Project Number: 5356-11120-002-02
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 18, 2007
End Date: Sep 30, 2008

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research project is to investigate the carbon sequestration potential of selected producer fields using a carbon management tool (CQESTR model) and geo-referenced soil samples. Specifically this project is conducted to: 1) determine soil carbon changes, during 20 years of land use and tillage practices, from selected producer fields at several landscape positions; 2) assess the potential of C sequestration with changes in cropping system practices in the particular precipitation region in Oregon; and 3) use CQESTR and RUSLE files from selected producer fields to predict C storage under varying tillage practices and landscape positions extending the CQESTR model capability from the field scale level to landscape level utilizing GIS and DEM.

Approach:
The influence of different soil management and tillage practices on soil carbon has been examined at field scale in five central and north central Oregon counties by Dr. Hero Gollany of the Columbia Plateau Soil Conservation Research Center (CPCRC), a scientist with expertise in carbon cycling and carbon sequestration. Soil samples, collected along a climosequence transect in a previous (1982-1984) ARS erosion productivity project, are available to establish a carbon baseline. Geo-referenced soil samples from the same sites were collected in 2002-2004, from 28 farm fields, each with distinctive management practices (e.g. wheat-fallow rotation, wheat-pea, and CRP) and tillage systems (e.g. conventional tillage, reduced tillage, and no-till), on 12 soil series, at five landscape positions. The collected data will be used to prepare a database for these fields to elucidate the effect of different management practices on carbon accretion or loss. Soil carbon changes during 20 years from selected farm fields [with contrasting annual rainfall in the Middle Columbia 6-digit (170701) Hydrologic Unit in Oregon] will be assessed. Field-based data from these sites will be used to generate the first estimates of carbon storage rate for the dryland cereal production region of northeastern Oregon. Required input data include annual crop yields (including aboveground and belowground biomass), residue management, tillage practices, crop rotation, and weather data (mean monthly air temperature and monthly precipitation), grain to residue ratio, root distribution characteristics of crops, root biomass of crops used, N content of crop residues and organic amendments, the number and thickness (depth) of soil layers, the initial soil organic matter (SOM) content and bulk density of each layer. The GIS technologies for research and management of soil resources of agricultural lands will be used, particularly soil organic carbon, using a key carbon model (CQESTR) developed by scientists of the USDA-ARS at the CPCRC. Research will be conducted into linking CQESTR to GIS to form a spatial prediction model for soil organic carbon (GeoCQESTR). Prediction runs with the CQESTR will be undertaken with varying tillage, soil amendment scenarios, and rainfall. Output from the GeoCQESTR model will include carbon storage or loss rate and associated increase or decrease in soil organic matter. These estimates of carbon accretion or loss can be used by growers and NRCS personnel for planning and implementation of effective land management practices, particularly through stewardship programs such as EQUIP and CSP, and for carbon credits when they become available. Documents SCA with OSU.