Enhancing crop yields in the developing countries through restoration of the soil organic carbon pool in agricultural lands

Abstract Food production in developing countries, estimated at 1223 million metric tons (Mg), must be increased by 778 million Mg or 2·5 per cent y −1 between 2000 and 2025 to meet the needs of an increased population and projected change in diet. Among numerous options, the one based on enhancing soil quality and agronomic productivity per unit area through improvement in soil organic carbon pool has numerous ancillary benefits. The available data show that crop yields can be increased by 20–70 kg ha −1 for wheat, 10–50 kg ha −1 for rice, and 30–300 kg ha −1 for maize with every 1 Mg ha −1 increase in soil organic carbon pool in the root zone. Adoption of recommended management practices on agricultural lands and degraded soils would enhance soil quality including the available water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, soil aggregation, and susceptibility to crusting and erosion. Increase in soil organic carbon pool by 1 Mg ha −1 y −1 can increase food grain production by 32 million Mg y −1 in developing countries. While advancing food security, this strategy would also off‐set fossil fuel emissions at the rate of 0·5 Pg C y −1 through carbons sequestration in agricultural soils of developing countries. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.