Quantifying carbon sequestration on sheep grazing land in Australia for life cycle assessment studies
B. K. Henry A B E , D. Butler C and S. G. Wiedemann D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Institute for Sustainable Resources, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia.
B The University of Sydney, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
C O2 Ecology Pty Ltd, 48 Wharf Street, Kangaroo Point, Qld 4169, Australia.
D FSA Consulting, 11 Clifford Street, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: beverley.henry@qut.edu.au
The Rangeland Journal 37(4) 379-388 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ14109
Submitted: 21 August 2014 Accepted: 27 April 2015 Published: 6 July 2015
Abstract
The sheep industry has played an important role in Australia’s development and economy over the 220 years since European settlement and remains an important land use in Australia, occupying an estimated 85 million ha of continental land mass. Historically, deforestation was carried out in many sheep-rearing regions to promote pasture growth but this has not occurred within recent decades and many wool producers have invested in planting trees as well as preserving patches of remnant vegetation. Although the limitations of single environmental impact studies are recognised, this paper focuses on the contribution of carbon sequestration in trees and shrubs on sheep farms to the global warming potential impact category in life cycle assessment of wool. The analysis represents three major wool-producing zones of Australia. Based on default regional yields as applied in Australia’s National Inventory model, FullCAM, CO2 removals in planted exotic pines and mixed native species were estimated to be 5.0 and 3.0 t CO2 ha–1 year–1, respectively, for the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales in the ‘high-rainfall zone’ and 1.4 t CO2 ha–1 year–1 for mixed native species in the ‘sheep-wheat zone’ of Western Australia. Applying modified factors allowing for the higher measured growth rates in regions with rainfall >300 mm, gave values for native species reforestation of 4.4 and 2.0 t CO2 ha–1 year–1 for New South Wales and Western Australia, respectively. Sequestration was estimated to be 0.07 t CO2 ha–1 year–1 over 100 years for chenopod shrublands of the ‘pastoral zone’ of South Australia but this low rate is significant because of the extent of regeneration. Sequestration of soil organic carbon in improved permanent pastures in the New South Wales Northern Tablelands was evaluated to be highly uncertain but potentially significant over large areas of management. Improved data and consistent methodologies are needed for quantification of these benefits in life cycle assessment studies for wool and sheep meat, and additional impact categories, such as biodiversity, need to be included if the public and private benefits provided by good management of vegetation resources on farms are to be more fully recognised.
Additional keywords: chenopod shrublands, pastoral zone, soil organic carbon, trees and shrubs, wool-producing.
References
ABARES (2012). ‘Australian Farm Survey Results 2009–10 to 2011–12.’ (Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences: Canberra, ACT.)ABARES (2013). ‘Specialist Sheep Farms: NSW Tablelands, WA Central and South Wheat Belt, SA North Pastoral.’ Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey (AAGIS). (Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: Canberra, ACT.)
ABS (2013). ‘Livestock Products, Australia.’ ABS Catalogue No. 7215.0. (Australian Bureau of Statistics: Canberra, ACT.)
Allen, D. E., Pringle, M. J., Bray, S., Hall, T. J., O’Reagain, P. O., Phelps, D., Cobon, D. H., Bloesch, P. M., and Dalal, R. C. (2013). What determines soil organic carbon stocks in the grazing lands of north-eastern Australia? Soil Research 51, 695–706.
| What determines soil organic carbon stocks in the grazing lands of north-eastern Australia?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXhvF2ktbbM&md5=6e299f6112506383fdbe3a6ef2762ab4CAS |
ANRA (2001) ‘Australian Natural Resources Atlas.’ Natural Heritage Trust, National Land and Water Resources Audit. (Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities: Canberra, ACT.)
Australian Government (2011). Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Bill No. 101, 2011. Available at: www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2011A00101 (accessed 30 March 2015).
AWI (2011). ‘Australian Wool Innovation Limited Annual Report 2010/2011.’ (Australian Wool Innovation Limited: Sydney, NSW.)
Beale, I. F. (1973). Tree density effects on yields of herbage and tree components in south-west Queensland mulga scrub. Tropical Grasslands 7, 135–142.
Binkley, D., Kaye, J., Barry, M., and Ryan, M. G. (2004). First-rotation changes in soil carbon and nitrogen in a Eucalyptus plantation in Hawaii. Soil Science Society of America Journal 68, 1713–1719.
| First-rotation changes in soil carbon and nitrogen in a Eucalyptus plantation in Hawaii.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXns1Smt7g%3D&md5=89175a295caf66f41c667272d54e9c54CAS |
BSI (2012). ‘Publicly Available Specification On Assessing The Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Goods and Services (PAS2050).’ (British Standards Institute: London, UK.)
