GHG Mitigation on Agricultural Lands

Recognition is growing that land management and resource use decisions can have major long-term impacts upon the rapid increase of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other so-called greenhouse gases that are of concern for global climate change. Consequently, there is growing interest in C sequestration in soils and vegetation as a mitigation strategy. C sequestration is the removal of CO₂ from the air through photosynthesis by plants, and the retention of some of that C in standing stocks of biomass and soils. It is well documented that conversion of native soils to crop production generally causes a loss of original soil C of 20-50%. Agricultural therefore has the ability to put C back into the soil through the use of various land management practices, thus sequestering C from the atmosphere. Because most CO₂ emissions are a result of fossil fuel burning, industry and society as a whole are interested in C sequestration as a cost effective means of offsetting some of their emissions. Land that sequesters C provides multiple benefits for the environment and the landowner. Chief among these is the protection of water quality and quantity, improved soil quality, reduced soil erosion, and improved wildlife habitat and biodiversity. In some cases, increasing C sequestration is consistent with increasing the productivity of the land to yield food and fiber, thus providing both economic and environmental gains.

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