Enhancing carbon sequestration in lawns through legume and forb integration
This research explores improving carbon sequestration in turfgrass systems by integrating legumes and forbs, alongside drought-resistant cultivars. The approach aims to enhance root penetration and carbon storage, particularly in compacted soils.
Overview
The project aims to enhance carbon sequestration in turfgrass systems by integrating cool-season legumes and warm-season forbs, along with drought-resistant turfgrass cultivars. This integration is expected to improve root penetration, increase belowground biomass inputs, and ultimately boost soil carbon storage capacity. The research addresses the limitations of current soil amendment practices by exploring how these plant functional groups can complement existing turfgrass systems, especially under irrigation restrictions.
Technical specifications
- Study 1: Interseeding cool-season legumes into St. Augustinegrass and buffalograss to assess carbon gains, considering management practices like mowing and herbicide use. Metrics include soil organic carbon (SOC), particulate organic matter, and enzyme activities.
- Study 2: Utilizes soil columns representative of compacted residential soils to evaluate the impact of interplanting legumes and forbs on root systems and carbon storage, compared to monocultures.
- Study 3: Applies a space-for-time method to compare carbon sequestration in drought-resistant and standard cultivars under varying irrigation levels, focusing on root system architecture and soil carbon fractions.
Technology readiness level
This technology is at TRL 2, indicating that the basic principles have been observed and reported, and further research is planned to validate these initial findings through detailed studies.
About Texas A&M University, College Station
Texas A&M University in College Station is a comprehensive public research university and the flagship of The Texas A&M University System, combining broad academic strengths with a strong applied‑research culture. Industry collaborates on the Texas A&M‑RELLIS campus—an integrated education, research and testing environment that supports large‑scale experimentation and proving grounds—and through the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s facilities in Bryan‑College Station. A statewide extension network connects university expertise to companies and communities across all Texas counties, enabling rapid piloting and deployment. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NSF, NIH, DOE, USDA and DoD, alongside state and industry sponsorship. Texas A&M Innovation provides IP management, licensing and commercialization pathways across the system.
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