Soil Cand N Sequestration in Intensive Agriculture

Morris, S.J., Bohm, S., Paul, E. A. and Robertson, G. P.

Presented at the ASM at Snowbird (2000-08-02 to 2017-12-05 )

Soil organic matter (SOM) functions as both a source and sink for atmospheric CO_2. Concern over the increase in atmospheric CO₂ has focused research efforts on understanding the quality and quantity of C that can be stored in SOM and the degree to which this storage can be used to mitigate for industrial pollution. Sequestration of C and N in soils can be greatly improved by changes in current agricultural practices and understanding the quantity of C and N that can be stored under these changes is necessary for U.S. policy decisions. C and N sequestration was determined over ten years of management for seven different agricultural systems at the Kellogg Biological Station, MI. Soil organic matter dynamics were evaluated using long term incubations to determine pool sizes for C including the active C pool (Ca), slow C pool (Cs) and resistant pool (Cr). Changes in pool sizes and mean residence times (MRT) of the C pools is indicative of C sequestration potential for the site.