About - Carbon Footprint Analysis at Russell Ranch (UC Davis)
Project analyzed the carbon emissions (CO2 equivalent) of corn and tomato farming at a campus-affiliated research farm. Utilizing monitored data and literature references, analysis accounts for the following: on-site fertilizer, pesticide, fuel and electrical energy usage; fertilizer production, distribution and leeching/run-off; tillage losses and carbon sequestration. The total estimated carbon emissions of conventional corn & tomato farming is 1.6 tons/year. By comparison, the estimated emissions of corn & tomato with cover crops farming is 1.5 tons/year. In both cases, electricity use due to irrigation pumping and tillage losses constitutes the two largest portions of total emissions.