Managing U.S. cropland to sequester carbon in soil
- Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States). School of Natural Resources
- USDA-ARS, Fort Collins, CO (United States)
- USDA-NRCS, Lincoln, NE (United States). National Soil Survey Center
- Colorado State Univ., Estes Park, CO (United States)
The effects of human activities on atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) are under intensive study in the United States and worldwide. Since conversion to cropland during the 17th and 18th centuries, the vegetation and soils of the US forests, grasslands, and wetlands have undergone extensive change. Clearing, tilling, and draining of these soils for long-term cropland use released large amounts of CO{sub 2}, a GHG, to the atmosphere from the soils` fertile soil organic matter (SOM). The SOM in topsoil often was depleted by up to half of its soil organic carbon (SOC). Now, improved farming technologies, increased farmland productivity, and government programs to return highly erodible lands to permanent vegetation are producing unanticipated benefits by letting soils become major sinks for atmospheric CO{sub 2} that is stored in them as increasing levels of SOC.
- OSTI ID:
- 678084
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, Journal Name: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 54; ISSN 0022-4561; ISSN JSWCA3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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