Kitsou Daphne, Chantzi Paraskevi, Galanis Georgios, Gkoutzikostas Dimitris, Roussonikolos Vasilios, Karyotis Konstantinos, Giortsou Maria, Tiliopoulou Nikoleta, Papastergiou Argiro, Zalidis Georgios
InterBalkan Environment Centre, Lagadas, Greece.
Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
PLoS One. 2025 Jun 20;20(6):e0325757. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0325757. eCollection 2025.
Carbon sequestration is a natural process that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it in plant biomass, soils, oceans, and geological formations- a very important process for reducing greenhouse gas concentrations, mitigating climate change and improving soil health. This study explores the environmental impact of implementing Nature Based Solutions (NBSs) in peach orchards and olive groves in Greece, using a cradle-to-farm-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. It specifically examines the chemical, physical, and soil conditions necessary for humification and organic carbon accumulation. The objectives are to: (1) assess the effectiveness NBSs in enhancing soil carbon sequestration within different agricultural management practices, (2) quantify the impact of cultivation transitions on soil carbon storage capacity and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, (3) integrate soil carbon stock dynamics into LCA methodologies to improve accuracy in carbon footprint assessments, and (4) highlight the importance of soil organic carbon (SOC) pools and soil properties in refining LCA interpretations for sustainable land management. By Implementing NBSs at pilot sites and using the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification system to track GHG emissions and SOC changes in the field, carbon stocks increased: -179.2 kg CO₂ eq in the peach orchard and -186.3 kg CO₂ eq in the olive grove. GHG emissions reduced by 16.4% in peach cultivation and 51.1% per hectare in olive grove. Main emission sources included crop protection and field energy use; in olives, residue management also played a significant role. This study provides empirical evidence on how NBSs can enhance soil carbon sequestration and reduce GHG emissions, contributing to both climate change mitigation and sustainable agricultural management. These findings demonstrate the value of integrating SOC dynamics into LCA for more reliable carbon assessments, offering a more accurate representation of carbon sequestration potential. The study can support policymakers, farmers, and stakeholders in adopting strategies that maximize environmental benefits and promote soil health. More long- term research on the implementation of Nature Based Solutions is required to properly assess their impact across cultivations, soil types and pedoclimatic zones.
碳固存是一个自然过程，它从大气中去除二氧化碳并将其存储在植物生物质、土壤、海洋和地质构造中，这是减少温室气体浓度、缓解气候变化和改善土壤健康的一个非常重要的过程。本研究采用从摇篮到农场大门的生命周期评估（LCA）方法，探讨在希腊桃园和橄榄园中实施基于自然的解决方案（NBSs）的环境影响。它具体研究了腐殖化和有机碳积累所需的化学、物理和土壤条件。目标是：（1）评估NBSs在不同农业管理实践中增强土壤碳固存的有效性；（2）量化种植转变对土壤碳储存能力和温室气体（GHG）排放的影响；（3）将土壤碳储量动态纳入LCA方法，以提高碳足迹评估的准确性；（4）强调土壤有机碳（SOC）库和土壤特性在完善可持续土地管理的LCA解释中的重要性。通过在试点地点实施NBSs，并使用监测、报告和核查系统跟踪田间温室气体排放和SOC变化，碳储量增加：桃园增加了-179.2千克二氧化碳当量，橄榄园增加了-186.3千克二氧化碳当量。桃园种植中温室气体排放量减少了16.4%，橄榄园每公顷减少了51.1%。主要排放源包括作物保护和田间能源使用；在橄榄种植中，残留物管理也起到了重要作用。本研究提供了关于NBSs如何增强土壤碳固存和减少温室气体排放的实证证据，这有助于缓解气候变化和实现可持续农业管理。这些发现证明了将SOC动态纳入LCA以进行更可靠的碳评估的价值，能更准确地反映碳固存潜力。该研究可为政策制定者、农民和利益相关者采用能最大化环境效益并促进土壤健康的策略提供支持。需要对基于自然的解决方案的实施进行更多长期研究，以正确评估其在不同种植、土壤类型和土壤气候区的影响。
