Atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) has been steadily increasing in the past several decades. Associated effects on global climate patterns and the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems are of concern. One way to mitigate the increase in CO2 is to remove it from the atmosphere by increasing the amount of carbon (C) stored (sequestered) in soil. A key issue, therefore, is the degree to which agriculture can contribute to this mitigation. Our studies focus on determining the potential for carbon storage in dryland and irrigated cropping systems in the north central United States and the factors that govern carbon sequestration.
Our interdisciplinary research effort includes faculty, students, post doctoral researchers, and technicians from several departments (e.g., Agronomy and Horticulture, Agricultural Economics, Biochemistry, Biological Systems Engineering, School of Natural Resources). We have recently established a state-of-the-art field research facility at the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead. At this facility, we are investigating C sequestration in major dryland and irrigated agroecosystems. Our present effort includes: (1) quantifying annual amounts of C sequestered and the associated interannual variability, at the landscape level, employing eddy covariance flux systems year-round, (2) quantifying soil C changes using georeferenced soil samples, and (3) developing reliable, cost-effective procedures for predicting annual C sequestration and changes in soil C stocks at the scale of a single production field using detailed crop yield mapping. (http://csp.unl.edu/Public/index.html)
