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ARS Home » Plains Area » Miles City, Montana » Livestock and Range Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #385049
Research Project: Development of Management Strategies for Livestock Grazing, Disturbance and Climate Variation for the Northern Plains

Location: Livestock and Range Research Laboratory

Title: Ruminating on the science of carbon ranching

Author
item Reinhart, Kurt
item WOROGO, HILAIRE - University Of Parakou
item Rinella, Matthew - Matt

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Ecology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/2/2021
Publication Date: 12/11/2021
Citation: Reinhart, K.O., Worogo, H., Rinella, M.J. 2021. Ruminating on the science of carbon ranching. Journal of Applied Ecology. 59(3):642-648. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14100.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14100

Interpretive Summary: Problem- Managing grasslands to sequester carbon is of global importance, but effects of grazing on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks remain uncertain. Accomplishment- We show the empirical basis for C ranching relies mainly on studies with overly simplistic livestock grazing treatments (e.g. grazed vs. not grazed), suboptimal experimental designs (e.g. lack pretreatment data, low treatment replication), and report problematic SOC stock metrics.

Technical Abstract: 1 There is interest in the possibility of managing livestock grazing to increase carbon (C) storage in soil. However, our understanding of the value of this practice of “C ranching” is based on studies suffering substantial, overlooked methodological problems. 2 In this paper, we review research into effects of grazing on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. We show the empirical basis for C ranching relies mainly on studies with overly simplistic livestock grazing treatments (e.g. grazed vs. not grazed), suboptimal experimental designs (e.g. lack pretreatment data, low number of treatment replications), and report problematic SOC stock metrics. 3 Synthesis and applications. Effects of C ranching on SOC stocks remain unclear. We caution that any promise of C ranching should not be oversold. To improve the evidence base, we advise using current best practices and to revisit, repeat, and expand on C ranching studies with more realistic treatments and over broader spatio-temporal scales. Overall, we are skeptical the evidence base is adequate to enable C sequestration to be maximized by the promotion of a “new” livestock management practice relative to business-as-usual (e.g. moderate grazing intensity) or other types of carbon offset programs (e.g. direct air capture, afforestation).