Effect of Different Management Practices on Soil Carbon Sequestration in Kansas

1
Effect of Different Management Practices on Soil
Carbon Sequestration in Kansas
K. P. Fabrizzi, C. W. Rice, A. Schlegel, D.
Sweeney, D. Peterson and C. Thompson Kansas
State University
2
Contributions of soil and terrestrial ecosystems
to atmospheric GHGs can be decreased by

• Decreasing emissions of GHGs
• Sequestering C within the ecosystems

3
Soil C sequestration implies capture of
atmospheric C and its storage in soil within the
terrestrial ecosystem
4
C sequestration can be enhanced by those
practices that

• Minimize soil disturbance and erosion
• Maximize amounts of crop residue return
• Maximize water and nutrient use efficiency of
  crop production

5
Strategies for C sequestration in agriculture
ecosystems
6
Potential C sequestration in U.S
Lal et al., 1999, Post et al.,2004
7
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this research is to evaluate the
effects of
8
Materials and Methods
9
Experimental Sites
Soil organic carbon (SOC) was determined by dry
combustion (Carlo Erba) at 0-5 and 5-15 cm in
four sites (2003-2004). BD was determined at 0-30
cm
Two approaches were used to determine C
sequestration rates 1. Using baseline SOC
data C rate (Mg C ha-1 yr-1) SOCx
SOC0 / years 2. Using relative annual
increase of SOC (RAISOC)( McConkey et al.,
2003) RAISOC( yr-1) ((SOCNT -
SOCCT)/(SOCCT years))100
10
Experimental Sites
Characteristics
11
Treatments

• CT sweep plow, chisel-disk-field cultivator,
  disk-mulch treader
• RT field cultivator, disk-field cultivator,
  V-blade, sweeps rodweeder
• NT chemical control

12
RESULTS
13
Tribune SOC at 0-15 cm (16 yr)
P values T0.35
14
Hays SOC at 0-15 cm (37 yr)
P values T0.23, N0.06, T x N 0.91
15
Parsons SOC at 0-15 cm (20 yr)
P values T 0.08, N0.07
16
Ashland SOC at 0-15 cm (29 yr)
P values Rlt.0001 , Tlt.0001, R x T 0.51
17
C rates using baseline

18
Relative annual increase in SOC
RAISOC( yr-1) ((SOCNT - SOCCT)/(SOCCT
years))100
19
Conclusions

• Two of the four sites (Parsons, Ashland) showed
• a significant effect of tillage systems where
  NT
• had the greatest values of SOC.
• N application significantly increased SOC in
  both
• sites evaluated (Parsons and Hays).
• More intensive rotation, and those that include
• wheat in the systems had the greatest values
  of
• SOC compared with the monoculture especially
• soybean/soybean rotations (Ashland).

20
Future research

• Increase the number of experimental sites
• Improve the determination of C rates
• Modeling of the data
• Evaluation of soil C pools to better
  understanding of the dynamics of soil C

21
Acknowledgments

• Geronimo Watson, Mauro Carignano, Paul White,
  Guillermo Schroeder for their help.
• Josh Budde for the help and data provided
• Dr. C. W. Rice
• C. Thompson, A. Schlegel, D. Sweeney and D.
  Peterson
• Soil Testing Lab
• Undergraduate students.
• This material is based upon work supported by the
  Cooperative State Research, Education, and
  Extension Service, U.S. Department of
  Agriculture, Under Agreement No. 2001-38700-11092.

22
(No Transcript)
23
(No Transcript)
24
Hays Crop yield
(C. A. Thompson, personal communication, 2004)
25
Tribune Crop yield
(A. Schlegel, personal communication, 2004)
26
Parsons Crop yield
(D. Sweeney, personal communication, 2004)
27
Ashland Crop yield
(D. Peterson, personal communication, 2004)