Understanding management effects on soil organic matter and ecological function in forage-based agroecosystems.

了解管理对以饲料为基础的农业生态系统中土壤有机质和生态功能的影响。

• 批准号: RGPIN-2021-03456
• 负责人: Schneider, Kimberley
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=763550
• 关键词: Understanding; management; effects; soil; organic

The world's soils, are increasingly being acknowledged for their potential contribution to the fight against climate change, nutrient pollution, and to provide other critical ecosystem services. Cropping systems that include forage and service crops (pasture, hay, cover crops) are known to increase carbon sequestration and provide numerous benefits to soil health and nutrient cycling. In particular, grazed agricultural grasslands show much potential for sequestering carbon by increasing belowground biomass; for example, some studies have indicated that net negative greenhouse gas emissions are possible for a predominantly grass-fed beef operation, when rotational grazing (where livestock are rotated frequently through paddocks, and allowing adequate rest periods) is employed. An improved understanding of how grazing management and pasture fertilization impact soil carbon sequestration is required in order to better contribute to climate change mitigation.   The objectives of this proposal are to determine the agro-ecological benefits provided by forage and service crops and to identify management practices that increase these benefits. In particular, I will focus on grazing management in beef production systems and how rotational grazing strategies and nitrogen fertility management can impact carbon sequestration. My research will examine the quality of the soil organic matter in order to better understand its ecological function (how stable it is, etc.). I will also quantify the soil health benefits provided by including perennial forage in a cropping system rotation in terms of the ability to lower fertility recommendations for a subsequent crop. These research questions will be accomplished through a combination of on-farm, controlled environment, and research station studies. My research program will provide data that will further scientific understanding on the mechanisms enhancing carbon sequestration in grazed ecosystems and make recommendations to enable improved soil carbon management in grazed soils. This research is expected to improve the environmental outcomes of the beef industry by identifying grazing management strategies that improve their productivity and ecological impacts (carbon sequestration) at the same time. This is important because the beef industry is frequently under scrutiny for being a major greenhouse gas contributor, but contributions to soil carbon sequestration during grazing are typically not considered. Finally, improvements in soil quality due to the use of forage-based cropping systems that promote soil organic matter and soil health are expected to have implications for the amount of nutrients that are needed to be applied as fertilizers. Practices that may reduce the amount of nutrients, particularly P, required in agriculture are needed; this is a current cross-sector priority, and critical for the health of the Lake Erie watershed.

世界上的土壤越来越多地因其对应对气候变化，营养污染的斗争的潜在贡献，并提供其他关键的生态系统服务，包括觅食和服务作物（牧场，干草，覆盖农作物）。当旋转放牧时，碳封存并固定为土壤和养分循环。为了促进更改的贡献，以确定饲料和服务作物提供的农业生态益处的更多目标，并确定我将重点放在牛肉生产系统上的管理。生育能力会影响碳固相的功能通过农场，受控的环境和研究的结合。时间。肥料可能会减少营养的量，特别是农业中所需的p;