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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #425717
Research Project: Optimizing and Stabilizing Economic and Ecological Sustainability of Pacific Northwest Seed Cropping Systems Under Current and Future Climate Conditions

Location: Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit

Title: Conservation Management on an Oregon Livestock Ranch Supports Net Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Storage

Author
item VALLIERE, SAMUEL - Oregon State University
item PRADO-TARANGO, DAVID - Oregon State University
item Moore, Jennifer
item ATES, SERKAN - Oregon State University
item MATA-GONZALEZ, RICARDO - Oregon State University

Submitted to: Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/18/2025
Publication Date: 3/1/2026
Citation: Valliere, S., Prado-Tarango, D., Moore, J.M., Ates, S., Mata-Gonzalez, R. 2026. Conservation Management on an Oregon Livestock Ranch Supports Net Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Storage. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2025.110182.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2025.110182

Interpretive Summary: Rangelands are the world’s largest terrestrial ecosystems, covering approximately 30% of the planet’s ice-free land surface. Accurately measuring and monitoring the carbon status of rangelands is essential for understanding and managing these ecosystems sustainably. We monitored soil carbon and nitrogen stocks on an Oregon ranch, established in 1871. Over the past 20 years, the ranch has implemented numerous sustainable management practices and was certified under an international program called Responsible Wool Standard, a benchmark for leading practices in wool production for sustainable textiles. This study aimed at providing valuable insights into the long-term effects of sustainable livestock management on soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation. Soil samples (0-20cm and 20-40cm) were collected from 2020-2023. We found that soil carbon increased approximately 3 tonnes ha-1 yr-1 during this sampling period. Nitrogen stocks also increased at a rate of 0.4 tonnes ha-1 yr-1. These results suggest that the current management practices continue to have a positive impact on soil carbon and nitrogen stocks and may serve as a framework for other ranches in similar ecosystems.

Technical Abstract: We monitored soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks in an Oregon, USA livestock ranch with a 20-year history of land conservation management. Soil samples were collected at 0-20 and 20-40 cm over a four-year period (2020-2023). In addition, we used the COMET-Farm™ model to estimate the ranch’s net carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide emissions based on past and current management practices, to create estimates for four future management scenarios implementing range legume seeding and stocking rate modifications. Over the 4-year sampling, the ranch increased soil C (0-20cm depth) at a rate of 1.5 metric tons C ha-1 per ½ year, but no increase was detected at the 20-40cm depth. Soil N stocks also increased at the 0-20cm depth at 0.20 t ha-1 per ½ year, but not at the deeper layer. Modeling results showed that the ranch’s management practices (crop, grazing, and livestock operations) currently have an estimated net emission of -2,809.7 metric tons of CO2 equivalents per year, indicating that all emissions resulting from the ranch’s operations can be potentially sequestered back in the soil by the plant community. This research serves as a reference for the potential of rangelands to store carbon if they are managed properly.