While most sectors of the economy can only be sources of greenhouse gases, the agriculture and forestry sectors both have the opportunity to act as a sink for greenhouse gases. They can do this by increasing the amount of carbon stored in soils (and for forestry, in long-lived biomass). Globally, 3 times more carbon is stored in soils than in the atmosphere. Strategies for increasing carbon storage in agricultural soils include increasing crop intensity or residues, adding carbon amendments (e.g. manures, biosolids, or other), reducing tillage, and growing perennial crops.
Featured Publications
Digging deeper: Assessing the predictive power of common greenhouse gas accounting tools for soil carbon sequestration under organic amendment
Ball, KR., Burke, IC., Collins, DP., Kruger, CE., Yorgey, GG. 2023. Digging deeper: Assessing the predictive power of common greenhouse gas accounting tools for soil carbon sequestration under organic amendment. Journal of Cleaner Production. 429:139448
Carbon Sequestration Potential in Cropland Soils in the Inland Pacific Northwest: Knowledge and Gaps
Yorgey, G., Hills, K., Kruger, C.E., Hall, S.A., Stockle, C. 2023. Carbon Sequestration Potential in Cropland Soils in the Inland Pacific Northwest: Knowledge and Gaps. Washington State University Extension. Pullman, WA.
Grounding United States policies and programs in soil carbon science: strengths, limitations, and opportunities
Gelardi, D., Rath, D. & Kruger, C.E. 2023. Grounding United States policies and programs in soil carbon science: strengths, limitations, and opportunities. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 7. 10.3389/fsufs.2023.1188133.
Evaluating Compost Application for Soil Carbon Sequestration on Agricultural Land and Compost Buy-Back Programs in Washington State (PDF)
Ball, K.R., M.P. Brady, I.C. Burke, D.P. Collins, K.M. Hills, C.E. Kruger, B. Stone, E.L. Taylor, and G.G. Yorgey. Evaluating Compost Application for Soil Carbon Sequestration on Agricultural Land and Compost Buy-Back Programs in Washington State. Report to the Washington State Legislature. Center for Sustaining Agriculture & Natural Resources, Washington State University, Wenatchee, WA
Carbon Sequestration Potential in Cropland Soils in the Pacific Northwest: Knowledge and Gaps (PDF)
Yorgey, G.G., S.A. Hall, K.M. Hills, C.E. Kruger, and C.O. Stöckle. Undergoing peer review as a Pacific Northwest Extension Publication, Washington State University, Pullman, WA.
Assessment of the Local Technical Potential for CO2 Drawdown using Biochar from Forestry Residues and Waste Wood in 26 Counties of Washington State (PDF)
Amonette, J.E. 2019. A technical report completed as part of the Waste to Fuels Technology Partnership. 174 pp.
Farmer-to-Farmer & Rancher-to-Rancher Case Studies Series
Authors include: Yorgey, G., Borrelli, K., Painter, K., Davis, H., Hall, S., Hudson, T., Neibergs, S., Reeves, M., Kruger, C., McGuire A., Finkelnburg, D., Roe, D., Brooks, E., and Kantor, S. 2016-2019. PNW Extension Publications and videos. These series explore strategies that innovative regional farmers and ranchers are using that enhance resilience to climate change and […]
Advances in Dryland Farming in the Inland Pacific Northwest
Georgine Yorgey and Chad Kruger, Eds. 2017. Washington State University Extension. Pullman, WA.
Site-Specific Trade-offs of Harvesting Cereal Residues as Biofuel Feedstocks in Dryland Annual Cropping Systems of the Pacific Northwest, USA
Huggins, D.R., C.E. Kruger, K.M. Painter, D.P. Uberuaga. BioEnergy Research. June 2014, Volume 7, Issue 2, pp 598-608.
Life cycle assessment of the potential carbon credit from no- and reduced-tillage winter wheat-based cropping systems in Eastern Washington State
Zaher, U, C. Stockle, K. Painter, S. Higgins. Agricultural Systems. November 2013. Volume 122, pages 73-78.
Organic Farming Footprints
WSU webpage for the OFoot project, working to provide a scientifically sound yet simple estimation of the carbon and nitrogen sequestration and net greenhouse gas (GHG) balance likely in a given organic cropping system scenario.
Carbon storage and nitrous oxide emissions of cropping systems in eastern Washington: A simulation study
Stöckle, C., S. Higgins, A. Kemanian, R. Nelson, D. Huggins, J. Marcos, and H. Collins. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 2012 67(5):365-377; doi:10.2489/jswc.67.5.365.
Soil carbon sequestration in the dryland cropping region of the Pacific Northwest
Brown, T.T., and D.R. Huggins. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 2012 67(5):406-415; doi:10.2489/jswc.67.5.406.
Additional Publications
Insights for Healthy Soils and Carbon Farming: California’s experience with soil health policies
Torri Estrada, Executive Director at the Carbon Cycle Institute in Petaluma, CA, spoke about California’s recent experience with policies to support agricultural soil health alongside soil carbon sequestration and water conservation. He also discussed emerging efforts in other states relating to improved soil health. 2018.
Global Climate Change
Weddell, B., L. Carpenter-Boggs, and S. Higgins. June 2012. FS069E. Washington State University researchers have taken a departure from the regionally focused, applied-science extension publication to write a fact sheet on the science, debate and challenges of global climate change.
Climate Change: what does the science really tell us?
A narrated Extension PowerPoint on climate science and climate change. The presentation was prepared by Craig Cogger at WSU Puyallup and covers the basics of climate science, evidence of climate change, projections of future climate change, and mitigation strategies. The presentation consists of 10 parts, each about five minutes long, so that it can be […]
Building Markets for Biofertilizers — Perceptions and Performance
Video of keynote address by Chad Kruger at the 26th Annual BioCycle West Coast Conference April 2012.
The economic value of biochar in crop production and carbon sequestration
Galinato, S., J. Yoder and D. Granatstein. 2011. Energy Policy, 39(10):6344-6350.
Executive Summary – Climate Change and Family Forest Landowners in Idaho (PDF)
Schnepf, C., J. Creighton, A. Grotta, S. Kantor. 2011.
Climate Change and Family Forest Landowners in Oregon (PDF)
Grotta, A., J. Creighton, C. Schnepf, S. Kantor. 2011.
Climate Change and Family Forest Landowners in Washington (PDF)
Creighton, J., C. Schnepf, A. Grotta, S. Kantor. 2011.
Climate Change and Family Forest Landowners in Idaho (PDF)
Schnepf, C., J. Creighton, A. Grotta, S. Kantor. 2011.
Climate Change and Family Forest Landowners in Alaska (PDF)
Kantor, S., J. Creighton, C. Schnepf, A. Grotta. 2011.
Browse all Carbon Sequestration Publications
External Links
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- REACCH PNA – Regional Approaches to Climate Change
- 2nd State of the Carbon Cycle report (SOCCR2), United States Carbon Cycle Science Program
- UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
- USDA Northwest Climate Hub
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