Download - Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration
Terrestrial Carbon SequestrationTerrestrial Carbon Sequestration
Jay AngererJay AngererTexas AgriLife ResearchTexas AgriLife Research
Blackland Research and Extension CenterBlackland Research and Extension CenterSeptember 3, 2010September 3, 2010
OutlineOutline
IntroductionIntroduction Global Carbon CycleGlobal Carbon Cycle Plant processesPlant processes Terrestrial SequestrationTerrestrial Sequestration
ForestsForests CroplandCropland RangelandRangeland Disturbed or denuded landDisturbed or denuded land
Outline (cont.)Outline (cont.)
Other BenefitsOther Benefits Potential PitfallsPotential Pitfalls Monitoring and MeasurementMonitoring and Measurement Decision Support ToolsDecision Support Tools
Where Does Terrestrial Sequestration Fit?Where Does Terrestrial Sequestration Fit?
From: http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/overview/ways_to_store.html
Terrestrial Carbon SequestrationTerrestrial Carbon SequestrationDefinedDefined
From Lal et al. (2004):From Lal et al. (2004):““Carbon sequestration implies transferringCarbon sequestration implies transferring
atmospheric CO2 into long-lived pools andatmospheric CO2 into long-lived pools and
storing it securely so it is not immediatelystoring it securely so it is not immediately
reemitted. Thus, soil C sequestration meansreemitted. Thus, soil C sequestration means
increasing Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) and Soil increasing Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) and Soil Inorganic Carbon (SIC) stocks through judicious Inorganic Carbon (SIC) stocks through judicious land use and recommended management land use and recommended management practices (RMPs).”practices (RMPs).”
Global Carbon CycleGlobal Carbon Cycle
From: http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/overview/what_is_CO2.html
Plants as “Injectors”Plants as “Injectors”
From: http://www.epa.gov/sequestration/local_scale.html
Local Carbon CycleLocal Carbon Cycle
From: http://www.fao.org/es/esa/pesal/role2.html
Photosynthesis
Photosynthetic Pathway Photosynthetic Pathway DifferencesDifferences
CC3 3 PathwayPathway – better able – better able to acquire COto acquire CO2 2 with with increasing COincreasing CO2 2 (fertilizer (fertilizer effect)effect) Rice, barley, wheat, most Rice, barley, wheat, most
treestrees CC44 Pathway Pathway – CO – CO2 2 is is
“pumped” into inner leaf “pumped” into inner leaf cells to reduce water loss. cells to reduce water loss. Does not respond as much Does not respond as much
to increasing COto increasing CO22
May be beneficial to C May be beneficial to C sequestration in hot, dry sequestration in hot, dry environmentsenvironments
Corn, tropical grasses Corn, tropical grasses From: http://www.geo.arizona.edu/palynology/geos462/14rockvarnish.html
Pathways of Terrestrial CarbonPathways of Terrestrial Carbon
From Lal et al. 2004. Science 304, 1623
Carbon Sequestration: ForestsCarbon Sequestration: Forests
Reforestation – replanting areas where trees have been removed
Afforestation – planting trees in cropland Increasing tree growth – increase
biomass of tree species Increasing permanence of forest products
– reduce “throw-away” tendencies Decreasing the loss of current forested
areas
Carbon Sequestration Rates and Carbon Sequestration Rates and Saturation Periods: Forests Saturation Periods: Forests
From: http://www.epa.gov/sequestration/rates.html
Forest Carbon Sequestration Forest Carbon Sequestration ProgramsPrograms
Reforestation of degraded lands with fast Reforestation of degraded lands with fast growing tree speciesgrowing tree species
Urban tree plantingUrban tree planting Fire management of forests and Fire management of forests and
surrounding areassurrounding areas Change other management practices (e.g. Change other management practices (e.g.
