Yichao Rui
Assistant Professor in Agroecology, Department of Agronomy, Purdue University
Thursday March 13th, at 3:30pm, HORT 117 or via Zoom
What We Talk About When We Talk About Soil Carbon Sequestration
Increased climate variability and long-term economic and environmental concerns call for more sustainable agricultural transformations. Regenerative agriculture has been proposed as a viable strategy to enhance soil carbon sequestration, offering potential win-win solutions for both agricultural productivity and climate resilience. However, key questions remain: How effective are regenerative practices at sequestering carbon? How stable is the carbon once stored? Which practices are most effective in sequestering carbon in agroecosystems? These uncertainties present a significant knowledge gap, making it challenging for growers and policymakers to develop informed strategies and implement best practices. In this talk, I will use emerging concepts in agroecology and data from longterm farming systems trials across multiple states to explore the potential and complexities of soil carbon sequestration. I will also introduce latest research at the Purdue Agroecology Lab to propose a research agenda aimed at rebuilding and revitalizing soil carbon while improving both agronomic and environmental outcomes through interdisciplinary, integrated approaches.