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ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES AFFECTING SOIL CARBON IN AGROECOSYSTEMS OF THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES
Citation:
Donigian, Jr., A., T. Barnwell, Jr., R. Jackson, A. Patwardhan, K. Weinrich, A. Rowell, R. Chinnaswamy, AND C. Cole. ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES AFFECTING SOIL CARBON IN AGROECOSYSTEMS OF THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-94/067.
Description:
The goal of the U.S. EPA BIOME Agroecosystems Assessment Project is to evaluate the degree to which agroecosystems can be technically managed, on a sustainable basis, to conserve and sequester carbon, reduce the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and provide reference datasets and methodologies for agricultural assessment. his report provides preliminary estimates of carbon sequestration potential for the central United States including the Corn Belt, the Great Lakes, and portions of the Great Plains. his study region comprises 44% of the land area and 60% to 70% of the agricultural cropland of the conterminous United States. he assessment methodology includes the integration of the RAMS economic model, the CENTURY soil carbon model, meteorologic and soils data bases, and GIS display and analysis capabilities in order to assess the impacts on soil carbon of current agricultural trends and conditions, alternative tillage practices, use of cover crops, and Conservation Reserve Program policy. he study results indicate a 26% to 53% increase in soil carbon for the 40 year projection period from 1990 through 2030 under the methodology assumptions representing a continuation of current (circa 1989-90) agricultural trends and alternative polic scenarios. his represents a potential gain of 1 to 2 GtC in the study region by 2030.