Author
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Skinner, Robert |
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Submitted to: Popular Publication
Publication Type: Popular Publication Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2005 Publication Date: 9/1/2005 Citation: Skinner, R.H. 2005. Carbon dioxide storage in pennsylvania pastures. Project Grass. 1:14. Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required. Technical Abstract: Global warming, caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels and the resulting increase in atmospheric greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide, is increasingly being recognized as a concern for the wellbeing of the planet. Agricultural practices that increase carbon dioxide storage in soil organic matter are one way of reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. Mechanisms are being put into place world wide to offer financial credits for either reducing carbon dioxide emissions or increasing storage. In the US, such credits are selling for $1.60 per metric ton (MT) carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide credits on the European market, however, were selling for more than $12.00 per MT in early 2005. For more than 2 years we have been continuously monitoring carbon dioxide uptake and loss from two pastures near State College, PA. One is a mixture of cool-season grasses and the other contains a mixture of grasses and alfalfa. In 2003, these pastures accumulated 1.9 and 2.1 MT of carbon dioxide per acre, but in 2004 they lost 0.7 and 1.8 MT per acre, respectively. The grass pasture showed little net accumulation of carbon dioxide over the two years, while average accumulation on the grass/alfalfa pasture was 0.7 MT per acre per year. The amount of carbon dioxide stored will depend on the age of the pasture, management system used and environmental conditions. Generally, younger pastures will store more carbon dioxide than older pastures and grazed pastures will store more than those cut for hay. Environmental stresses such as drought, flooding, unusually high or low temperature, or untimely harvesting can also reduce storage. Manure application can increase carbon dioxide storage but will have negative impacts on other greenhouse gasses such as nitrous oxide. At current US prices, incomes of $1-2 per acre for carbon dioxide sequestration are the best that can be expected. If prices eventually approach those on the global market then much greater financial incentives will exist for producers to make management decisions based on potential income from selling carbon dioxide credits. |