You are here:
CARBON DYNAMICS OF THE CONSERVATION AND WETLAND RESERVE PROGRAMS
Citation:
Barker, J., G. A. Baumgardner, D. P. Turner, AND J. J. Lee. CARBON DYNAMICS OF THE CONSERVATION AND WETLAND RESERVE PROGRAMS. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 51(4):340-346, (1996).
Description:
Data from the Conservation (CRP) and Wetland (WRP) Reserve Programs were analyzed to quantify the carbon (C) dynamics of associated cropland converted to grassland or forestland. Land-area enrollments were multiplied by grassland- and forestland-C densities to calculate C pools and fluxes 50 years into the future. The CRP began in 1986 and by 1996 consisted of 14.7 Mha (3.6x10 7 a) of grassland and 1.5 Mha (3.7x10 6 a) of forestland. CRP1 scenario simulated the likely outcome of the CRP as contracts expire in 1996 with the return of 8.7 Mha (2.1x10 6 a) of grassland and 0.4 Mha (9.9x10 5 a) of forestland to crop production. CRP2 scenario assumed that the CRP continued with no land being returned to agricultural use. CRP3 scenario was an expansion of CRP2 to include afforestation of 4 Mha (9.9x10 6 a) of new cropland. The WRP began in 1996 with 2Mha (4.9x10 6 a) of river bottomland taken out of crop production and planted to hardwood trees. Conclusions of the research were (1) that cropland convered to forestland gained C at a rate about 7 times greater than cropland converted to grassland; (2) maintaining the existing CRP grassland will provide a substantial C sequestration potential because of the large area involved; and (3) afforestation of additional cropland would increase the potential to sequester atmospheric C for many years.