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Soil Carbon Storage Will Improve Soil's Organic Health

Millions of dollars in federal funds have recently been earmarked for K-State to study the potential for storing carbon in agricultural soils. Exactly what type of carbon is being targeted and what effect would it have on water quality or soil health?

“We’re talking about using increased plant growth to absorb more carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air. Plants convert carbon dioxide in the air into an organic form of carbon, and can keep that carbon stored for centuries in the form of organic matter,” says Chuck Rice, K-State soil microbiologist and coordinator of a national research effort to increase carbon storage in agricultural soils.

“We are not talking about storing coal wastes in underground vaults or injecting smokestack gases into native prairie soil, or anything like that. We’re looking at ways to enhance the natural carbon cycle and help restore the natural balance of carbon so that we can help reduce the buildup of atmospheric CO₂ and other greenhouse gases,” he explains. The specific practice under study is called “agricultural soil carbon sequestration.”

“Agricultural soil carbon sequestration is the practice of using plant life to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere and store it as carbon in the soil in the form of organic matter. That’s where the term ‘sequestration’ comes in. We’re sequestering carbon in the soil, just like a judge may sequester a jury during a trial, out of reach of the public. We’re keeping the carbon locked away in the soil for a while, out of reach of the atmosphere,” Rice says.

“When we speak of wanting to store greenhouse gases in the soil, we’re really saying is that we want to increase soil organic matter levels. As soil organic matter levels increase, the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere will decrease,” he explains.

An increase in soil organic matter will not only reduce greenhouse gases -- it also will have a beneficial effect on water quality and soil health, Rice says. “Organic matter helps hold nutrients in place so they do not leach into ground water or run off into surface waters. It also helps hold certain pesticides in place longer so they can decompose naturally,” he explains.

Increased organic matter also helps stabilize the soil into larger aggregates and reduce the potential for wind and water erosion, adds Kent McVay, K-State Extension soil conservation specialist.

The agricultural practices used to increase soil carbon sequestration include some of today’s most advanced conservation and production practices, McVay says.

“No-till, for example, is one of the most powerful means of sequestering carbon. No-till is being adopted by leading producers for its ability to increase production where water is limiting, reduce fuel use, and reduce soil losses from erosion. The fact that no-till also helps sequester carbon and store greenhouse gases in the soil is just a bonus,” McVay says.

Other leading practices that help sequester carbon include:
1. Buffer strips
2. Increased cropping intensity by reducing use of fallow periods
3. Improved grazing practices to improve rangeland forage quality and quantity

These practices, and others, will help reduce greenhouse gases by sequestering carbon and will result in many other long-term environmental benefits, Rice says.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Charles W. Rice
Department of Agronomy
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506
(785) 532-7217
cwrice@ksu.edu

Dr. Kent McVay  
Extension Agronomy 
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506
(785) 532-5776
kmcvay@ksu.edu 

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