logging procedures)logging procedures)
Cropland Carbon SequestrationCropland Carbon Sequestration
Changes in crop managementChanges in crop management No-tillNo-till Minimum-tillMinimum-till Conversion to grasslandConversion to grassland Manure managementManure management FertilizersFertilizers IrrigationIrrigation Increased use of legumesIncreased use of legumes
Carbon Sequestration Rates and Carbon Sequestration Rates and Saturation Periods: Ag LandsSaturation Periods: Ag Lands
From: http://www.epa.gov/sequestration/rates.html
Soil Carbon Dynamics In Soil Carbon Dynamics In Response To TillageResponse To Tillage
SOIL CARBON (% OF ORIGINIAL) IN RESPONSE TO CULTIVATION
1 50
S
OIL
CA
RB
ON
0
100
Plowing
Perennial Vegetation
years
Conservation Tillage
50
Factors Affecting SequestrationFactors Affecting Sequestration
Soil texture (sand, silt, clay percentages) Soil profile characteristics (depth, rocks) Climate (temperature, humidity, rainfall) Rates can range from:
0 to 150 kg C/ha per year in dry and warm regions
100 to 1000 kg C/ha per year in humid and cool climates
From: Lal et al. 2004. Science 304, 1623
Potential LossesPotential Losses Soil ErosionSoil Erosion
Removal of residues and mulch can increase erosionRemoval of residues and mulch can increase erosion Deposition in channels or in aquatic systemsDeposition in channels or in aquatic systems
Deposition is 0.4 to 0.6 Gt C/year 0.8 to 1.2 Gt C/year is lost to exposure to atmosphere
Must assess carbon used for crop management Plowing Fertilizer application Chemical Use These must be accounted for to get the proper offset
From: Lal et al. 2004. Science 304, 1623
Biochar for Improving Ag Soils Biochar for Improving Ag Soils
Fine grained, highly Fine grained, highly porous charcoalporous charcoal
Used as a soil Used as a soil amendment which amendment which improves soil physical improves soil physical and chemical and chemical propertiesproperties
Can increase site Can increase site productivityproductivity
First used by First used by Amazonian natives Amazonian natives
Rangeland Carbon SequestrationRangeland Carbon Sequestration
Rangelands are generally characterized as Rangelands are generally characterized as grasslands or shrublands that are not suitable grasslands or shrublands that are not suitable for consistent crop productionfor consistent crop production
Occupy almost 50% of worldwide land areaOccupy almost 50% of worldwide land area
Carbon sequestration would require changes in Carbon sequestration would require changes in grazing managementgrazing management Reduced stocking rate or livestock removalReduced stocking rate or livestock removal Grazing systemsGrazing systems
Rangeland Carbon SequestrationRangeland Carbon Sequestration
Improved resource Improved resource management management Reduce wildfires Reduce wildfires Reduce water and wind Reduce water and wind
erosionerosion Restore overgrazed and Restore overgrazed and
denuded areasdenuded areas
Conversion of cropland to Conversion of cropland to grazinglandgrazingland
Introduce/promote Introduce/promote nitrogen fixing legumesnitrogen fixing legumes
Carbon Sequestration Rates and Carbon Sequestration Rates and Saturation Periods: RangelandsSaturation Periods: Rangelands
From: http://www.epa.gov/sequestration/rates.html
Issues with Rangeland Carbon Issues with Rangeland Carbon SequestrationSequestration
Large land area, but relatively low carbon storageLarge land area, but relatively low carbon storage
In US, most rangelands are privately owned or are public In US, most rangelands are privately owned or are public lands (e.g. BLM land)lands (e.g. BLM land)
High degree of uncertainty in sequestration estimates for High degree of uncertainty in sequestration estimates for most regionsmost regions
Need large land areas to be attractive to potential buyer Need large land areas to be attractive to potential buyer or as an offsetor as an offset
May require development of government programs for May require development of government programs for assisting farmers/ranchers in joining carbon assisting farmers/ranchers in joining carbon sequestration programssequestration programs
Assessing Carbon Sequestration Assessing Carbon Sequestration Potential for ProgramsPotential for Programs
PrecipitationClassification
Land Tenure Status
Wind Erosion/Calcium Carbonate
Classification
Major Land Resource Area Designation
Soil Organic Carbon Classification
Carbon Sequestration Potential
Classification
Land Cover Assessment within
