Investigating the carbon sequestration potential in vineyard soils–the SUSTAIN project

Abstract

The SUSTAIN project aims at assessing the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock and vulnerability in vineyard in a climate change scenario. The accumulation and stabilization mechanisms of SOC and its relative distribution between pools having a different turnover are investigated.

Three experimental vineyards located in the Valpolicella area (Veneto region, North of Italy) were investigated to understand of how parent material and plant cultivar interactively control SOC accumulation and stabilization. These sites were characterized by the same climatic conditions, and by soils developed from different parent materials.

Three additional study areas were also selected and, in each of them, a randomized block design, consisting of 3 blocks composed of 8 plots each, and two factors, i.e., digestate application (amendment, cover crop, bare soil) and climate manipulation (ambient temperature, warming), was set up. In order to increase the temperature by ~2 °C (SSP2-4.5), open top chambers (OTC) were used. Soil samples are collected at four times (i.e., after 0, 6, 12 and 18 months from the OTC placement) and at 3 depths (i.e., 0-15, 15-30, 30-45 cm), and characterized from the physical, chemical and biological point of view. SOC storage and potential vulnerability to climate change were achieved by separating SOC into functionally defined fractions, namely particulate (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM). In fact, being more protected from microbial degradation by soil minerals, MAOM is generally expected to be less prone to disturbance compared to POM.

The results of this project will help implementing agro-environmental management practices supported by the new common agricultural policy (CAP), including carbon farming payment schemes based not only on the quantity of SOC stocked, but also on its turnover or susceptibility to global warming. Moreover, such a study will provide highlights on vineyard vulnerability and possible changes in wine quality in a climate change scenario.

Acknowledgements

This study was carried out within the SUSTAIN project “SeqUeSTro del cArbonio in vIgNeto: utilizzo di biomasse in uno scenario di cambiamento climatico” funded by the Ministero dell’agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste (Area 2 – Cambiamento climatico, biodiversità, funzionalità suoli e altri servizi ecologici e sociali dell’agricoltura; D.M n. 419782 del 14/08/2023 – Procedura di selezione per la concessione di contributi finalizzati alla realizzazione di progetti di ricerca pubblica nel settore vitivinicolo).