TRACE Soils

Soil C sequestration in agroecosystems can promote soil quality and biodiversity, but come at a cost of increased nutrient losses and greenhouse gas emissions. Aiming to increase the predictability of such synergies and trade-offs, we will study their underlying mechanisms by reviewing literature that quantifies them under different agricultural systems and management practices. We will identify soil abiotic and biotic predictors of trade-off magnitudes, and test them in long-term experiments across a NE-SW pedoclimatic gradient in Europe. Modelling scenarios will be posed to scale-up trade-off analysis to the provincial level. Outputs of reviews, experiments and models will serve to propose a ranked list of climate-zone specific indicators and measures to assess and mitigate trade-offs.