Articles tagged with Soil Carbon
Two studies published in GSA BULLETIN examine the evolution of C4-dominated grasslands in the southern Great Plains and the tectonomagmatic evolution of northwestern Mexico. The first study uses carbon isotope composition to reconstruct the relative abundance of C4 grasses over the past 12 million years, finding a protracted history of...
Scientists have found that carbon cycling in the terrestrial biosphere was much smaller during the last ice age than in today's warmer climate. The researchers estimate that only about 40 petagrams of carbon were stored in vegetation and soil per year, which is roughly one third of present-day levels.
Researchers found that organic carbon resides in the Ganges-Brahmaputra system for 500-17,000 years, making it a significant source of terrestrial biospheric carbon to the ocean. The relatively long carbon residence time poses big implications for the global carbon cycle.
Research shows that maintaining wildlands in and among vineyards significantly improves carbon storage. This approach can help balance global atmospheric carbon by increasing vegetation and biodiversity while reducing emissions.
The EU project PAGE21 aims to better understand the release of carbon from Arctic soils and its effects on the climate system. By deploying standardized measurement methods and collecting high-quality data records, researchers hope to improve the accuracy of global climate models.
Researchers discovered a novel microbe that produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas, in Arctic permafrost. The microbe's genome revealed genes for nitrogen fixation, making it a potentially key player in the Earth's carbon cycle.
A study published in Nature suggests that soil environment, not molecular structure, determines the degradation rate of humus, a key factor in the global carbon cycle. The researchers propose new experiments and models to improve forecasting of soils' response to climate changes.
Researchers found significant soil carbon sequestration under Miscanthus on former tilled land and grasslands after two years of planting. This study suggests that Miscanthus can help limit the release of greenhouse gases without adding to the carbon debt.
Researchers investigate the cause of the Permian-Triassic extinction, finding that ocean acidification may have played a significant role. Additionally, studies suggest that reforestation on historically productive, snow-free land could contribute to climate change mitigation even in northern latitudes.
A new computer modeling study suggests that permafrost could release between 25 and 85 petagrams of carbon into the atmosphere by 2100, with a best estimate of 62 petagrams. This release would be equivalent to an additional 7.5 years of global anthropogenic emissions.
A new study reveals that enhanced tree growth in tropical forests can stimulate soil micro-organisms, leading to the release of stored soil carbon. Researchers found that extra litterfall triggers a process called priming, which stimulates the decomposition of carbon stored in the soil.
Scientists used chemical isotopes to measure tree cover and shade in ancient soil, finding that grassy savannas were prevalent at most East African sites where human ancestors evolved. The study suggests that hominins partitioned their time between open and closed habitats, with sparse woody canopy providing essential resources.
Scientists used ancient soil to measure prehistoric tree cover and found that grassy, tree-dotted savannas prevailed for over 6 million years in eastern Africa. This discovery contradicts previous theories suggesting a shift towards forested environments during human evolution.
Breeding crops with deeper and bushier root systems could double the amount of carbon captured from the environment, potentially reducing CO2 levels. This approach could also improve soil structure and water retention while enhancing sustainable plant yields.
Researchers at Iowa State University discovered that a perennial cover crop can be used on corn fields to achieve similar yields to traditional farming methods while also improving soil quality and reducing erosion. The study found that using Kentucky bluegrass as the perennial cover crop resulted in yields of over 200 bushels per acre.
Scientists report that the world's forests store approximately 2.4 gigatons of carbon per year, with boreal forests accounting for nearly 22% of total stored carbon. A warming climate may reduce the capacity of forests to sequester carbon, highlighting the importance of understanding their role in the global carbon cycle.
Soil microbes release more methane and nitrous oxide when atmospheric carbon dioxide increases, counteracting the cooling effects of plant growth. This feedback loop suggests that nature is not as efficient in slowing global warming as previously thought.
Scientists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are identifying factors that influence pesticide levels in the Chesapeake Bay airshed. The study found that nearly all air samples contained lindane and chlordane products, with highest concentrations at dieldrin and DDE.
A new study reveals that climate projections don't accurately reflect soil carbon release, leading to potential flaws in global warming predictions. The researchers found that temperature variability affects the amount of carbon released from soils, with higher releases expected at lower latitudes.
A Baylor University geology researcher and scientists from Rice University tested a new soil additive called biochar on common earthworms. They found that wetting the biochar before applying it to the soil reduces harm to earthworms, allowing them to perform essential functions in the soil ecosystem.