Carter, J. O., and Johnston, P. W. (1986). Modelling expected frequencies of fuel loads for fire at Charleville in western Queensland. In: ‘Third Queensland Fire Research Workshop’. Lawes, 1–3 October 1986. Working papers. (Ed. B. R. Roberts.) pp. 53–67. (Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education: Qld.)
Carter, J. O., Hall, W. B., Brook, K. D., McKeon, G. M., Day, K. A., and Paull, C. J. (2000). AussieGRASS: Australian Grassland and Rangeland Assessment by Spatial Simulation. In: ‘Applications of Seasonal Climate Forecasting in Agricultural and Natural Ecosystems – the Australian Experience’. (Eds G. Hammer, N. Nicholls and C. Mitchell.) pp. 329–349. (Kluwer Academic Press: Dordrecht, The Netherlands.)
Carter, J. O., Bruget, D., Hassett, R., Henry, B., and Ahrens, D. (2003). Australian Grassland and Rangeland Assessment by Spatial Simulation (AussieGRASS). In: ‘Science for Drought. Proceedings of the National Drought Forum’. (Eds R. Stone and I. Partridge.) pp. 152–159. (Queensland Department of Primary Industries: Brisbane, Qld.)
Chan, K. Y., Oates, A., Li, G. D., Conyers, M. K., Prangnell, R. J., Poile, G., Liu, D. L., and Barchia, I. M. (2010). Soil carbon stocks under different pastures and pasture management in the higher rainfall areas of south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Soil Research 48, 7–15.
| Soil carbon stocks under different pastures and pasture management in the higher rainfall areas of south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXisVCgtbc%3D&md5=f0abb0032f4ad5bf171bd15c151482c8CAS |
Chartres, C. J. (1995). Sodic soils: an introduction to their formation and distribution in Australia. In: ‘Australian Sodic Soils: Distribution, Properties and Management’. (Eds R. Naidu, M. E. Sumner and P. Rengasamy.) pp. 35–40. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Commonwealth of Australia (2012). Carbon Farming (Quantifying carbon sequestration by permanent environmental plantings of native tree species using the CFI Reforestation Modelling Tool) Methodology Determination 2012. Available at: www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2012L01340 (accessed January 2015).
Cowie, A. L., Lonergan, V. E., Rabbi, S. M. F., Fornasier, F., Macdonald, C., Harden, S., Kawasaki, A., and Singh, B. K. (2013). Impact of carbon farming practices on soil carbon in northern New South Wales. Soil Research 51, 707–718.
| Impact of carbon farming practices on soil carbon in northern New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXhvF2ktbnP&md5=dddf231e3a25b5f2b8992161f04d11f3CAS |
Davy, M. C., and Koen, T. B. (2013). Variations in soil organic carbon for two soil types and six land uses in the Murray Catchment, New South Wales, Australia. Soil Research 51, 631–644.
| Variations in soil organic carbon for two soil types and six land uses in the Murray Catchment, New South Wales, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXhvF2ktbbF&md5=d5414c91b30239451206ae151f5e381fCAS |
Department of Environment (2014). ‘Australian National Greenhouse Accounts: National Inventory Report 2012, Vol. 2.’ (Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra, ACT.)
DIICCSRTE (2013). ‘Australian National Greenhouse Accounts: National Inventory Report 2011, Vol. 2.’ (Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education: Canberra, ACT.)
Eady, S., Carre, A., and Grant, T. (2012). Life cycle assessment modelling of complex agricultural systems with multiple food and fibre co-products. Journal of Cleaner Production 28, 143–149.
| Life cycle assessment modelling of complex agricultural systems with multiple food and fibre co-products.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XjsFCmu7c%3D&md5=0c2bd2217754f45b4d694fca8eb9d8adCAS |
Epron, D., Marsden, C., M’Bou, A. T., Saint-André, L., d’Annunzio, R., and Nouvellon, Y. (2009). Soil carbon dynamics following afforestation of a tropical savannah with Eucalyptus in Congo. Plant and Soil 323, 309–322.
| Soil carbon dynamics following afforestation of a tropical savannah with Eucalyptus in Congo.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXht1CmtL3N&md5=c76fd7f69ec0f8f720834f5cad1af344CAS |
FAOSTAT (2014). ‘Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations: Statistics.’ (FAO: Rome.) Available at: http://faostat.fao.org/site/613/default.aspx#ancor (accessed January 2014).
