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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #414680
Research Project: Knowledge Systems and Tools to Increase the Resilience and Sustainability of Western Rangeland Agriculture

Location: Range Management Research

Title: Soil carbon sequestration potential of Mongolian grasslands

Author
item Heller, Alexandra
item DENSAMBUU, BULGAMAA - Mongolian Academy Of Sciences
item DASHBAL, BURMAA - Mongolian Academy Of Sciences

Submitted to: Sustainable Agriculture Research
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2024
Publication Date: 7/1/2025
Citation: Heller, A., Densambuu, B., Dashbal, B. 2025. Soil carbon sequestration potential of Mongolian grasslands. Sustainable Agriculture Research. Abstract.

Interpretive Summary: We used Ecological Site Groups (ESGs) and a publically available global soil carbon model to estimate soil carbon amounts across common ESGs in Mongolia's steppe and forest steppe natural zones. We used this information to develop a sampling strategy that will be used to quantify soil carbon storage potential within vegetation states of ESGs.

Technical Abstract: Though over one third of terrestrial carbon is stored in grasslands globally, carbon storage potential in grasslands is vastly understudied in comparison to other ecosystem types (e.g., forests). In addition to serving as a form of climate change mitigation by sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide, storage of organic carbon in the soil is tied to numerous indicators of ecosystem health, including soil fertility, higher production of vegetation, and increased nutrient cycling. Further, the carbon crediting industry may provide a potential source of income to stakeholders through the sale of carbon credits if grasslands can be managed to increase soil carbon sequestration. Managing grasslands for their ecological potential will maximize sequestration of carbon, but the amount and variability of carbon storage potential in Mongolian grasslands is still unknown. Mongolia has existing ecological monitoring and management programs that can support improved grassland management, and allow for the quantification of soil organic carbon across different ecosystems and vegetation states. Among these tools are the Ecological Site Group (ESG) and state-and-transition model (STM) frameworks, which describe abiotic site potential and ecosystem dynamics, respectively. We propose using ESGs and STMs as a nationally applicable system for quantifying soil carbon storage potential and interpreting management for increased carbon storage. We used the ESG classification system and existing global soil carbon models to estimate the amount of soil organic carbon in different ecosystems in the steppe and forest steppe natural zones. We will collect field data to validate these estimates, and to understand spatial and temporal variability in soil sequestration potential by vegetation state using STMs.