Evaluating Carbon Farming Practices for Sustainable Soil Management in Citrus Cultivation
Date Issued
September 19, 2025
Abstract
Oranges (citrus) stand out as a fruit of global nutritional and consequently commercial importance, serving as an important
export product for many countries. Their cultivation in Mediterranean climates requires careful management of soil and
water resources, where maintaining fertile and healthy soils is vital for ensuring productivity and fruit quality. Carbon
sequestration in soils of citrus orchards represents a significant opportunity for climate change mitigation. The carbon
sequestration potential of citrus trees lies in their ability to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in their biomass
and soil. Depending on how the soil is managed and what practices are applied, the tree’s ability to sequester carbon is
also affected. Studies reviewed in the context of the current mini-review, demonstrate that carbon sequestration agriculture
such as cover cropping, reduced or no-tillage, pruning residue incorporation, and biochar / compost application
significantly improve soil quality and can increase carbon sequestration. In addition, both biochar and compost, improve
soil properties by increasing Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and balancing the pH, thereby enhancing nutrient
availability for plants. These amendments aid in rehabilitating degraded soils, improve aeration and moisture retention,
and support extensive root systems, which assist in carbon sequestration. Monitoring, Reporting and Verification
frameworks are essential for enabling and incentivizing the application of carbon farming practices, and remote sensing
technologies can provide valuable information for soil organic carbon (SOC) content monitoring over large areas. The
current mini-review aims at discussing the potential of different practices for elevating SOC in citrus orchards and the
potential applications of using remote sensing to monitor SOC levels in citrus orchards.
export product for many countries. Their cultivation in Mediterranean climates requires careful management of soil and
water resources, where maintaining fertile and healthy soils is vital for ensuring productivity and fruit quality. Carbon
sequestration in soils of citrus orchards represents a significant opportunity for climate change mitigation. The carbon
sequestration potential of citrus trees lies in their ability to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in their biomass
and soil. Depending on how the soil is managed and what practices are applied, the tree’s ability to sequester carbon is
also affected. Studies reviewed in the context of the current mini-review, demonstrate that carbon sequestration agriculture
such as cover cropping, reduced or no-tillage, pruning residue incorporation, and biochar / compost application
significantly improve soil quality and can increase carbon sequestration. In addition, both biochar and compost, improve
soil properties by increasing Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and balancing the pH, thereby enhancing nutrient
availability for plants. These amendments aid in rehabilitating degraded soils, improve aeration and moisture retention,
and support extensive root systems, which assist in carbon sequestration. Monitoring, Reporting and Verification
frameworks are essential for enabling and incentivizing the application of carbon farming practices, and remote sensing
technologies can provide valuable information for soil organic carbon (SOC) content monitoring over large areas. The
current mini-review aims at discussing the potential of different practices for elevating SOC in citrus orchards and the
potential applications of using remote sensing to monitor SOC levels in citrus orchards.
Funding
The authors acknowledge the ‘EXCELSIOR’: ERATOSTHENES: Excellence Research Centre for Earth Surveillance and
Space-Based Monitoring of the Environment H2020 Widespread Teaming project (www.excelsior2020.eu). The
‘EXCELSIOR’ project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme
under Grant Agreement No 857510, from the Government of the Republic of Cyprus through the Directorate General for
the European Programmes, Coordination and Development and the Cyprus University of Technology.
The present work was carried out in the framework of CARBONICA project that has received funding from the Horizon
Europe HORIZON-WIDERA-2022 Research and Innovation Actions, under Grant Agreement No 101087233.
Space-Based Monitoring of the Environment H2020 Widespread Teaming project (www.excelsior2020.eu). The
‘EXCELSIOR’ project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme
under Grant Agreement No 857510, from the Government of the Republic of Cyprus through the Directorate General for
the European Programmes, Coordination and Development and the Cyprus University of Technology.
The present work was carried out in the framework of CARBONICA project that has received funding from the Horizon
Europe HORIZON-WIDERA-2022 Research and Innovation Actions, under Grant Agreement No 101087233.
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