Author(s): KHALIL, M. I.; CORDOVIL, C. M. D. S.; FRANCAVIGLIA, R.; HENRY, B.; KLUMPP, K.; KONCZ, P.; LLORENTE, M.; MADARI, B. E.; MUÑOZ-ROJAS, M.; RAINER, N.

Summary: Grasslands are among the largest ecosystems and cover around 3.5 billion-hectare (ha) area, representing 26 percent of the world land area and 70 percent of the world agricultural area. These grassland soils contain about 20 percent of the world?s soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. There are different types of grasslands: natural grasslands, semi-natural grasslands, and agricultural grasslands. Grasslands that are self-seeded are often defined as natural or native grasslands. These grasslands are predominated by grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, or shrubs suitable for grazing or browsing. They are defined as rangelands when natural (native) or grazed, and defined as pastures when forage is managed by seeding, mowing (i.e. for hay, silage, renewable energy production), fertilization and irrigation. Agricultural grasslands can be permanent (>5-years old) or temporary (i.e. included within the crop rotation, grass/arable-ley). Permanent grassland is often (semi-) natural.

Publication year: 2021

Types of publication: Book sections

Unit: Embrapa Rice & Beans

Keywords: Carbon sequestration, Carbono, Grassland soils, Solo