Modeling future carbon stock in melon cultivation agroecosystems under different climate scenarios

Abstract

Intensive melon cultivation is based on conventional monoculture models that can inefficiently use natural resources, which, combined with inadequate management, contribute to climate change. The main objective of this study was to model the future carbon stock in melon cultivation agroecosystems under different climate scenarios. The study was conducted at the Bebedouro Experimental Field of Embrapa Semi-arid, Petrolina/PE, Brazil, in an area cultivated with yellow melon cv. Gladial, and eight cultivation cycles were considered. The experimental design was composed of two types of soil management (with and without tillage), two treatments using green manures consisting of 14 species with different proportions of legumes, grasses and oilseeds, and spontaneous vegetation, containing four replications divided into randomized blocks. After 70 days of development, the plants were cut and placed in the soil. Temperature and precipitation data were acquired from the BCC-CSM, MIROC5, CESM1-BGC, IPSL-CM5B-LR, and HadGEM2-AO climate models, following the RCP 4.5 and 8.5 climate scenarios. The carbon (C) stock was estimated until the year 2071 using the RothC model.