SOIL CARBON AND CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS
From
Consortium for Agricultural
Soils Mitigation of Greenhouse Gases (CASMGS)
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/ctec
Charles W. Rice, K-State Soil
Microbiology, National CASMGS Coordinator (785) 532-7217 cwrice@ksu.edu
Kent McMay, K-State Soil and
Water Conservation Specialist (785) 532-5776 kmcvay@ksu.edu
Steve L. Watson, CASMGS
Communications (785) 532-7105 swatson@oznet.ksu.edu
No. 23
This week's issue:
* Below-Ground Carbon Storage Study: Konza Prairie, K-State
National:
* Power Company Converts Methane From Waste Into Energy
International:
* E.U. Parliament Approves Greenhouse Gas Trading System
**********
below-ground
carbon storage study:
konza
prairie, k-state
Introduction: Soils of the
tallgrass prairie are rich in below-ground carbon and nutrients. Native grasses
and forbs have highly productive root systems, which leads to high levels of
organic matter. An extensive population of microbes and invertebrates adds to
the richness and diversity of the tallgrass prairie soils.
Even in prairie soils,
however, soil carbon doesn’t stay at constant levels year-in and year-out. Soil
carbon levels can be increased or decreased by environmental and management
factors. The carbon in tallgrass prairie soils can either remain in the soil
for many years in a stable form of organic matter, or it can be transformed by
microbial and plant root respiration back into carbon dioxide (CO2) and
returned to the atmosphere.
The goal of this research is
to discover how prescribed burning, grazing or mowing frequency, and nutrient
additions affect above-ground and below-ground biological process, including
soil carbon and nitrogen levels in the tallgrass prairie. The research is being
conducted by K-State Research and Extension scientists Chuck Rice, John Blair,
Tim Todd, Gail Wilson, and Rosemary Ramundo.
Treatments: The plots were
established in 1986. Treatments include:
* Burning: Annual burning and
Unburned.
* Mowing: Annual mowing and
Unmowed.
* Fertilization: Nitrogen,
Phosphorus, Nitrogen + Phosphorus, Unfertilized.
Some of the questions being
addressed in this research include:
1. Will burning, mowing, and
fertilization change soil organic matter levels?
2. Will these treatments
change above-ground plant biomass?
3. Will these treatments
change plant species composition?
4. What other changes will
these treatments cause in above-ground and below-ground ecosystems?
Summary of results:
* Annual burning increased
total carbon levels in the soil.
* Nitrogen fertilization also
increased total carbon levels in the soil.
* The greatest increase in
soil carbon was for the burning + N plots.
* Annual burning and N
fertilization also increased above-ground biomass.
Treatment Effect on Total
Carbon (g C/m2 at 15 cm depth):
Control -- 4575 g C/m2
Annual Burning -- 4795 g C/m2
N Fertilizer -- 4730 g C/m2
Annual Burning + N Fertilizer
-- 4915 g C/m2
Treatment Effect on
Above-ground Biomass
Control -- 233
Annual Burning -- 342
N Fertilizer -- 305
Annual Burning + N Fertilizer
-- 697
-- Steve Watson swatson@oznet.ksu.edu
**********
Power
Company Converts Methane
From
Waste Into Energy
Alliant Energy-Wisconsin Power and Light (WP&L) recently joined with RMT, Inc. and Capstone Turbine Corporation to install eight 30-kilowatt Capstone microturbines at the Sauk County Landfill in Wisconsin that will convert methane (a powerful greenhouse gas) produced by composing waste into "green" energy. The companies said all electricity generated by the microturbines will be sold to Alliant Energy-WP&L.
"The Capstone microturbines produce lower emissions than burning the methane in an open flare, so we're not only generating revenue, we're helping the environment as well," said Sauk County Landfill solid waste manager John Carroll.
Alliant Energy-WP&L noted that the project will generate enough energy to meet the electricity needs of approximately 100 homes, reaching a total capacity of 120 kilowatts next year after the installation of four additional microturbines.
"These microturbines are unique because they now make energy recovery at a small landfill viable," said Steve Wittmann, a project director with RMT, an Alliant Energy-WP&L subsidiary that assisted in the permitting, design, construction and installation of the microturbines.
For more information, see:
http://www.alliantenergy.com/stellent/groups/public/documents/pub/au_env_re_blaze_000096.hcsp#TopOfPage
**********
E.U.
Parliament Approves
Greenhouse
Gas Trading System
The European Parliament recently approved the world's first international emissions trading scheme (ETS) to meet targets for reducing greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol.
The bill establishes a multibillion-euro, E.U.-wide market for rights to emit carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas scientists blame for global warming. Companies will be allowed to buy and sell the difference between the pollution they produce and their limit set by member countries.
Under the international
Some 10,000 steelworks, power generators, oil and gas refineries, paper mills, glass factories, and cement installations will be affected starting in 2005.
The parliament also pushed through amendments that could bring aluminum and chemical producers into the program later.
Business groups said a trading system was better than new environmental taxes or fixed quotas. Still, the power industry warned that the rules would increase costs for consumers. The steel industry warned the rules could threaten jobs.
Environmental groups welcomed the Parliament's adoption of the emissions trading plan but warned that further steps would be needed, such as strict national caps on carbon dioxide emissions.
E.U. Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstroem called the emissions trading mechanism a breakthrough that will make companies "start incorporating climate change into day-to-day commercial decisions."
For more information, see:
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/03/931|0|RAPID&lg=EN
**********
MEETINGS OF INTEREST
Note: All dates are 2003 unless
otherwise noted.
August 19
The Monitoring,
Evaluation, Reporting, Verification and Certification of GHG Emissions:
Energy-Efficiency Projects Workshop
For information,
see: http://www.iepec.org/workshop_vine.htm
October 16-17
CASMGS Carbon
Measuring and Management Forum
For more
information, contact Scott Staggenborg at (785) 532-5833
Send comments or items for the
newsletter to Steve Watson at:
<swatson@oznet.ksu.edu>
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