Evaluating Management Options to Increase Roadside Carbon Sequestration

The authors estimated the amount of carbon sequestered along Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) roads and tested 3 different highway right-of-way (ROW) management techniques to increase carbon stocks. Using Geographic Information System techniques, the total ROW acreage owned by MDT was found to sequester 75,292 metric tons of carbon per year and to consist mostly of grasslands (70%). From 2016-2018 the authors tested 3 ROW management techniques to increase carbon stocks- increase mowing height, plant woody shrubs, or add legumes to reclamation seed mixes of disturbed soils - at 3 sites (Three Forks [3F], Bear Canyon [BC], and Bozeman Pass [BP]) along Interstate 90 in southwestern Montana. Soil samples generally averaged 0.75–1.5% soil organic carbon (SOC) at the 3F site, 2.5–4% SOC at the BC site, and 1.5–2.5% SOC at the BP site. Average SOC levels were always lower in 2018 than in 2016. Soil respiration rates were generally highest in June or July at the BC site, averaging ~4 µmol CO₂ m⁻² second⁻¹. Soil respiration rates were lower at the BC site in November 2016, at the BP site in June 2018, and at the 3F site in July 2018 (all ~2–3 µmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹). Aboveground biomass carbon estimates generally mirrored belowground SOC estimates. Taken together, these findings suggest that of the three treatments implemented (raised mowing height, shrub planting, and disturbance), minimizing disturbance to soils likely makes the greatest contribution to the medium- and long-term carbon-storage potential of these roadside soils.

• Record URL:
  • https://scholarworks.alaska.edu/bitstream/handle/11122/10570/RoadsideCarbonStudy.pdf?sequence=1
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/66962
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Montana State University, Bozeman

  Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences
  P.O. Box 173120
  Bozeman, MT  United States  59717-3120

  Western Transportation Institute

  Montana State University, Bozeman
  P.O. Box 174250
  Bozeman, MT  United States  59717-4250

  Center for Environmentally Sustainable Transportation in Cold Climates

  306 Tanana Loop, Duckering Building 245
  Fairbanks, AK  United States  99775-5900

  Montana Department of Transportation

  2701 Prospect Avenue
  P.O. Box 201001
  Helena, MT  United States  59620-1001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Ament, Robert
  • Hartshorn, Tony
  • Powell, Scott
• Publication Date: 2018-12-30

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 142p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Biomass; Carbon capture and storage; Carbon dioxide; Evaluation and assessment; Geographic information systems; Maintenance management; Mowing; Right of way (Land); Roadside flora; Soils
• Uncontrolled Terms: Carbon sequestration
• Geographic Terms: Montana
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01714573
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: INE/AUTC 19.01
• Contract Numbers: DTRT13-G-UTC49
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 26 2019 10:14AM