The non-permanence of optimal soil carbon sequestration

Carbon sequestration in agricultural soils is considered as an option of greenhouse gasmitigation in many countries. But, the economic potential is limited by the dynamicprocess of saturation and the opportunity cost of land use change. In addition, thisarticle shows that permanence cannot, in general, be achieved in the strict sense ofmaintaining the soil carbon stock on an increased equilibrium level. Rather, a cyclicalpattern with periodical release of sequestered carbon can be economically optimal fromboth the farmers’ and societal point of view.