As part of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's (MDA's) mission to assist farmers with resource management and protection, the MDA tracks research related to terrestrial carbon sequestration in agricultural systems. Terrestrial carbon sequestration is the capture of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) by plants for storage in plant biomass or soil.
Increasing soil organic matter on working lands to:
- mitigate climate change;
- buffer the landscape; and
- ensure long-term farm productivity.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) participated in the Minnesota Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration Initiative Ext (2005-2009) to identify agricultural working lands and practices that sequester carbon. This process has identified the following practices as having potential to sequester carbon:
- short-rotation woody crops;
- improving pasture productivity; and
- cover crops.
MDA staff are continuing to track literature related to carbon sequestration in agricultural systems.
MDA staff are working with the University of Minnesota and U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service soil scientists to measure the carbon sequestration potential of cover crops. By measuring carbon dioxide (CO2) changes in the atmosphere, we can begin to determine the effect of agricultural practices on carbon in one growing season.
Hybrid willow for biomass. Photo courtesy
Diomy Zamora, University of Minnesota.
| Publication Links MDA Contact
Mark Zumwinkle, Soil Scientist/Researcher
Mark.Zumwinkle@state.mn.us ~ 651-201-6240
Ag Marketing & Development Division
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