Alberta’s rangelands, we developed spatially explicit organic carbon models for native ranges and tame pastures of a representative watershed in southern Alberta (Indian Farm Creek Watershed, 14,145 ha). We then assessed the long-term (30 years) impacts of several alternative livestock BMPs on the potential supply of two main carbon-related ES of soil organic carbon storage (SOC) and aboveground plant biomass production (AGB). Finally, we assessed the level of uncertainty in the supply of these ES from different livestock BMPs. The simulated response of SOC and AGB in native ranges and tame pastures varied among livestock BMPs, depending on timing and intensity of livestock grazing. The simulation results indicated gains in SOC from most of the livestock BMPs implemented, whereas relatively little gains or reductions in AGB were predicted under different livestock BMPs. However, predicted changes in SOC and AGB under different livestock BMPs varied across the watershed, depending on the ecological condition of the sites. Overall, our findings suggest that livestock BMPs have the potential to be a useful strategy to enhance the provision of multiple ES in Alberta’s rangelands. The information and knowledge developed in this study provide a baseline to assess whether appropriate livestock BMPs will lead to rangelands that can provide a sustainable livelihood to ranchers through rangeland good and services over the Effect of Grazing System on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Grassland Soils on the Canadian Prairies Bharat Shrestha, Scott Chang, Edward Bork, Cam Carlyle and Karen Thompson Faculty of Agricultural Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Mark S Boyce, James F. Cahill and Jessica Grenke Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Ray Desjardins and Ward Smith Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Ottawa, ON Steven I. Apfelbaum Applied Ecological Services, Inc. 17921 Smith Road Brodhead, WI, USA Richard Teague Dept. of Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A&M University, TX, USA Corresponding author: Abstract
Alberta’s rangelands, we developed spatially explicit organic carbon models for native ranges and tame pastures of a representative watershed in southern Alberta (Indian Farm Creek Watershed, 14,145 ha). We then assessed the long-term (30 years) impacts of several alternative livestock BMPs on the potential supply of two main carbon-related ES of soil organic carbon storage (SOC) and aboveground plant biomass production (AGB). Finally, we assessed the level of uncertainty in the supply of these ES from different livestock BMPs. The simulated response of SOC and AGB in native ranges and tame pastures varied among livestock BMPs, depending on timing and intensity of livestock grazing. The simulation results indicated gains in SOC from most of the livestock BMPs implemented, whereas relatively little gains or reductions in AGB were predicted under different livestock BMPs. However, predicted changes in SOC and AGB under different livestock BMPs varied across the watershed, depending on the ecological condition of the sites. Overall, our findings suggest that livestock BMPs have the potential to be a useful strategy to enhance the provision of multiple ES in Alberta’s rangelands. The information and knowledge developed in this study provide a baseline to assess whether appropriate livestock BMPs will lead to rangelands that can provide a sustainable livelihood to ranchers through rangeland good and services over the Effect of Grazing System on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Grassland Soils on the Canadian Prairies Bharat Shrestha, Scott Chang, Edward Bork, Cam Carlyle and Karen Thompson Faculty of Agricultural Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Mark S Boyce, James F. Cahill and Jessica Grenke Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Ray Desjardins and Ward Smith Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Ottawa, ON Steven I. Apfelbaum Applied Ecological Services, Inc. 17921 Smith Road Brodhead, WI, USA Richard Teague Dept. of Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A&M University, TX, USA Corresponding author: Abstract
ASSW_2018_program.docx