Soil Carbon Technical Working Group
The Soil Carbon TWG focused broadly on soil health practices that mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across different planting timescales, systems, and management types. Activities were organized into four workstreams: Biochar, Integrated Crop-Livestock (ICL) Systems, Perennial Plantings, and Soil Health.
The Biochar workstream produced recommendations on updating CPS 336 Soil Amendments based on updated science on biochar and a technical report, Biochar and Climate Outcomes: Literature Review and Technical Guidance.
The Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems (ICL) workstream produced a report, Integrated Crop-Livestock and Climate Outcomes: Literature Review and Technical Guidance, evaluating the available science on incorporating livestock management and grazing into cropping systems and noted key research needs for further quantifying GHG emissions reduction from ICL systems.
The Perennial Plantings workstream produced technical guidance, Perennial Plantings and Climate Outcomes: Literature Review and Technical Guidance, on the farm-scale effects of perennial plantings on GHG emissions. The report includes two case studies on the efficacy of selected practices in specific geographies.
The Soil Health workstream produced technical guidance, Soil Health for Climate Benefits: Literature Review and Technical Guidance, on the implementation of cover crops, conservation cover, conservation crop rotation, no till, and combinations of certain practices to reduce GHG emissions. Modeling scenarios were incorporated to supplement the limited research on combined practices and GHG emissions.
SUMMARY
TWG MEMBERS
Bruno Basso (chair), Michigan State University
Lisa Tiemann, Michigan State University
Kelsey Brewer, California Air Resource Board
Anna Cates, University of Minnesota
Jianwei Li, Tennessee State University
Emily Oldfield, Environmental Defense Fund
Amy Swan, Colorado State University
Research Assistants:
Jocelyn Lavallee, Senior Agricultural Soil Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund
Krista Marshall, Policy and Partnership Coordinator, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
Neville Millar, Postdoctoral Fellow, Michigan State University
Isha Popat, Soil Microbiologist, Michigan State University, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Mumbai
Anna Raffeld, Senior Research Analyst, Environmental Defense Fund
Crystal Toureene, Research Associate, Colorado State University