Modelling carbon dynamics and greenhouse gases emissions in tropical and Mediterranean cropping systems

Abstract

The emission of greenhouse gases in agricultural areas is an important indicator of the sustainability of bioenergy and ethanol produced in Brazil, as well as modifications in the soil carbon stocks, induced by the management systems adopted by farmers. In this context, there is a demand for models which support the decision for better management practices to be applied in such areas. Hence, the main objective of this project is to calibrate and evaluate process-based models of carbon dynamics in the soil of sugarcane plantations and Mediterranean crops (i.e., wheat and faba bean), under the use of the different management systems, using the software UNIMI.CRONO. This research proposal aims at unifying the data collected under the scope of two projects funded by FAPESP, whereby dataset 1 relates to Post-Doctoral Grant FAPESP # 2018/14958-5, and dataset 2 relates to the MSc Grant FAPESP # 2013/21696-3. At the end of this project, we expect to establish a set of adequate parameters, based on soil and cultivation attributes, to correctly simulate the carbon dynamics in Brazilian sugarcane plantations, with the software UNIMI.CRONO. In addition, we expect to provide a better understanding of the effect of management practices that precede the sugarcane plantation under the soil carbon in tropical conditions, with the purpose of guaranteeing greater sustainability of the ethanol produced in such areas, both from the point of view of soil quality, as well as greenhouse gases balance. (AU)