Limiting global warming below the 2°C thresholds set by the Paris Climate Agreement relies on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere. The Carbon Management Center aims to implement carbon sequestration strategies in all major land-use types, i.e., croplands, rangelands, forests, and urban landscapes in New Mexico. As a first step, we are working to provide a proof-of-concept for carbon sequestration potential in croplands, rangelands, forests, and urban landscapes through research and demonstration of carbon management practices, engage stakeholders through a carbon literacy program, and train graduate and undergraduate students, including Native Americans and other minority groups.
Research and demonstration activities are occurring in various Agricultural Science Centers across New Mexico and at the Las Cruces campus. Major research activities include:
- Annual, perennial, and pasture cropping systems under full irrigation and after irrigation retirement.
- Land use systems and soil carbon dynamics under long-term agricultural production systems and tree patches.
- Perennial cropping and agroforestry systems for carbon capture and storage.
- Soil health and greenhouse gas emissions in livestock grazing systems.
- Soil carbon stock and sequestration potential under pecan orchards.
- Urban landscapes and soil carbon management.
- Soil and ecosystem greenhouse gas fluxes in rangelands.
- Forest regeneration practices for carbon sequestration.
- Biochar as a potential amendment for carbon sequestration in arid and semi-arid lands
- Statewide carbon literacy survey and outreach
