Cropland

This section provides a tiered methodology for estimating and reporting greenhouse gas emissions from croplands. Cropland includes arable and tillable land, ri ce fields, and agro-forestry systems where the vegetation structure falls below the thresholds used for the Forest land category, and is not expected to exceed those thresholds at a later time. Cropland includes all annual a nd perennial crops as well as temporary fallow land (i.e., land set at rest for one or several years before being cu ltivated again). Annual crops include cereals, oils seeds, vegetables, root crops and forages. Perennial crops include trees and shrubs, in combination with herbaceous crops (e.g. agroforestry) or as orchards, vineyards and plantations such as cocoa, coffee, tea, oil palm, coconut, rubber trees, and bananas, except where these lands meet the criteria for categorisation as Forest land. Arable land which is normally used for cultivation of annual crops but which is temporarily used for forage crops or grazing as part of an annual crop-pasture rotation (mixed system) is included under cropland. The amount of carbon stored in and emitted or removed from permanent cropland depends on crop type, management practices, and soil and climate variables. For example, annual crops (e.g. cereals, vegetables) are harvested each year, so there is no long-term storage of carbon in biomass. However, perennial woody vegetation in orchards, vineyards, and agroforestry systems can store significant carbon in long-lived biomass, the amount depending on species type and cultivar, density, growth rates, and harvesting and pruning practices. Carbon stocks in soils can be significant and changes in stocks can occur in conjunction with soil properties and management practices, including crop type and rotation, tillage, drainage, residue management and organic amendments. Burning of crop residue produces significant non-CO2 greenhouse gases and the calculation methods are provided. There is separate guidance for Cropland remaining Cropland (CC) and land converted to Cropland (LC) because of the difference in carbon dynamics. Land-use conversions to Cropland from Forest land, Grassland and Wetlands usually result in a net loss of carbon from biomass and soils as well as N2O to the atmosphere. However, cropland established on previously sparsely vegetated or highly disturbed lands (e.g. mined lands) can result in a net gain in both biomass and soil carbon. Some changes, especially those dealing with soil carbon, may take place in periods of time longer than one year

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