Fischer, J., Stott, J., Zerger, A., Warren, G., Sherren, K., and Forrester, R. (2009). Reversing a tree regeneration crisis in an endangered eco-region. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 106, 10386–10391.
| Reversing a tree regeneration crisis in an endangered eco-region.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXot1Gntrc%3D&md5=cef47dc3be61e98f3cbf922ba0755a98CAS | 19497886PubMed |
Haile, S. G., Nair, V. D., and Nair, P. K. R. (2010). Contribution of trees to carbon storage in soils of silvopastoral systems in Florida, USA. Global Change Biology 16, 427–438.
| Contribution of trees to carbon storage in soils of silvopastoral systems in Florida, USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Harris-Adams, K., Townsend, P., and Lawson, K. (2012). ‘Native vegetation management on agricultural land.’ ABARES research report 12.10. (Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences: Canberra, ACT.)
Hassett, R. C., Wood, H. L., Carter, J. O., and Danaher, T. J. (2000). A field method for state-wide ground-truthing of a spatial pasture growth model. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 1069–1079.
| A field method for state-wide ground-truthing of a spatial pasture growth model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hill, M. J., Roxburgh, S. H., McKeon, G. M., Carter, J. O., and Barrett, D. J. (2006). Analysis of soil carbon outcomes from interaction between climate and grazing pressure in Australian rangelands using Range-ASSESS. Environmental Modelling & Software 21, 779–801.
| Analysis of soil carbon outcomes from interaction between climate and grazing pressure in Australian rangelands using Range-ASSESS.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hoyle, F. C., D’Antuono, M., Overheu, T., and Murphy, D. V. (2013). Capacity for increasing soil organic carbon stocks in dryland agricultural systems. Soil Research 51, 657–667.
| Capacity for increasing soil organic carbon stocks in dryland agricultural systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXhvF2ktbbJ&md5=7a173f620a9477c6830f46899b386126CAS |
ISO (2006). ‘Environmental Management – Life Cycle Assessment – Requirements and Guidelines.’ (International Organisation for Standardisation: Geneva, Switzerland.)
ISO (2013). ‘ISO/TS 14067. Greenhouse Gases: Carbon Footprint of Products – Requirements and Guidelines for Quantification and Communication. ISO/TC 207/SC 7.’ (International Organisation for Standardisation: Geneva, Switzerland.)
LEAP (2014a). ‘Environmental Performance of Animal Feed Supply Chains: Guidelines for Quantification.’ Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance Partnership. (FAO: Rome, Italy.)
LEAP (2014b). ‘Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fossil Energy Demand From Small Ruminant Supply Chains: Guidelines for Quantification.’ Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance Partnership. (FAO: Rome, Italy.)
Lemma, B., Kleja, D. B., Nilsson, I., and Olsson, M. (2006). Soil carbon sequestration under different exotic tree species in the south-western highlands of Ethiopia. Geoderma 136, 886–898.
| Soil carbon sequestration under different exotic tree species in the south-western highlands of Ethiopia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28Xhtlaktr3M&md5=6d1216c1c45f5e24c18b07a542d1e46aCAS |
Lima, A. M. N., Silva, I. R., Neves, J. C. L., Novais, R. F., Barros, N. F., Mendonça, E. S., Smyth, T. J., Moreira, M. S., and Leite, F. P. (2006). Soil organic dynamics following afforestation of degraded pastures with eucalyptus in southeastern Brazil. Forest Ecology and Management 235, 219–231.
| Soil organic dynamics following afforestation of degraded pastures with eucalyptus in southeastern Brazil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lynch, J. J., and Donnelly, J. B. (1980). Changes in pasture and animal production resulting from the use of windbreaks. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 31, 967–979.
| Changes in pasture and animal production resulting from the use of windbreaks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McSherry, M. E., and Ritchie, M. E. (2013). Effects of grazing on grassland soil carbon: a global review. Global Change Biology 19, 1347–1357.
| Effects of grazing on grassland soil carbon: a global review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23504715PubMed |
Mendham, D. S., O’Connell, A. M., and Grove, T. S. (2003). Change in soil carbon after land clearing or afforestation in highly weathered lateritic and sandy soils of south-western Australia. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 95, 143–156.
| Change in soil carbon after land clearing or afforestation in highly weathered lateritic and sandy soils of south-western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
MLA (2014). Australia’s sheep meat industry. Meat and Livestock Australia Limited. Data for 2012/13. Available at: www.mla.com.au/Cattle-sheep-and-goat-industries/Industry-overview/Sheep (accessed May 2014).
