Soil Organic Carbon and Mineralization Rates at the Woolsey Wet Prairie Mitigation Project in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and its influence on global warming CO2 has been rising over the pre-industrial level of 280 ppm and is at its highest level recorded in the past 100,000 years exceeding 400 ppm. Researchers have been investigating methods to mitigate high CO2 levels in the atmosphere, including promoting carbon sequestration in soils. Seemingly contradictory to this notion is the use of fire as a management tool in native prairie grass ecosystem restoration. The first objective of this research was to determine particulate (labile) and total (labile plus stable) soil organic matter content and carbon (C) mineralization rates in soil at the Woolsey Wet Prairie in Fayetteville, AR that has been restored and managed with annual burning for 10 years as compared to soil from non-restored adjacent fields growing tall fescue. The second objective was to determine short-term impacts of burning on C storage and turnover in Woolsey Wet Prairie soil. The first objective was accomplished by measuring soil organic matter content and carbon mineralization gas flux samples one year after the previous fire and prior to implementation of the fire management strategy in the spring. The second objective was accomplished by measuring soil respiration 2, 4, 7, 16, and 29 days post-fire treatment. Data analysis is ongoing and will help further understanding of how aboveground management impacts the balance of carbon release versus carbon retention in soil.