Can Adaptive Multi-Paddock (AMP) Grazing Contribute to Sequestering Carbon in Soils and Improve Delivery of Ecosystem Services and Socio-ecological Resilience in Grazing Ecosystems?
Abstract
This research (Spring 2018/Winter 2019) is investigating whether Adaptive Multi-Paddock (AMP) grazing, in relation to widespread common grazing practices, contributes to measurable differences in overall soil health, sequestration of atmospheric carbon in soils, greenhouse gas (GHG) respiration, animal health & well-being, farmer well-being & farm resilience, and delivery of ecosystem services on managed pastureland in the Southeastern United States. AMP grazing is a flexible methodology that uses multiple fenced paddocks for each livestock group to provide relatively short periods of grazing with moderate plant use and adequate time of recovery after grazing. Prior research has shown that these techniques can sequester more organic carbon in soils compared to continuously grazed lands and lead to improved land conservation, ecosystem provisioning and farm profitability [1]; but only isolated studies have been published. We propose systems science research that is focused on evaluating if AMP grazing statistically contributes to farm-scale improvements, using a range of variables as defined and measured in the following 12 interrelated research modules: 1) Soil carbon and water; 2) Greenhouse gas cycling; 3) Vegetation; 4) Soil microbiology; 5) Arthropods; 6) Grassland Birds; 7) Livestock well-being; 8) Farmer well-being; 9) Resilience; 10) Life cycle analysis; 11) Simulation modeling; and 12) Film and communications. The on-the-ground research unit is a pair of farms: one is an AMP grazed farm, and one is a continuously grazed farm, with field work taking place on the same soil types, many directly across a fence line. The research is taking place on 5 pairs of farms in KY, TN, AL (2 pairs) and MS. The entire project is being filmed and will be the subject of a full-length documentary, to be released to the public when the multiple research papers will be published.
The project is being funded by McDonald's; Foundation for Food & Agricultural Research; Wrangler/Timberland/VF Corporation; Jim & Paula Crown; Rodel Foundation; Stuart and Joanna Brown. 1 Teague WR, Dowhower SL, Baker SA, Haile N, DeLaune PB, and Conover DM. 2011. Grazing management impacts on vegetation, soil biota and soil chemical, physical and hydrological properties in tall grass prairie. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 141:310-322.- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFMGC41A..10B
- Keywords:
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- 1615 Biogeochemical cycles;
- processes;
- and modeling;
- GLOBAL CHANGEDE: 1631 Land/atmosphere interactions;
- GLOBAL CHANGE