Management Driven Changes in Soil Organic Matter on CRP Land

Commodities

Practices

This research project aims to determine whether the introduction of grazing to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields enhances soil carbon storage and other soil health metrics. CRP removes environmentally sensitive land from crop production to prevent soil erosion, but its potential to improve soil health and function, has recently come into question. Passive conservation that limits disturbance may also restrict soil carbon accumulation and reduce soil functionality over time. As modern agricultural practices continue to contribute to soil degradation, it is increasingly important to understand how best to manage land easement programs for environmental benefit. We hypothesize that managed disturbance events will stimulate microbial activity, increase soil carbon pools, and improve overall soil health. This research question largely stems from previous work done in collaboration with Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff on understanding soil health in CRP.

We will evaluate three grazing treatments: Ungrazed (control), rotational grazing (cattle induced), and grass clipping for the duration of two disturbance events. This project will address the questions: (1) How do different foliage removal techniques alter soil organic carbon stock? (2) Does defoliation stimulate rhizosphere priming, thereby influencing soil organic matter pools?

Soil samples will be collected at multiple time points to assess various soil health metrics across time. This work will fill critical gaps in our understanding of grazing in CRP systems and whether it can be leveraged for soil restoration.

If managed grazing on CRP lands proves beneficial, it could shift how we view and use conservation programs- transforming them from passive land retirement tools into active restoration solutions. Our findings will directly inform future land management policies and provide farmers with science-based recommendations to enhance soil function while meeting conservation goals.

This research will provide science-backed guidance on how grazing or mowing can alter soil function and properties, not only supporting conservation, but also enhancing soil health and long-term productivity. It may open the door to more flexible, proactive management strategies that benefit both farmers and the land. Currently, there is a gap in the literature as to how adding managed disturbance regimes, such as grazing or mowing, onto CRP land will impact soil health, particularly its ability to store more organic matter. This project will yield such results, potentially changing the ways we view CRP and the policy surrounding it.

CRP management allows for one management event halfway through the contract (mowing, burning, etc.) and for spot mowing to be applied in areas that need weed control. During years of extreme weather, the land is also opened for emergency haying. This study proposes the addition of increased disturbance to these contracts. In better understanding how this system is impacted by these different treatments, we will be able to discern the extent to which no-touch vs managed practices drive soil health indicators. Our existing collaborative relationship with FSA staff gives us access to an already attentive audience within the agency, bolstering our ability to open the door to policy changes which may also increase adoption due to the added freedom in management.