This knowledge has been used to create Rigby Taylor Carbon4Grass mixtures, combining increased levels of carbon sequestration potential with desirable amenity characteristics for a range of sports and landscape situation.įor example, low maintenance, slower growing cultivars with higher carbon ‘scores’ have been identified to help reduce the impact of tasks such as mowing, which contributes to the carbon footprint. The differences in proficiency of individual cultivars to sequester carbon proved to be significant. The study progressed to assess a range of cultivars within species, with new cultivars from the breeding programme entered into the study over time. The study revealed significant differences between species in their capacity to store and sequester carbon within the leaves, roots and soil profile when managed under exactly the same environmental conditions*. Using well-established grass plots, the initial aim was to identify differences in the carbon sequestration values of managed amenity grass species. One hectare of natural, open grassland can sequester up to 2.5 tonnes of carbon per hectare per annum, creating a net carbon sink held within the soil profile.Īll well and good but what about the intensively managed amenity grass surfaces we all enjoy which, by definition, have a much greater environmental impact than infrequently managed grassland? Because managed amenity turf has higher plant populations than natural grassland, having the availability of amenity cultivars which sequester (lock up) relatively more carbon can make a significant contribution in mitigating the environmental impact of essential maintenance inputs, preserving a net carbon sink.Ī “Carbon4Grass” (C4g) study at Top Green Breeding & Research Station in Les Alleuds, France commenced in 2005. Just two square metres of grassland can produce enough oxygen to support one person for an entire day, or for one hectare, 1 person for 13 years!Ī proportion of the absorbed carbon is transferred from the dense canopy and fibrous root system into the soil as plants senesce and decompose. This process uses sunlight and water to convert CO2 into carbohydrates and simple sugars to generate energy and growth, “fixing” greenhouse gases from the air into the soil by sequestration and providing oxygen as a bi-product.

Grasses just like trees are chlorophyll-based plants, absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere for use in photosynthesis. The greenhouse effect, carbon cycle and carbon sequestration impact our everyday lives. In France, situated at Les Allueds near Anger, Top Green’s seed breeding and research facility is the partnership development centre for Rigby Taylor grass seed mixtures, including the exciting development of Carbon4Grass Rigby Taylor and its seed-breeding partner Top Green have a long and very successful relationship.

Best grasses for carbon sequestration