Publication Date
1997
Description
International concern about greenhouse gases and their impacts on climate change has added to the need for an understanding of carbon sequestered in agricultural soils. This paper evaluates the carbon sequestration potentials of the 522 000 hectares converted from annual cultivation to forages under the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration’s (PFRA) Permanent Cover Program (PCP). The 15 000 PCP sites in the prairie provinces of Canada are matched to their dominant soil characteristics. Estimates of carbon losses due to annual crop cultivation are determined for these soil characteristics, and sequestration potentials under the permanent cover condition are presented. Estimates of societal benefits are calculated for the amounts of carbon sequestered. A $74 million program investment by government in permanent cover will have generated carbon benefits with an estimated value of $72 million to $362 million. Inclusion of these carbon benefits significantly increases earlier, positive net benefit calculations of the PCP.
Citation
Luciuk, G M., "Carbon Sequestration- Additional Environmental Benefits of Forage in the PFRA Permanent Cover Program" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 90.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session22/90
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Carbon Sequestration- Additional Environmental Benefits of Forage in the PFRA Permanent Cover Program
International concern about greenhouse gases and their impacts on climate change has added to the need for an understanding of carbon sequestered in agricultural soils. This paper evaluates the carbon sequestration potentials of the 522 000 hectares converted from annual cultivation to forages under the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration’s (PFRA) Permanent Cover Program (PCP). The 15 000 PCP sites in the prairie provinces of Canada are matched to their dominant soil characteristics. Estimates of carbon losses due to annual crop cultivation are determined for these soil characteristics, and sequestration potentials under the permanent cover condition are presented. Estimates of societal benefits are calculated for the amounts of carbon sequestered. A $74 million program investment by government in permanent cover will have generated carbon benefits with an estimated value of $72 million to $362 million. Inclusion of these carbon benefits significantly increases earlier, positive net benefit calculations of the PCP.
