Prediction of CO2 emission from arid soil after addition of exogenous organic matter

Organic amendment application is an efficient technique that could contribute to stock organic C in soil reducing CO2 and enhancing soil fertility. However, some types of amendments increase CO2 emission from soil such as soil respiration. Modeling soil respiration after addition of exogenous organic matter will help to provide carbon fates and then to choose the most efficient amendment.Empirical method was used to develop a pseudo-empirical model based on soil wealth and organic matter composition. These data were obtained during an incubation experiment. The obtained model simulated im-mediate CO2 emission from the soil in controlled and natural conditions following carbon input based on the chemical and biochemical compositions of the organic matter applied in the soil. The simulated values showed an excellent correspondence with the amounts of CO2 emitted from an arid soil after organic matter application. This model allowed a good prediction of the exogenous organic matter mineralization. Moreover, it can be used to predict CO2 emission, as a greenhouse gas, from the soil following exogenous organic matter input. Never-theless, this empirical model can only be applied in areas with the same climatic characteristics.