Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Ecosystems addresses basic processes of soil C dynamics and explains the underlying controls of technical and economic potential of soil C sequestration. It contains discussions on soil inorganic and organic C, and the factors affecting their stock and fluxes. After an introduction on agricultural land uses and their effects on the global C cycle; processes, factors and causes influencing SIC and SOC dynamics are presented in detail based on up-to-date scientific knowledge. Also discussed are processes affecting dynamics of SIC and SOC sequestration in soils of croplands and grasslands, and how agricultural practices affect them. This is followed by a description of SOC sequestration in wetlands under agricultural use, and those under agroforestry systems. Then, how the increasing biomass production for bioenergy and biofuel affects the SOC stocks of agroecosystems is presented. This is followed by a critical discussion on the importance of biochar to soil C sequestration in agroecosystems. The book concludes with an outlook about the importance of soils of agroecosystems for climate change policy. Focus of the book is on scientific understanding of SIC and SOC sequestration in agroecosystems. It lists a set of questions at the end of each chapter to stimulate thinking and promote academic dialogue. Each chapter lists pertinent references on the current research, and summarizes the present understanding while identifying the knowledge gaps for future research. It is timely because of the growing interests by the policy makers (as documented by the "4 per Thousand" initiative at COP21 in Paris, and the "Adapting African Agriculture" program at COP22 in Marrakech) in making soils and agriculture important to solutions of addressing the global issues. The book is a valuable source of information intended for use by graduate and undergraduate students, scientists, land managers, private sector, policy makers and the general public.

A comprehensive book on basic processes of soil C dynamics and the underlying factors and causes which determine the technical and economic potential of soil C sequestration. The book provides information on the dynamics of both inorganic (lithogenic and pedogenic carbonates) and organic C (labile, intermediate and passive). It describes different types of agroecosystems, and lists questions at the end of each chapter to stimulate thinking and promote academic dialogue. Each chapter has a bibliography containing up-to-date references on the current research, and provides the state-of-the-knowledge while also identifying the knowledge gaps for future research. The critical need for restoring C stocks in world soils is discussed in terms of provisioning of essential ecosystem services (food security, carbon sequestration, water quality and renewability, and biodiversity). It is of interest to students, scientists, and policy makers.

1 Agricultural Land Use and the Global Carbon Cycle
1.1. History of Agricultural Land Use
1.2 The Global Carbon Cycle and Agricultural Land Use
1.3 Agricultural Land Use and Climate Change
1.4 Carbon Sequestration by Agricultural Land Use
1.5 Conclusions
1.6 Review Questions
References

2 Soil Carbon Stock
2.1 Soil Inorganic Carbon
2.2 Soil Organic Carbon
2.2.2. The Net Balance of Soil Organic Carbon
2.3 Importance of Soil Organic Carbon for Soil Quality, Ecosystem Services and Food Security
2.4 Mitigation of Climate Change
2.5 Adaptation to Climate Change
2.6 Research Needs
2.7 Conclusions
2.8 Review Questions
References

3 Carbon Sequestration in Cropland Soils
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Cropland Soil Inorganic Carbon
3.3 Cropland Soil Organic Carbon
3.4 Recarbonization of Cropland Soils
3.5 Conclusions
3.6 Review Questions
References

4 Carbon Sequestration in Grassland Soils
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Grassland Soil Inorganic Carbon
4.3 Grassland Soil Organic Carbon
4.4 Grassland Soil Carbon Sequestration
4.5 Conclusions
4.6 Review Questions
References

5 Carbon Sequestration in Wetland Soils
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Peatland Carbon Balance
5.3 Management and Use of Wetland Soils for Agriculture
5.4 Improved Management of Wetland Soils
5.5 Conclusions
5.6 Review Questions
References

6 Agroforestry Systems
6.1 Agroforestry Practices
6.2 Importance of Agroforestry Trees for Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration
6.3 Carbon Sequestration in Agroforestry Systems
6.4 Enhancing Carbon Sequestration in Agroforest Soils
6.5 Conclusions
6.6 Review Questions
References

7 Biomass and Bioenergy
7.1 Biomass Feedstock for the Chemical Industry
7.2 Bioenergy Feedstock Production in Agroecosystems
7.3 Sustainability of Biomass and Bioenergy Production
7.4 Conclusions
7.5 Review Questions
References

8 Biochar
8.1 Properties of Black Carbon
8.2 Biochar Effects on Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Soils
8.3 Research Needs
8.4 Conclusions
8.5 Review Questions
References

9 Importance of Soils of Agroecosystems for Climate Change Policy
9.1 Management of Soil Carbon of Agroecosystems and Climate Change Policy
9.2 Climate-Smart Agriculture
9.3 Carbon Farming
9.4 Soil Security
9.5 Payments for Ecosystem Services
9.6 Conclusions
9.7 Review Questions
References

Conclusions: The Way Forward