A MBL study found that warming causes more nitrogen to become available to trees, allowing them to grow faster and store more carbon. This is a positive effect on carbon storage, but the overall impact of global warming on forest ecosystems will also depend on other factors such as water availability and atmospheric CO2 concentration
The University of Southampton is part of a £4.57 million project to evaluate biomass as a sustainable energy source in the UK. The research aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a cost-effective energy system by 2050.
A Purdue University-led team analyzed prehistoric data to find the Earth's recovery from 56 million-year-old high CO2 levels was quicker than models predicted. The study suggests that more than half of added carbon dioxide was pulled from the atmosphere within 30,000 to 40,000 years.
A recent study found that mangroves store up to four times more carbon per hectare than most tropical forests. The high-carbon storage capacity of mangroves can be attributed to their deep organic-rich soils and complex root systems.
A study published in the International Journal of Water suggests that improving land management and farming practices in Australia could mitigate global climate change. Natural Sequence Farming, a technique developed by Peter Andrews and Duane Norris, mimics the once-efficient functions of the Australian landscape to improve soil healt...
A team of US Department of Agriculture scientists found that moderate cattle grazing can improve soil health and sequester carbon and nitrogen. Decades of plowing have degraded the soil in the Piedmont region, but researchers discovered that grasses planted on eroded land and grazed by beef cattle can restore soil quality.
A study analyzed five long-term experiments to predict effects of no tillage management on soil organic carbon. Harvesting substantial crop residues without added carbon would deplete soil organic carbon and increase pollution risks.
A study by North Carolina State University aims to evaluate the role of legume cover crops in sucking carbon out of the air and sequestering it in the soil. The research will also examine different methods of killing cover crops before planting cash crops and their effect on soil carbon levels.
A new study reveals that climate change is causing northern wildfires to burn more fiercely and release more carbon into the atmosphere than previously thought. The research found that fires in Alaska's interior have become more severe over the past decade, pumping out more greenhouse gases and accelerating permafrost loss.
Researchers found African mineral dust from the Sahara and Sahel regions was the main contributor to forming reddish soils in Mediterranean regions such as Mallorca and Sardinia. The study also revealed that underlying rock contributed to soil formation.
A study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and other institutions reveals that expanding croplands in the tropics releases nearly twice as much carbon per unit of food produced compared to temperate regions. The findings highlight a pressing need to balance agricultural production with carbon sequestration.
Scientists discovered a crater formed by a NASA-engineered collision that showed the Moon's soil contains more complex compounds than previously believed. The study found water, hydroxyl, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, free sodium, and silver in the lunar regolith.
Researchers propose strategies to increase plant efficiency in absorbing light, altering root carbon conversion, and boosting bioenergy crops to combat climate change. The use of genetically engineered plants for carbon sequestration is part of a broader effort to enhance natural biological processes.
A new report by the American Society of Agronomy highlights the role of agriculture in greenhouse gas emissions and capture. The study finds that adopting conservation agricultural systems can increase carbon sequestration and reduce GHG emissions. However, knowledge gaps remain in understanding the effectiveness of these practices.
The Farming Systems Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculator helps farmers maximize their potential economic returns in greenhouse gas markets. By changing farming practices, users can reduce greenhouse gas losses and gain an economic advantage.
A long-term study found that biochar can reduce nitrous oxide emissions by up to 73% and ammonium leaching by up to 94%, with reductions occurring over time due to 'ageing' of the biochars in soil. The research highlights the potential of biochar as a tool to mitigate climate change.
A new theory suggests that iron oxides in Martian soil decompose organic molecules through photocatalysis, converting them to carbon dioxide and methane. This process may explain the absence of organic compounds on the planet's surface, requiring deeper drilling to find preserved organics.
A study examined the impact of grazing management on greenhouse gas emissions from grasslands. Native grasslands were found to be strong sinks of soil organic carbon and minor sources of methane, while seeded pastures emitted higher amounts of nitrous oxide.
A joint study across the central Great Plains found that no-till farming stores more soil carbon, binding particles together and reducing vulnerability to raindrops. This makes the topsoil less susceptible to erosion by water or wind, critical in semiarid regions with low precipitation and high evaporation.
Researchers found that microbes become less efficient in converting carbon into CO2, leading to decreased carbon dioxide emissions from soils. As warmer temperatures persist, microbes decrease in number and eventually result in fewer emissions.
