How much carbon is sequestered in Montana soils?
Carbon sequestration in soils is highly variable, depending on the type of soil, types of vegetation, precipitation, and other factors. Generally speaking, well managed bottomland and cropland is capable of higher storage than drier, slower cycling rangelands. In the carbon trading market, native rangeland may earn from .12 to .5 metric tons of carbon per acre per year, depending on conditions. No-till carbon credits have been contractually exchanged at the rate of .2 to .6 metric tons of carbon per cropland acre annually. In Montana, the gross carbon sequestration is difficult to assess due to the mix of climates, soil types, and surface vegetation. The Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership estimates that state lands in Montana alone currently sequester about 2.8 million metric tons per year. These state lands constitute about 6 percent of Montanas total acreage.
