North Carolina: Bio-char Legislation Recommended

North Carolina: Bio-char Legislation Recommended
North Carolina Climate Action Plan Advisory Group: Agriculture, Forestry, and Waste Management Technical Work Group Mitigation Options
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MitigationOption: Soil Carbon Management (AFW3)
GHG Reductions 2007-2020 4.9 MMtCO2e NPV -$26 milliion

Mitigation Option Description

Use of conservation tillage/no-till and other soil management practices can increase the level of organic carbon in the soil, which sequesters carbon dioxide. In addition, some practices lower fossil fuel consumption through less intensive equipment use. Other practices, such as the application of bio-char, can also increase the level of soil carbon and improve the soil. This option is designed to increase the acreage using soil management practices that lead to higher soil carbon content. Another element of this option is the promotion of organic farming techniques. A number of studies have found that organic farming techniques result in significantly higher levels of organic carbon in the soil relative to conventional cultivation methods.

Mitigation Option Design

Goals: By 2020, apply soil management practices on 50% of cultivated lands that currently do not use these techniques. Also, by 2020, 10% of statewide croplands under production will be certified organic.

Timing: By 2010, apply soil management practices on 20% of acres that currently do not use these practices. Achieve an increase to 50% of these acres by 2020. For organic farming, 1% will be certified organic production by 2010. The remaining organic production goal will be achieved by 2020.

Parties Involved: NC Department of Agriculture, NC DENR, NCSU (CALS, CNR), NC Extension, other agricultural organizations and associations.

Other: Studies in NC have found the potential to sequester one ton of carbon per acre through conservation tillage/no-till practices15 (equivalent to about 3.3 MtCO2e/acre).

Implementation Mechanisms
• Increase NC Agriculture Cost Share funding to include additional acreage in no-till and organic farming techniques.
• Continue educational programs through NCCES on conservation tillage and organic farming techniques.
• Research the availability and effectiveness of bio-char application.

Related Policies/Programs in Place
• NC Agriculture Cost Share Program for no-till; $125/acre with a 120-acre cap for
switching to no-till for 5 consecutive years.
• NRCS cost share programs.

Types(s) of GHG Reductions
• CO2: Reducing tillage and soil disturbance slows the breakdown of plant material on the soil surface and in the root zone, accelerating the microbial processes that stabilize carbon and protecting carbon from oxidation, inhibiting the release of carbon back into the atmosphere. Depending on how the adoption of conservation tillage affects the overall crop production process, additional CO2 reductions can occur through lower fossil fuel consumption in farm equipment.
• N2O: Research also indicates the potential for higher N2O emissions as soil organic
carbon levels increase (see Feasibility Issues Section below).

Estimated GHG Reductions and Costs (or Cost Savings)
• GHG reduction potential in 2010, 2020 (MMtCO2e): 0.4, 0.4.

Note: Because agricultural soils will only accumulate carbon up to a certain level before
tapering off, the GHG benefit decreases in the post-2020 period to about 0.05
MMtCO2e/yr after 2025. The remaining benefit, which is permanent, is associated with
lower fossil fuel consumption.
• Net Cost per MtCO2e: -$5.

... .

"Within the period of analysis for this policy, bio-char application could become another element of this program to
increase soil carbon levels in agricultural soils. The North Carolina legislature is considering a
bill calling for additional study of bio-char and the associated benefits and costs of its use in the
state.20

20 The Bill is to be entitled “An Act To Appropriate Funds For Research And Development Of Bio-Char For Carbon
Sequestration, Increased Crop Yield, And Soil Improvement” and if passed, would be effective in July of 2007."

AFW Mitigation Option Descriptions, EESI/CCS, 2/15/07