Description of the Business As Usual (BAU):
Crop production without soil amendments, i.e. without external carbon inputs into the soil. Using of fertilizers, cover crops and crop rotation may vary according to other factors.
The soil carbon (C) content of agricultural soils is declining both in Finland and globally. Net carbon loss for cereal cropping on Finnish mineral croplands is estimated to be 0.5 Mg C ha-1 yr-1, and on the clay soils as much as 2.2 Mg C ha-1 yr-1.
Description of the system change:
Adding wood-derived soil amendments, originating from the forest industry i.e. pulp or paper mills. Soil application of pulp and paper mill sludges have been increasingly common over the past decade(s). They have potential to improve soil health by increasing the soil organic matter, fertility, pH, microbial activity, aggregation, as well as nutrient and water holding capacity. Naturally, they increase soil C, but the lifespan of C in soil may vary – however, it usually lasts for several years.