Location: Northwest Sustainable Agroecosystems Research
Title: The Earth Works Podcast: Kevin Hicks with Claire PhillipsAuthor
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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Other Publication Acceptance Date: 3/7/2024 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Turfgrass is common within urban landscapes and serves many functions, including potentially sequestering soil carbon. Here I summarize what is known about how prior landuse, turfgrass type, turfgrass age, and management practices impact carbon sequestration. It is shown that both high-intensity and low-intensity managed turfgrass can sequester carbon, but maintenance-related emissions partially offset carbon sequestration benefits. Sequestration rates also diminish through time as turfgrass system mature, so the climate benefits of turfgrass are temporary and likely persist less than 50 years. These findings will be helpful for the turfgrass and lawncare industries to better understand opportunities and liabilities stemming from emerging carbon markets and climate legislation. Technical Abstract: Turfgrass is common within urban landscapes and serves many functions, including potentially sequestering soil carbon. Here I summarize what is known about how prior landuse, turfgrass type, turfgrass age, and management practices impact carbon sequestration. It is shown that both high-intensity and low-intensity managed turfgrass can sequester carbon, but maintenance-related emissions partially offset carbon sequestration benefits. Sequestration rates also diminish through time as turfgrass systems mature, so the climate benefits of turfgrass are temporary and likely persist less than 50 years. These findings will be helpful for the turfgrass and lawncare industries who are trying to understand opportunities and liabilities stemming from emerging carbon markets and climate legislation. |
