Articles tagged with Soil Carbon
A Florida Institute of Technology professor has earned a $177,000 grant over three years to investigate the historic carbon balance of Andean vegetation and soils. The researchers will use fossil pollen and charcoal evidence from lake sediments to reconstruct past changes in vegetation and determine fire.
The American Society of Agronomy is presenting several awards to distinguished soil scientists, including the Dokuchaev Basic Soil Science Award and the Liebig Applied Soil Science Award. The winners include Dr. Victor Targulian, Dr. Rattan Lal, and Dr. Herman Mücher, who have made significant contributions to their respective fields.
Scientists have discovered that thawed loess permafrost in Siberia and Alaska contains a large amount of carbon, with approximately 500 Gt of carbon stored. This finding is significant as it suggests that the thawing of this type of permafrost could release substantial amounts of carbon into the atmosphere over the next century.
A six-year study found that higher carbon dioxide levels and limited nitrogen in soils hinder plant growth, potentially leading to reduced ecosystem carbon storage. The research suggests that as atmospheric carbon dioxide increases, soils will struggle to support plant life, exacerbating the issue.
Research challenges previous assessments suggesting large increases in soil carbon with rising CO2 levels. Plants can pump nitrogen into soils, but this process cannot keep up with increasing CO2 unless essential nutrients are added as fertilizers.
A study by Dr. Davidson examines the factors influencing soil carbon decomposition, particularly in arctic and boreal regions, where warming can release massive amounts of stored carbon. The research aims to establish a common framework for understanding these processes and inform climate change mitigation strategies.
Scientists can reproduce terra preta using bio-char, reducing greenhouse gases and increasing crop yields in impoverished regions. This technique also helps reduce environmental pollution by retaining nitrogen and promoting sustained fertility.
A recent decrease in Rocky Mountain snowpack has slowed the release of heat-trapping carbon dioxide gases from forest soils into the atmosphere during the dead of winter. The lack of snow has decreased the winter insulation of the soils, cooling them and slowing the metabolism of microbes that release large amounts of CO2.
The DOE JGI is accepting letters of intent for new CSP projects until January 13, 2006, with a focus on advancing the nation's energy security. The institute will prioritize proposals that translate genomic information into discoveries for developing cleaner domestic energy options.
Researchers found that elevated atmospheric CO2 increases soil carbon by 5.6% over a two to nine year period, with comparable increases in Tennessee deciduous forest and Kansas grassland after five to eight years of experimental exposure to elevated CO2.
Researchers have underestimated the organic carbon stored in high Arctic soils, with new findings suggesting up to 8.7 billion metric tons of carbon in the polar semidesert. The study's results are significant as the Arctic warms and permafrost thaws, releasing more carbon into the atmosphere.
Researchers found that no-till farming can store up to 868 million tons of carbon in soil, which could help meet the US's goal of reducing carbon-dioxide emissions by one-fifth. Climate change affects soil carbon sequestration varying by region, with some areas experiencing increased storage and others reduced.
Researchers discovered that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi play a crucial role in transporting atmospheric carbon to soil. The study found that insects consuming the fungi disrupted this process, highlighting the importance of preserving healthy soil biodiversity and nutrient flow for sustainable agriculture.
Researchers found that Amazonian rivers and wetlands are rapidly releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere, with most recent releases dating back only 5 years. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the storage of carbon in these ecosystems.
A team of researchers has solved a puzzle in climate research by explaining why micro-organisms break down carbon in soils at varying rates. The new theory predicts that an increase in climate temperatures will lead to more rapid carbon dioxide release and accelerated climate change.
A new study by Northeastern University researcher Kevin G. Harrison found that soil carbon levels increased by an average of 14% under elevated CO2 levels. This discovery has the potential to improve global warming forecast models, which have been hindered by slower-than-expected increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide.
A recent study suggests that climate warming in the arctic tundra may cause the release of more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than previously expected. The research, led by Michelle Mack and Edward Schuur, found that increased nitrogen levels accelerated the breakdown of soil organic matter, leading to a net loss of carbon.
