An overlooked crop with the potential to restore soil health and sequester carbon
Devon Beckman, a Master’s student in Environmental Sciences, is looking to combat climate change through his research into switchgrass, a native plant with promising potential for carbon sequestration. Under the guidance of Dr. Adam Gillespie, he is analyzing multiple forms of carbon storage to determine the extent of environmental benefits derived from this cultivation strategy.
“Switchgrass is perennial, cold-tolerant, drought-hardy, and requires minimal management,” explains Beckman. “Combined with its deep-rooting system and rapid growth, it is a strong candidate for farmers looking to amend soil health and lessen their environmental impact.”
Beckman has taken meter-deep soil cores at four sites across southern Ontario and Quebec with the hope of demonstrating that this underutilized crop sequesters greater amounts of atmospheric carbon than traditional cash crop systems. Such findings could inspire a shift in government programs in both Ontario and Quebec.
If you would like more information about Devon Beckman’s research on switchgrass, please contact Dr. Adam Gillespie at agilles@uoguelph.ca
