Soil Carbon Sequestration in a Vermont Regenerative Grazing System, Poster 4

The goal of this project is to quantify the effects of a Vermont regenerative grazing system on soil carbon content at the farm scale. Whereas overgrazing frequently contributes to grassland degradation, improved or... [ view full abstract ]

The goal of this project is to quantify the effects of a Vermont regenerative grazing system on soil carbon content at the farm scale. Whereas overgrazing frequently contributes to grassland degradation, improved or “regenerative” grazing practices may sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide by increasing forage primary productivity. Rotational grazing and high stocking density are two practices that have been shown to enhance soil carbon sequestration when compared to conventional grazing methods.

In October and November of 2017, 162 soil samples were collected from a grass-fed beef farm in Cornwall, VT. The owner, Marc Cesario, uses a grazing management system characterized by high stocking density and daily rotation. Soil samples were collected from three pastures that have been managed under this system for 5, 7, and 10 years respectively. Soil samples will be analyzed for total carbon content on a Flash2000 Elemental Analyzer. The relationship between the number of years a property has been under regenerative grazing management and the change in soil carbon content over that time will be assessed using baseline soil carbon levels measured when each property came under current management.