Orgill, S., Condon, J., Conyers, M., Greene, R., and Murphy, B. (2012). Opportunities to sequester carbon in soil: management of perennial pastures. In: ‘Capturing Opportunities and Overcoming Obstacles in Australian Agronomy. Proceedings of the 16th Australian Agronomy Conference’. Armidale, NSW. (Ed. I. Yunusa.) (Australian Society of Agronomy/The Regional Institute Inc.: Gosford, NSW.)
Paul, K. I., Polglase, P. J., Nyakuengama, J. G., and Khanna, P. K. (2002). Change in soil carbon following afforestation. Forest Ecology and Management 168, 241–257.
| Change in soil carbon following afforestation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Paul, K., Roxburgh, S., Raison, J., Larmour, J., England, J., Murphy, S., Norris, J., Ritson, P., Brooksbank, K., Hobbs, T., Neumann, C., Lewis, T., Read, Z., Clifford, D., Kmoch, L., Rooney, M., Freudenberger, D., Jonson, J., Peck, A., Giles, R., Bartle, J., McAurthur, G., Wildy, D., Lindsay, A., Preece, N., Cunningham, S., Powe, T., Carter, J., Bennett, R., Mendham, D., Sudmeyer, Rose, B., Butler, D., Cohen, L., Fairman, T., Law, R., Finn, B., Brammar, M., Minchin, G., van Oosterzee, P., and Lothian, A. (2013). ‘Improved estimation of biomass accumulation by environmental planting and mallee plantings using FullCAM.’ Report for the Department of the Environment. (CSIRO Sustainable Agriculture Flagship: Canberra, ACT.)
Raison, J., Keith, H., Barrett, D., Burrows, B., and Grierson, P. (2003). ‘Spatial estimates of biomass in ‘mature’ native vegetation.’ National Carbon Accounting System Technical Report No. 44. (Australian Greenhouse Office: Canberra, ACT.)
Rayner, L., Lindenmayer, D. B., Wood, J. T., Gibbons, P., and Manning, A. D. (2014). Are protected areas maintaining bird diversity? Ecography 37, 43–53.
| Are protected areas maintaining bird diversity?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sanderman, J., Farquharson, R., and Baldock, J. A. (2010). Soil carbon sequestration potential: a review for Australian agriculture. A report to the Australian Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. CSIRO, Urrbrae. Available at: www.csiro.au/resources/Soil-Carbon-Sequestration-Potential-Report.html (accessed 30 March 2015).
Specht, A. (2000). ‘Measurement of Carbon Sequestration in Small Non-industrial Forest.’ Technical Report Greenhouse Allies Project. (Southern Cross University: Lismore, NSW.)
Specht, A., and West, P. W. (2003). Estimation of biomass and sequestered carbon on farm forest plantations in northern New South Wales, Australia. Biomass and Bioenergy 25, 363–379.
| Estimation of biomass and sequestered carbon on farm forest plantations in northern New South Wales, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
State of the Environment Committee (2011). ‘State of the Environment 2011: Independent Report to the Australian Government Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.’ (State of the Environment Committee: Canberra, ACT.)
Vesterdal, L., Ritter, E., and Gundersen, P. (2002). Change in soil organic carbon following afforestation of former arable land. Forest Ecology and Management 169, 137–147.
| Change in soil organic carbon following afforestation of former arable land.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Walker, J., Moore, R. M., and Robertson, J. A. (1972). Herbage response to tree and shrub thinning in Eucalyptus populnea shrub woodlands. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 23, 405–410.
| Herbage response to tree and shrub thinning in Eucalyptus populnea shrub woodlands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wiedemann, S. G., Ledgard, S. F., Henry, B. K., Yan, M., Boyes, M., Mao, N., and Russell, S. J. (2015). Application of life cycle assessment to sheep production systems: investigating co-production of wool and meat using case studies from major global producers. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 20, 463–476.
| Application of life cycle assessment to sheep production systems: investigating co-production of wool and meat using case studies from major global producers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXntVenu7k%3D&md5=3b0d27f5a8bcec52b33d875cafd411b3CAS |
Wilson, B. R., and Lonergan, V. E. (2014). Land-use and historical management effects on soil organic carbon in grazing systems on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. Soil Research 51, 669–679.
