Understanding the Carbon Cycle in Agricultural Fields: A Case Study with Hayland
Webinar Details
When:
Mar 10, 2015 2:00 pm US/Eastern
Length: 01:01 (hh:mm)
Advance Registration NOT required.
View now on-demand.
Presenter(s):
- Jay Fuhrer, Soil Health Specialist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bismarck, ND
Virtual Event Format:
Group Viewing Available:
Participate in this webinar for a discussion of the carbon cycle in agricultural fields, the role of a healthy soil food web, and the impact that various agricultural systems have on carbon levels in soil.
Carbon, often the most limiting nutrient in soil, is essential to photosynthesis and soil functions necessary for food and fiber production. Crop residue and plant roots and their exudates are the primary source of carbon in our agricultural soil ecosystems. Farming activities such as tillage, removal of crop residue, and haying restrict the amount of carbon that can be added to soil - leading to reduced soil organic matter and soil microbial activity. Participants in this webinar will gain insight on how cover crops and proper grazing management can result in improvements in the carbon cycle and soil health. A case study on a hayland farm that follows a “no exporting policy” will provide the setting for this discussion. This policy is a management technique in which hay that is grown is fed on the same field at some point in the year, covering all the acres during the winter feeding period. Using annual multi-species cover crops to rejuvenate an old pasture or hay field will also be discussed.
In the Soil Health and Sustainability series, this webinar is presented by USDA NRCS Science and Technology.
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