The intersection of agricultural production and greenhouse gases is gathering increasing attention. This is an opportune time to consider how vegetable production interacts with carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions, and how using cover crops may alter this picture. 

The factsheet, Greenhouse Gases and Soil Organic Carbon in Vegetable Production and the Role of Cover Crops, discusses:

• Sequestration of atmospheric carbon in agricultural soils as soil organic carbon (SOC). Is vegetable production impacting SOC?
• Net greenhouse gas emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4) from the soil.
• Impact of cover crops on soil organic carbon, nitrous oxide emissions, and other GHG emissions.

This factsheet was written by Zach Spangler, CCE Harvest NY Ag Climate Resiliency Specialist, and Elizabeth Buck, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program Fresh Market Specialist.