The Soil Carbon TWG is focused broadly on soil health and practices that mitigate GHG emissions across different planting timescales, systems, and management types. The TWG is comprised of 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 detailing the most recent science that shows biochar reduces all GHG emissions and can increase yields by 9-16%.

The Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems workstream produced a report 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 that focused on the farm-scale effects of perennial plantings on GHG emissions. The report includes discussion of both the general and management effects of perennial plantings, as well as two case studies on the efficacy of selected practices in specific geographies.

The Soil Health workstream produced technical guidance on the implementation of cover crops, conservation cover, conservation crop rotation, tillage, and a combination of those practices to reduce GHG emissions. Modeling scenarios were incorporated to supplement the dearth of 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 ASSISTANT

• Neville Millar, Postdoctoral Fellow, Michigan State University