K. klumpp (INRA)

1. 1
C Sequestration in livestock production
systems : managed grasslands
Katja Klumpp
INRA, Grassland Ecosystem Research Unite, Clermont Ferrand, France
COP23_Beef C, Bonn, 10Nov 2017

2. 2
Atmosphere Soil
8.9/2400 = 0.04% =
4 ‰
The 4 pour 100 initiative was launched on 1 December 2015 during COP 21.

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EU grasslands
How can we store more CARBON?
Avoid bare soil Cover crops Agroforestry Land restorationGrasslands

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• Considerable variation linked to climat, management, vegetation type
Literature : C sequestration in grasslands (Mg C/ha.yr).
Mean 0.8 (±0.2) Mg C /ha.yr

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C sequestration
Build up of aboveground and
belowground biomass
(leaves and roots)
–> organic matter
Photosynthesis
CO2
In the soil, through decomposition processes the
organic matter will become more and more stable
while releasing CO2.
……humus and soil organic C stock
Over time plant biomass
becomes senescent and
is incoperated in the soil
C-sequestration

6. CLIMAT
Land Use
Land
Management
Soil Type
At the long terme soil C stock depends on

7. 7
C sequestration
Soil organic C
• Vegetation cover
• Fertilisation
• Crop rotations
Utilisation (export)
• Intensity and frequence
(mowing, grazing)
Import of C
+ organic fertiliser
+ composts
Losses
• Labour
• Drainage
Vegetation
Soil
Properties
Management affects C stocks and C sequestration

8. Synthesis of existing and emerging data:
30 grassland flux tower sites (since 2002; 173 site-yrs)
3 networks grassland sites (IRE, F, CAN, …)
58 peer viewed papers
• along a climatic gradient
• along agricultural gradient
- high and low N input (0 to 320 kgN/ha.yr)
- mowing (C; 1 to 5 cuts),
- grazing (G; 0.2 to 4 LSU/ha.yr)
Questions
• What are the effects of
• different types of grassland utilization
• intensity of grassland use
• Which management practices
• favor C sequestration ?
• loose C from soil ?

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C sequestration in grasslands and region (Mg C/ha.yr).
• Considerable variation linked to continents
(i.e livestock production systems)
sink
source

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C sequestration linked to grasslands age and
duration of management
• Variation linked to grassland age and the duration of constant
management
• Young grasslands often loose C (3-5yrs), then C sequestration increases
until >20yrs declining for 30-50yrs until an equilibrium is reached.

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C sequestration linked to grasslands type and management
• Considerable variation linked to grassland type management, reflecting
the effect of grassland age
Permanent
0.75±0.2
Sown temporary
0.9±0.3

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C sequestration linked to management and fertilisation
• Strong effect of fertilisation on C sequestration whatever
management.
• Fertilisation increases C sequestration

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C sequestration grazing intensity (Mg C/ha.yr)
• Considerable variation linked to animal stocking rate but difficult to
define a distinct pattern from stocking rate only.
What about site fertilisation?

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C sequestration – stocking density and fertilisation
• C sequestration increases with animal stocking rate but has different
pattern depending on site fertilisation .
*
(*) Critical stocking density??
• For fertilised pastures

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C sequestration linked to grazing type
• C sequestration is improved under continuous grazing and low N inputs
• Grazing management type has only little effects on C sequestration at
high levels of N inputs.
Continuous Rotational

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Soussana &Lemaire 2014
Grazing
Mowing
Animal
Production
Animal Production
Biomass Production
C SequestrationIntensification of grasslands
Stage 1
Low
Stage 2
Moderate
Stage 3
Intensive
*
*
*
0
high
Loss
C sequestration – thresholds and trade offs

17. • Maintain existing soil C stocks and prevent from further losses of
soil C (e.g. renovation of degraded grasslands).
• Grassland store C in average 0.8 (±0.2) Mg C/ha.yr depending on
climate, soil type, grassland age and applied management practics.
• Trade off between herbage use (forrage for grazing and cutting) and
C sequestration.
Take home message ……
Low N input High N input
threshold limits threshold limits
Grazing (LSU/ha.yr) 0.5 >1.5 2 >4
Mowing (t DM/ha.yr) 2 4 7 >12
Conclusion - comments

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• A better understanding of drivers and interactions
with soil and vegetation types may allow to design
guidelines for carbon storing/neutral pastures.
• Carbon neutral pastures are often extensive.
However, an extensification is currently not
possible (solution: carbon markets, agricultural
subsidies).
Take home message ……Conclusion - comments

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Mini-Papers and fact sheets on key issues linked to
“Grazing for Carbon”
- Grazing Guidelines
- Nutrients cycles
- Incentives
- Species mixtures
- Trade off’s and effects
- Monitoring
https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/en/focus-groups
22 EU Experts (researchers, farm advicers, farmers)
(Dissemination Summer 2018)

20. Thank you
20