About the Project

This page is used to publish the results of agronomic simulations focused on evaluation of carbon (C) sequestration potential in arable soils of the Czech Republic.

The results were created in collaboration with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) within the project QK23020056: Creation and verification of model systems for long-term carbon sequestration in the Czech Republic. The project was implemented during the years 2023–2025 and funded by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic through the National Agency for Agricultural Research.

The project aimed to establish an information tool to facilitate the implementation of carbon farming at the national level. Objectives included proposing model systems for long-term C sequestration and predicting their effectiveness using regional simulation modeling under various future climate scenarios. Presented set of maps illustrating the potential for C sequestration in various cultivation systems is one of the key project outputs (see the tab Sequestration Potential – Maps).

We define the soil sequestration potential as the increase in C content in the soil organic matter within the topsoil layer following the introduction of a specific model type of farming. Agronomically meaningful uses of arable land were considered across a gradient, ranging from high-intensity methods (less suitable or unsuitable for C storage) to sustainable agricultural practices recommended within carbon farming schemes. These practices include: reduced tillage, increased incorporation of post-harvest residues, use of catch crops, crop diversification, application of organic fertilizers, mulching of perennial crops, and irrigation.

The model cultivation systems encompass a broad spectrum of combined measures and remain relevant to agricultural enterprises with diverse focuses, despite their simplifications. Consequently, most actual cultivation systems can find an analogous model system among the proposed variants that accurately reflects their farming practices.