Question reference: S6W-26907
- Date lodged: 18 April 2024
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 24 April 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made estimates of the carbon sequestration rates per hectare in species-rich grassland compared with (a) improved grassland and (b) arable land, and, if so, at what soil depth this has been measured.
Answer
Estimating carbon sequestration rates for different land uses falls under the remit of the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the Scottish Government does not make these kinds of estimates.
The Scottish Government has commissioned research through the ClimateXChange which considers how grassland management can impact carbon stocks. “ Understanding carbon sequestration from nature-based solutions ” concluded that further evidence is needed on the impact of the restoration of species-rich grassland on carbon stocks and greenhouse gas emissions, and “ Managing permanent grasslands for carbon sequestration in Scottish soils ” found that grazing rates, grass species, application of fertiliser, and tillage affect sequestration potential.