USDA researches strategies to reduce GHG emissions from agriculture

Researchers are studying combinations of soil tillage and crop rotation strategies to assist Oregon wheat farmers with carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas mitigation. The results are being gathered for the GRACEnet project, assisting the USDA’s priority of addressing climate change.

Hero Gollany, soil scientist at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center, is analyzing agricultural plots and comparing levels of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions, residue yields, and soil conditions between fields. One study compares a field of 2-year wheat rotation and an alternate 3-year cycle field of no-till winter wheat, followed by another crop of no-till winter wheat, followed by sorghum. A second study examines maximum carbon sequestration potential, and compares a field of continuous winter wheat with no tillage and a field of wheat crop followed by a year of fallow with sweep tillage and rod-weeder for weed control.

The research is important, as organic carbon stored in soils helps water retention and crop productivity through nutrient provision in addition to mitigating climate change.

Full story: USDA ARS