ABSTRACT
Human activities have led to global climatic change and increase in the global temperature by 0.6 ± 0.2◦C at an average rate of increase of 0.17◦C per decade since 1950 (IPCC, 2001). This climatic change is attributed to increase in concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs)(e.g., CO2, CH4, N2O) by fossil fuel combustion, land use change and deforestation, and soil degradation because of inappropriate land use and soil management practices (FAO, 1994; Lal, 2004). The GHG emissions, particularly that of CO2 from terrestrial ecosystems, can be decreased by: (1) increasing C sinks in soil organic matter (SOM) and the above-ground biomass, (2) avoiding carbon (C) emissions from farm operations by reducing direct and indirect energy use, and (3) increasing renewable-energy production from biomass that either substitutes for consumption of fossil fuels or replaces inefficient burning of fuel wood or crop residue (Pretty et al., 2002). The Bio-sequestration of C, both by soil and biota, is also important to improving quality of soil and the environment. At present, the soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration in developing countries is low because of high soil temperatures during summer accentuating the rate of mineralization of SOM; low rainfall and lack of availability of good quality irrigation water exacerbating the drought problem; little or no crop residue and/or manure returned to the soil because of numerous alternate uses as fodder or fuel; and excessive tillage, extractive cropping systems, and improper crop rotations which accentuate the problem of soil degradation. Thus, the objective of this manuscript is to review the soil and water resources of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and discuss the importance of restoration of degraded/desertified soils, and use of recommended soil and crop management techniques in soil C sequestration and improving soil quality.
