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Title: A Brief Overview of Soil Carbon Management in the United States

Author
item Arriaga, Francisco

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/7/2006
Publication Date: 8/11/2006
Citation: Arriaga, F.J. 2006. A Brief Overview of Soil Carbon Management in the United States. In: Proceedings of the XVI Brazilian Conference on Soil and Water Management.

Interpretive Summary: Soil organic carbon has an important role in food and fiber production, as well as the environment. Many other important processes are tightly related to soil carbon. In the U.S. soil carbon management is linked to production systems, climate, soil type, and economy. For these reasons, there is no universal management system. The potential of soil to accumulate carbon and the rate at which it can accumulate varies considerably. Management systems are developed to target specific conditions of a region. These systems need to be flexible as to allow for new developments such as the use of crop residues for fuel production.

Technical Abstract: Soil organic carbon (SOC) has an important role in food and fiber production, as well as the environment. Many other important processes are tightly related to soil C. In the U.S. soil C management is linked to production systems, climate, soil type, and economy. For these reasons, there is no universal management system. The potential of soil to accumulate C and the rate at which it can accumulate varies considerably. Management systems are developed to target specific conditions of a region. These systems need to be flexible as to allow for new developments such as the use of crop residues for fuel production.