Carbon Sequestration
Potential Classes
Define USDA Program Available for
Sequestration(e.g. CRP)
Target Areas for Programs/
InterventionsDefined
Conduct COMET VR Simulations for Base and
Program Scenarios
Assess Potential for Carbon
Sequestration under Regional
Program
GIS PhaseCOMET VR
Phase
Sequestration Potential for Sequestration Potential for Southwest RegionSouthwest Region
Uncertainty AnalysisUncertainty Analysis Uncertainty in prediction of carbon Uncertainty in prediction of carbon
sequestration on agricultural lands can be high, sequestration on agricultural lands can be high, especially on rangelandsespecially on rangelands
Lack of quantitative information on carbon Lack of quantitative information on carbon sequestration for various practices and localessequestration for various practices and locales
Models need to be calibrated to these conditionsModels need to be calibrated to these conditions
An uncertainty analysis was conducted using An uncertainty analysis was conducted using carbon modeling results for southwest regioncarbon modeling results for southwest region
Assessing Uncertainty for Assessing Uncertainty for Southwest RegionSouthwest Region
The estimated amount of carbon The estimated amount of carbon sequestered and its associated uncertainty sequestered and its associated uncertainty were mapped were mapped
A weighted averaging procedure was used A weighted averaging procedure was used based on soil texture, soil map unit, major land based on soil texture, soil map unit, major land resource area, and county. resource area, and county.
Spatially explicit maps of the carbon Spatially explicit maps of the carbon sequestered and uncertainty were producedsequestered and uncertainty were produced
Sequestration on Disturbed Sequestration on Disturbed LandsLands
Issues affecting Issues affecting carboncarbon Exposure of soil Exposure of soil Water ErosionWater Erosion Wind ErosionWind Erosion Carbon depleted to Carbon depleted to
point where soil point where soil amendments may be amendments may be requiredrequired
Sequestration on Disturbed Sequestration on Disturbed LandsLands
Degraded or denuded land offers Degraded or denuded land offers opportunity to replace/sequester carbonopportunity to replace/sequester carbon Fast growing tree speciesFast growing tree species Grasses or grass/legume mixGrasses or grass/legume mix Biochar?Biochar?
Potential Sequestration RatesPotential Sequestration Rates
From: Lal et al. 2004. Science 304, 1623
Other Benefits of Terrestrial Other Benefits of Terrestrial SequestrationSequestration
Improved Ecosystem ServicesImproved Ecosystem Services Cleaner waterCleaner water Cleaner airCleaner air Improved soil fertilityImproved soil fertility Improved biodiversityImproved biodiversity
Potential for monetary benefitsPotential for monetary benefits Carbon trading/offsetsCarbon trading/offsets
PitfallsPitfalls
Interactions with biofuel productionInteractions with biofuel production Land areas may be used for biofuel production Land areas may be used for biofuel production
rather than C sequestrationrather than C sequestration
Implications for food security/livelihoodsImplications for food security/livelihoods In the case of livestock producers, may reduce In the case of livestock producers, may reduce
land available for grazingland available for grazing Increasing population may drive land use Increasing population may drive land use
change to meet food security needs and negate change to meet food security needs and negate carbon gainscarbon gains
PitfallsPitfalls Leakage Leakage
The IPCC Special Report (2000) defines The IPCC Special Report (2000) defines leakage as "the unanticipated decrease or leakage as "the unanticipated decrease or increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits outside of the project's accounting boundary as outside of the project's accounting boundary as a result of project activities." a result of project activities."
Example: For a forest under a C sequestration Example: For a forest under a C sequestration program, logging may be displaced to an area program, logging may be displaced to an area outside the Project area. The COoutside the Project area. The CO22 emissions emissions that result from the displaced logging could that result from the displaced logging could partially or completely negate the benefits of partially or completely negate the benefits of avoiding COavoiding CO22 emissions in the protected forest. emissions in the protected forest.
