Evaluation of soil carbon stocks in response to management changes in sugarcane production

• Grant number: 13/24506-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: May 01, 2014
• End date: October 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Clemente Cerri
• Grantee: Caio Fernandes Zani
• Supervisor: Niall McNamara
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster (CEH), England
• Associated to the scholarship: 13/12600-2 - Soil carbon stocks evaluation due to management changes on sugarcane production, BP.MS

Abstract

Brazilian commodities, such as ethanol, are looking for sustainable production to suit the international market demands. An important parameter for assessing sustainability is the carbon footprint calculation of the product. Thus, studies of the variations in soil carbon stocks on the ethanol production are essential. Studies in relation of land use change are already been developed; however information about parameters of management changes on the sugarcane production is needed. The objective of this research is to evaluate the soil carbon stocks in response to management change in sugarcane production. Part of this study will be the analyses of the obtained data, including statistical analyses and the mathematical modelling. To do this, it will be essential the model parameterization in relation to the obtained data in the present research, and in this way, analyses which specific organic matter model can do the simulations of the management changes found. As soon as we define the model, it will be use to develop recent and future scenarios involving the main management changes in sugarcane production. This information may be used as a basis for public policies decision which dealing of the land use and global warming. The scientific information obtained in this research will be included in carbon footprint calculation of ethanol production and its use as biofuel. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ZANI, CAIO F.; BARNEZE, ARLETE S.; ROBERTSON, ANDY D.; KEITH, AIDAN M.; CERRI, CARLOS E. P.; MCNAMARA, NIALL P.; CERRI, CARLOS C.. Vinasse application and cessation of burning in sugarcane management can have positive impact on soil carbon stocks. PeerJ, v. 6, AUG 7 2018. (13/12600-2, 13/24506-0)