An increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide may have profound effects on the global environment and economy. A mitigation strategy is needed to enhance the biological conversion of C02 -- an important greenhouse gas -- into a stable form for the long-term sequestration of carbon. This project addresses the issue of increasing plant and soil carbon sequestration by altering existing ecosystems by converting low productive, unimproved pasturelands in the Pacific Northwest to fast growing, hybrid poplar plantations. After harvesting, the carbon will be sequestered through the manufacture of various wood products. In Phase I, the amount of land available for poplar production in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington will be determined, and the feasibility of developing a growers association to assist landowners will be explored. The biological issues that will be addressed include screening and selecting poplar clones for growth, wood density, and lignin content, and understanding the processes of below ground carbon movement and storage.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Commercial applications include the conversion of large areas to productive poplar plantations with the logs being harvested and processed at age 10 to 12 years, leading to significant sequestration of carbon. The plantations also would take harvest pressure off of existing old growth forests in the Pacific Northwest. The development of high lignin-content clones not only will increase the resultant wood products' strength, but also will reduce the rate at which waste products in the field, such as branches and roots, decompose, leading to increased carbon in the soil.