Monitoring and VerificationMonitoring and Verification
MonitoringMonitoring Are (or where) the contracted practices being Are (or where) the contracted practices being
applied?applied? VerificationVerification
Are the contracted practices sequestering Are the contracted practices sequestering carboncarbon
EvaluationEvaluation Is their leakage? Is there proper accounting?Is their leakage? Is there proper accounting?
ReportingReporting Is the project meeting contract goals?Is the project meeting contract goals?
Monitoring and VerificationMonitoring and Verification
Generally need to sample large area in Generally need to sample large area in multiple places to get a reasonable multiple places to get a reasonable representation of carbon amountsrepresentation of carbon amounts Rangelands with non-uniform vegetation and Rangelands with non-uniform vegetation and
terrain require more samplingterrain require more sampling Samples using conventional lab analyses are Samples using conventional lab analyses are
expensive to processexpensive to process Terrestrial sequestration verification would be Terrestrial sequestration verification would be
too expensive to do with conventional too expensive to do with conventional methods.methods.
MeasurementsMeasurements of Soil Carbon of Soil Carbon
Develop improved technologies and Develop improved technologies and systems for direct measurements of soil systems for direct measurements of soil carbon carbon Two MethodsTwo Methods
Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS)Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) Allow rapid scans of samples in the fieldAllow rapid scans of samples in the field
Examine correlation of results with other Examine correlation of results with other technologiestechnologies
Principles for cost effective samplingPrinciples for cost effective sampling
LIBS SystemLIBS System
Portable NIRS SystemPortable NIRS System
Simulation Models and Decision Simulation Models and Decision Support ToolsSupport Tools
Models can be used to assess carbon Models can be used to assess carbon sequestration potential for a given areasequestration potential for a given area
Provide the ability to examine different Provide the ability to examine different management alternatives for carbon gainmanagement alternatives for carbon gain
Allow examination of other outputs such Allow examination of other outputs such as erosion and water quality under the as erosion and water quality under the selected practiceselected practice
Simulation ModelsSimulation Models CENTURY ModelCENTURY Model
Model and DocumentationModel and Documentationhttp://www.nrel.colostate.edu/projects/century5/http://www.nrel.colostate.edu/projects/century5/
Online tool:Online tool:http://www.cometvr.colostate.edu/http://www.cometvr.colostate.edu/
APEX and EPIC ModelAPEX and EPIC Model http://epicapex.brc.tamus.edu/http://epicapex.brc.tamus.edu/
COLE (Carbon OnLine Estimator): Web-based COLE (Carbon OnLine Estimator): Web-based Tool for Forest Carbon Analysis Tool for Forest Carbon Analysis http://www.ncasi2.org/COLE/http://www.ncasi2.org/COLE/
Carbon Decision Support ToolCarbon Decision Support ToolMap Driven User Interface
Carbon Practice Selection (State and Transition [S&T] interface)
ClimateData
Soils Data
RemoteSensing
Data
Decision SupportEngine (Comet-VR,
Carbon Potential Assessment, Spatial
Queries, etc.
Map OutputReport Output
S&TData
Other AgData
Web SoilSurvey
CarbonSampling
Map Driven User Interface
Carbon Practice Selection (State and Transition [S&T] interface)
ClimateData
Soils Data
RemoteSensing
Data
Decision SupportEngine (Comet-VR,
Carbon Potential Assessment, Spatial
Queries, etc.
Map OutputReport Output
S&TData
Other AgData
Web SoilSurvey
CarbonSampling
HomeworkHomework
Read two journal articles:Read two journal articles: Soil Carbon Sequestration Impacts on Soil Carbon Sequestration Impacts on
Global Climate Change and Food Security Global Climate Change and Food Security R. Lal (11 June 2004) R. Lal (11 June 2004) ScienceScience 304304 (5677), 1623. (5677), 1623.
Soil carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change and advance food security.
R. Lal, et al. Soil Sci 172 no12 D 2007
Questions?Questions?