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Farming Carbon. Soil Carbon Sequestration By Thea Hassan. Carbon Sequestration. Carbon capture and storage Where to store it? Expensive to capture the carbon. Global Carbon Sinks. Measurements in petagrams = 1 billion ton. Pedologic Sink.
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Farming Carbon Soil Carbon Sequestration By Thea Hassan
Carbon Sequestration • Carbon capture and storage • Where to store it? • Expensive to capture the carbon
Global Carbon Sinks Measurements in petagrams= 1 billion ton
Pedologic Sink • Composed of soil inorganic carbon and soil organic carbon (SOC) • SOC vital for plant processes • ‘‘soil organic matter is one of our most important national resources; its unwise exploitation has been devastating; and it must be given its proper rank in any conservation policy.’’ –Albrecht, 1938
SOC Depletion • Biomass burning • Tropical Deforestation • Agricultural Activities • Drainage of Wetlands • Plowing
Soil Organic Carbon • Historically, loss of ~55-78 Gt of Carbon • Varies depending on: • Climate • Vegetation Cover • Land Use • Nature of Parent Materials
SOC Restoration • Restore the depleted sink • Recommended Management Practices: • Afforestation • Conversion • Conservation Agriculture • Crop Rotations • Integrated Nutrient Management Reduce energy needs by 10%-40%
Benefits of SOC Restoration • Climate Change Mitigation • Increased Agronomic Activity • Cost Effective and Natural • Decrease Effects of Nutrient Run Off
Potential Costs • Hidden Carbon Costs • Irrigation • Fertilizer Use • Stability of Carbon • Resource Poor Farmers
Summary • Natural sequestration to capture carbon • Storage benefits the land • Carbon credits exchange
Thank You! • Questions?