Miscanthus soil sampling has begun for the CHCx3 project, led by NIAB. Terravesta is a partner in the initiative, which aims to standardise carbon measurements across a range of crops, including Miscanthus.
Our R&D manager, Jason, and field technician, Alex, have been taking samples in Lincolnshire this month.
“We have been sampling the soils at a farm near Brigg Power Station,” explains Jason. “We have tested five areas across a field where Miscanthus will be planted this spring, with two samples per location.
“One sample is 0-30 cm and the other, 30-60 cm, to give us a better understanding of the underground carbon accumulation during the crop’s life,” he says.
“We have studied the above ground carbon extensively, and have solid, peer reviewed estimates, but this will show us what’s really happening below ground and the whole picture for the crop,” adds Jason.
The Centre for High Carbon Capture Cropping (CHCx3) is a four-year, £5.9 million project, supported by a consortium of 22 industry and research partners and led by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB).
The project aims to help UK farmers and growers target net zero and build farming resilience through diversifying their arable and forage cropping. It’s ground-breaking in the sense it will come up with a new standard for on farm carbon management by testing hard physical field measurements from a range of crops.
The research will focus on four cropping options: rotational cover crops; annual fibre crops (industrial hemp and flax); perennial food, forage and feed crops (including cereals and herbal leys); and perennial biomass crops (Miscanthus, willow and poplar).
Learn more here.
