Tiffany Roberson1, Ermson Nyakatawa1, Chandra Reddy1, Randy L. Raper2, and D. Wayne Reeves2. (1) Alabama A&M University, Dept of Plant and Soil Sciences, Normal, AL 35762, (2) USDA-ARS, 411 S Donahue Drive, Auburn, AL 36832
Elevated levels of CO2 from anthropogenic sources such as used fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture pose environmental problems such as global warming which can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems and food production. Since there is more carbon contained in the soil than in the world’s atmosphere and vegetation combined, soil organic matter (SOM) plays a vital role in the world carbon balance. A two year field study has been conducted using existing plots and treatments established in the Fall of 1996 in a cotton [Gossypium hirsutum (L.)] and corn (Zea mays) rotated field at the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Belle Mina, AL. The objectives of this project were to measure, and document carbon sequestration and CO2 loss in tilled and non-tilled cotton plots receiving poultry litter as a nutrient. In 2003, conventional-till plots (CT) released significantly more CO2 at 4.4 μm/m-2/s-1 than mulch-till (MT) at 3.8 μm/m-2/s-1 and no-till (NT) at 2.7 μm/m-2/s-1, likely, MT at these values released significantly more CO2 than NT. In 2004, MT at 3.2 μm/m-2/s-1 did not release significantly more CO2 than CT at 2.8 μm/m-2/s-1, but both were significantly higher than NT at 2.4 μm/m-2/s-1 . This project may likely continue to demonstrate that conservation tillage systems such as no-till and mulch-till in cotton production systems will sequester carbon by reducing the amount of CO2 released from soils thus improving soil productivity for sustainable agriculture.
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