Soil carbon sequestration and associated economic costs for farming systems of the Indo-Gangetic Plain: A meta-analysis

Carbon sequestration presents a unique opportunity for nation-states to accumulate monetary credit while promoting soil conservation and ecological sustainability. In this meta-analysis, previously measured data on carbon sequestration rates and local data were used to estimate the potential for carbon sequestration of wheat-based production systems within economic and ecological constraints in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. Over twenty years, using no-till practices in wheat-rice, maize-wheat, and cotton-wheat production systems would increase carbon sequestration by 60.7 Mt. However, this estimated differed according to carbon prices offered due to the costs associated with switching to no-till practices. Carbon prices of 200 USD Mg C-1 allowed for the highest amount of sequestration: 79 percent of the potential sequestration amount. Regional success varied, and the authors assert that climate and market imperfections are likely to skew estimations.