A study published in Nature Geoscience found that soil microbes release decreasing amounts of climate-warming greenhouse gases as they overheat and grow more slowly
Researchers found that microbes become less efficient at converting carbon in soil into atmospheric CO2 as global temperatures rise, leading to reduced emissions. The study suggests that microbial efficiency decline may mitigate climate warming effects.
Growing energy crops like warm season grasses and short-rotation woody crops can promote long-term carbon sequestration and provide biofuel feedstock. Removing crop residues from fields, however, can lead to soil erosion, water pollution, and reduced nutrient cycling.
Researchers analyzed 439 soil respiration studies and found that the total amount of carbon dioxide flowing from soils has increased by about 1-2 percent per year since 1989. The study suggests that higher temperatures are unlocking old carbon, but more boreal data is needed to reach statistical relevance.
A UCI study found that urban 'green' spaces, including lawns, can emit more greenhouse gases than they absorb through photosynthesis and soil storage. Turfgrass management practices like fertilizer use, mowing, and leaf blowing contribute to significant emissions.
A team of scientists is tracking carbon captured by plants and grasses to develop more efficient ways to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Bioenergy crops could reduce emissions by several million tonnes in the UK over the next decade.
A UCI study found that urban green spaces, particularly lawns, can actually contribute to global warming through greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer production, mowing, and other maintenance practices. The study suggests that these emissions outweigh the carbon sequestration benefits of lawns.
The USGS estimates that the nation's forests and soils could store an additional 3-7 billion metric tons of carbon, equivalent to 2-4 years of US CO2 emissions. This potential is achieved by using agricultural lands for planting forests.
Two Kent State University assistant professors, Christopher Blackwood and Andrea Case, have received $890,000 in National Science Foundation grants to study the environment. Their research projects focus on understanding the importance of fungal communities during leaf decomposition and the factors that regulate the frequency of female...
Pramod Kumar Aggarwal and Carlos Clemente Cerri are the winners of the 2009 TWAS Ernesto Illy Trieste Science Prize, recognized for their groundbreaking research on climate change's impact on agriculture. Their work aims to enhance understanding of climate change's effects on food supplies and develop innovative strategies to mitigate ...
A new study estimates that Arctic lands and oceans are responsible for up to 25 percent of the global net sink of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The Arctic's potential to alter Earth's climate is significant, as current predictions suggest it could be diminished or reversed under global warming, potentially accelerating climate change.
Scientists discovered that early hominid Ardipithecus ramidus took its first steps towards bipedalism in a wooded landscape, not the open savanna. The discovery was made using carbon isotope analysis of soil and teeth, which revealed a diet rich in woodland and forest ecosystem.
Researchers have discovered that three Thai orchids use a wide range of fungi to absorb carbon from the soil instead of producing their own organic carbon. The study highlights the complex relationships between plants and fungi in tropical forests, emphasizing the need for further research on these interactions.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience suggests that scientists' best predictions about global warming may be inaccurate. Researchers analyzed records from the Palaeocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM), a 55-million-year-old period of rapid global warming, and found that climate models can only explain half of the observed heating. ...
Michigan State University scientists combine sustainable forest production with emerging carbon markets to help poorest people grow trees that boost their standards of living and slow climate change. By storing carbon in the soil, farmers can earn money on the global carbon market and use tree products for energy and food.
Researchers found that tundra plant growth may initially keep up with rising CO2, but ultimately can't soak up excess carbon from thawing permafrost. This could lead to a significant increase in atmospheric carbon, highlighting the urgent need to address human-caused emissions.
The $9.16m Carbon Benefits Project aims to encourage sustainable development schemes that generate climate adaptation, mitigation and conservation benefits. The innovative web-based system will measure and model greenhouse gas emissions produced and stored in soil and vegetation.
A Duke University-led study found that converting land to conservation reserves is a cheaper and more efficient way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions than using it for corn-based ethanol production. The researchers suggest that cellulosic ethanol production, which uses switchgrass or other species, may be a better option in the future.
A study found that tillage and nutrient management practices can affect soil carbon storage differently depending on the soil profile. When considering only the top 20 cm of soil, no-till treatments showed higher organic carbon stocks, but this effect was cancelled when accounting for deeper soil layers.
Researchers found that converting Conservation Reserve Program grasslands to bioenergy grain crops does not result in significant loss of sequestered soil organic carbon. No-till farming practices can conserve and even enhance soil carbon sequestration in these areas.