Agroecosystems /
Carbon Sequestration
Research Focus
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Iowa Final Report
Conclusions
The data provided by the local conservation districts in Iowa, the Century simulations, and the resulting public outreach support the following six conclusions:
- Agricultural soils in Iowa are estimated to be sequestering 3.1 MMTC (~11.3 MMT of CO2 removed from the atmosphere) at present (1998 base year), mainly through the adoption of conservation practices. This amount is equivalent to 16.7% of Iowa's 1997 fossil fuel emissions.
- Using results from this study, local land managers, working with local conservation planners have the ability to estimate rates of soil C change (C sequestration) depending on the types of management decisions that are implemented.
- The CSRA provides a tool to help gather local land use data. Local land managers provide data through the use of the CSRA including:
- past and present land use by soil map unit;
- drainage and irrigation histories by soil map unit;
- past and present cropping and tillage histories; and
- installation of conservation practices by soil map unit.
- Iowa Conservation Districts are willing to report to the U.S. DOE, through the use of the EIA-1605 (b) reporting procedures, the 1998 C sequestered by the implementation of conservation practices.
- The Iowa Conservation Partnership, including local conservation districts, state agencies, and NRCS, were willing to take a leadership role, along with the support of NACD, aimed at increasing awareness of the C sequestration issue, and the role of agriculture.
- 100% of the Iowa Conservation Districts participated in this research dealing with C sequestration and provided valuable local information that is necessary to enhance C simulation computer modeling.
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