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Effects of Carbon Sequestration BMPs

Author

Steve L. Watson,
Colorado State University

Executive Summary 
Some of the most commonly recommended Best Management Practices (BMPs) for carbon sequestration include no-till or reduced tillage, more intensive crop rotations, and optimal nitrogen fertilization rates.



Some of the most commonly recommended Best Management Practices (BMPs) for carbon sequestration include no-till or reduced tillage, more intensive crop rotations, and optimal nitrogen fertilization rates. These practices generally increase soil carbon levels. But what effect do these BMPs have on soil quality and soil moisture retention?  

     
A study by Kent McVay, K-State Research and Extension soil and water conservation specialist, and agronomy graduate student Josh Budde looked at this question.  

     
The agronomists examined soil samples from two long-term tillage and fertilization experiments -- one at the KSU Ag Research Center-Hays, and one at the Agronomy North Farm in Manhattan. The experiment at Hays has been ongoing since 1975. The Manhattan trial began in 1990. At Hays, the treatments included tillage (no-till, reduced tillage, and conventional tillage) and nitrogen rate (60 lbs N per acre and no fertilizer) in a wheat/sorghum/fallow rotation on a silty clay loam soil. At Manhattan, the treatments included tillage (no-till and conventional tillage) and nitrogen source and rate (manure and ammonium nitrate at the rate of 150 lbs N per acre, and no fertilizer) in a continuous corn system on a silt loam soil.  

     
McVay and Budde summarize their findings as follows:  

     
* Reducing tillage increased the amount of desirable large soil aggregates.  

     
* Manure application benefits the formation of large soil aggregates.  

     
* Applying fertilizer increased the formation of large soil aggregates compared to no fertilizer.  

     
* In addition to creating larger aggregates, no-till and manure applications at the Manhattan site resulted in greater amounts of total soil carbon.  

     
* No-till management systems will retain more plant available water for longer periods of time after rainstorm events than conventional-till systems.  

     
* Switching from conventional tillage to no-till can increase soil quality by increasing the amount of large soil aggregates.  

     
* No-till management systems have the potential to increase soil bulk density (although bulk densities in this study were not high enough to restrict plant growth).  

     
* Increasing fertilization rates and adding nitrogen as manure will result in greater soil aggregation and increased soil quality.  

     

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