Carbon accumulation will plateau at some point, however, and this time is likely to vary substantially between systems and with specific activities. Removal Biomass is removed by livestock and other herbivores, by fire, and through detachment and decomposition. Soil carbon is removed mainly by decomposition and erosion. Both processes are strongly influenced by management. Permanence Cessation of these practices will tend to result in restrictions of further carbon storage.
Soil carbon is likely to have varying residence times, extending to millennia.
Biomass carbon is vulnerable to disturbance but will recover rapidly in most circumstances, and mean levels of carbon are likely to be higher than in the absence of the activity given suitable grazing regimes. Associated Impacts Increased agricultural productivity is likely, as is some loss of biodiversity from native grass ecosystems. Productivity may fall if pH is lowered too far. Optimization of fertilizer application rates can reduce these risks and reduce off-site impacts from nutrient leaching and pollution of waterways and groundwater. Addition of nitrogenous fertilizer is associated with nitrous oxide emissions.