Recent criticisms of the environmental impacts of lawns, including a high climate footprint from mowing, irrigation, and fertilization, pose challenges to the market acceptance of Oregon turfgrass domestically and internationally. However, turfgrass is a perennial crop with minimal soil disturbance, and turf has been shown in studies from Colorado to accumulate soil organic carbon (SOC) at rates comparable to fallowed cropland. The goal of this study is to evaluate how turf species and management practices can be manipulated to enhance soil carbon sequestration, and to characterize trade-offs between carbon sequestration, aesthetic characteristics, and other management requirements. This work will contribute to recommendations on how to manage turfgrass to enhance carbon sequestration, which can improve market access for Oregon seed producers.
CTRF
