

Ireland

Italy

Netherlands

Norwaya

Portugal

Spain

Swedena

Switzerland

UK

East Europe

Albania

Bulgaria

Czechoslovakiaa

East Germany

Hungarya

Polanda

Romaniaa

Soviet Uniona

Yugoslavia

Oceania

Australiab

Fiji

New Caledonia

New Zealand

P. New Guinea

Vanuatu

Africa

Angola

Benin

Botswanab

Burkina Fasob

Burundi

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chadb

Cote d’lvore

Ethiopiab

The Ghambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Kenyab

Lesotho

Madagascar

Malawi

Malib

Mauritaniab

Mozambique

Namibiab

Nigerb

Nigeria

Rwanda

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Somaliab

South Africab

Swaziland

Tanzania

Togo

Uganda

Zaire

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Latin America

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Chile

Columbia

Costa Rica

Cuba

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

El Salvador

Guatemala

Guyana

Haiti

Honduras

Jamaica

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Puerto Rico

Uruguay

Venezuela

Near East & Mediterranean

Afghanistanb

Algeriab

Egyptb

Iranb

Iraqb

Israel

Jordanb

Kuwait

Libyab

Morocco

Omanb

Saudi Arabiab

Sudanb

Syriab

Tunisiab

Turkey

Yemen Arab Republicb

Asia & Far East

Bangladesh

Bhutan

Burma

China

India

Indonesia

Japan

Kampuchea

North Korea

South Korea

Laos

Malaysia

Mongoliab

Nepal

Pakistanb

Philippines

Sri Lanka

Thailand

Vietnam

a Countries considered climatic exceptions (cold)

b Countries considered climatic exceptions (arid/semiarid)

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Fellman, J.B., Franz, E.H., Crenshaw, C.L. et al. Global estimates of soil carbon sequestration via livestock waste: a STELLA simulation. Environ Dev Sustain 11, 871–885 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-008-9157-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-008-9157-0

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