@article{fdi:010084330,
  title = {{G}rassland rehabilitation significantly increases soil carbon stocks by reducing net soil {CO}2 emissions},
  author = {{A}bdalla, {K}. and {M}utema, {M}. and {C}hivenge, {P}. and {E}verson, {C}. and {C}haplot, {V}incent},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{R}estoration of degraded grasslands through improved management is among the possible sustainable solutions to compensate for anthropogenic soil carbon ({C}) emissions. {W}hile several studies have shown a positive effect of rehabilitation on soil {C}, the impact on soil {CO}2 emissions is still uncertain. {T}herefore, this study aimed at quantifying the impact of grassland rehabilitation on soil {CO}2 emissions in a degraded grassland, {S}outh {A}frica. {C}ommonly used rehabilitation practices were considered, that is rotational grazing ({RG}), livestock exclosure with fertilizer application ({EF}) and annual burning ({AB}), all being compared with traditional free grazing ({FG}). {A} total of 2880 in situ measurements of {CO}2 emissions were performed over 2.5 years under field conditions simultaneously with aboveground biomass, soil temperature, water content and soil organic {C} ({SOC}) to understand the changes in {C} fluxes. {T}he {RG} performed the best under degraded grasslands by decreasing net {CO}2 emissions (per g of {C}) by 17% compared to {FG}, while {EF} increased emissions by 76% and {AB} had similar emissions to {FG}. {T}he lower net emission under {RG} is associated with an increase in {SOC} stocks by 50% and aboveground biomass by 93%, after three years of implementation. {S}oil {CO}2 emissions were correlated positively to aboveground biomass and topsoil temperature (r = 0.91 and 0.60, respectively), implying a high effect of grass cover on soil microclimate and microbial activity. {T}hese results suggested {RG} as a potential cost-effective nature-based soil management strategy to increase {SOC} stocks into degraded grassland. {H}owever, long-term trials replicated in different environments are still required.},
  keywords = {climate change ; grassland management ; grazing ; soil carbon ; soil respiration ; {S}outh {A}frica ; {AFRIQUE} {DU} {SUD} ; {KWAZULU} {NATAL}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{S}oil {U}se and {M}anagement},
  volume = {38},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {1250--1265},
  ISSN = {0266-0032},
  year = {2022},
  DOI = {10.1111/sum.12790},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010084330},
}