Researchers examine land-use practices that increase soil carbon dioxide uptake, such as intensifying cropping and afforestation. Comprehensive economic comparisons are necessary to determine the competitiveness and cost-effectiveness of these methods.
Researchers found that fertilized tundra soils release significantly more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, offsetting any potential storage by plants. The study suggests a greater positive feedback loop to further warming, potentially leading to increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
A study suggests that CO2 fertilization may be transferring enough carbon from the atmosphere to the soil to balance the global carbon budget. Kevin Harrison's research found a CO2 fertilization factor of 1.18 for a white oak ecosystem, which could have significant implications for understanding the impact of climate change.
Restoring carbon in degraded agricultural soils can significantly improve crop yields and global food security, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, soil has a finite capacity for holding carbon, and widespread adoption of recommended management practices may reach its limits within 50 years.
A study published in Nature found that thick marine beds of siderite suggest early high carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. The research suggests that the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was more than 100 times greater than today, causing acidic ocean water and maintaining liquid oceans.
Researchers at K-State and Canada's Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are working together to develop methods for measuring and verifying soil carbon stocks and greenhouse gas emissions. This cooperation aims to improve cropland productivity while reducing atmospheric greenhouse gases.
A team of U.S. and German scientists used carbon-14 dating techniques to determine that most Arctic carbon is young and unlikely to affect the global climate balance. However, they warn that an Arctic warming trend could lead to the release of ancient carbon, enhancing the greenhouse effect and accelerating global warming.
No-till farming reduces carbon emissions by retaining humus in the soil, preventing erosion and promoting healthy crop production. By adopting no-till practices, farmers can sequester up to 300 million tons of soil carbon annually, potentially delaying the need for fossil fuels.
Chemists at PNNL have found that maintaining alkalinity and frequent wetting and drying cycles can increase soil's natural ability to soak up carbon dioxide. This approach could help slow global warming by utilizing the soil's potential reservoir of four times more carbon than the atmosphere.
Researchers at PNNL accelerate soil aging using supercritical fluid, simulating decades of contaminant exposure in just a few hours. The technique enables monitoring of soil-absorption rates and trapping of volatile organic compounds.
Researchers found that conservation tillage increases soil carbon, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This method also produces more food with less land, addressing global food security challenges.
Researchers studying Arctic rivers and ocean find most organic carbon is relatively young, but warming may release older, stored carbon into the atmosphere. This could lead to a positive feedback loop, enhancing greenhouse effects and accelerating global warming.
Research by Richard Norby and colleagues at ORNL found that young trees and green plants respond favorably to elevated CO2 levels, with a 24% increase in net primary productivity. However, the long-term effect of carbon dioxide fertilization on mature trees and soil sequestration is still debated.
Research at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Montana observes earlier spring thawing trends across northern high latitudes. This regional change may promote more carbon uptake by vegetation than release into the atmosphere, potentially affecting Earth's climate.
A study by Argonne National Laboratory and Duke University found that the roots of loblolly pine trees can last up to 4.2 years, controlling CO2 absorption in soils. In contrast, sweetgum trees have shorter root lifetimes, leading to faster carbon transfer.
Researchers found that ozone reduces soil carbon formation, a key process for storing organic matter. The study suggests forests may be less effective at cleaning the air of excess carbon dioxide when ozone levels are high.
Researchers found that elevated ozone levels can reduce soil carbon formation, which is essential for forest health and climate regulation. The study's findings suggest that high ozone levels may hinder forests' ability to absorb excess carbon dioxide, threatening global efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
The study found that 31 soils are effectively extinct due to agricultural and land use, while six states have more than half of their rare soil series in an endangered state. The researchers argue for preserving rare and unique soils, which support rare plants and animals.
Researchers found tundra soils unexpectedly responsive to increased nitrogen, impacting carbon storage and potentially affecting atmospheric CO2 levels. The study highlights the potential risks of rising nitrogen levels worldwide, particularly in warmer regions.
A three-year study found that changes to soil communities had no effect on the yield of plant life above ground or the amount of carbon stored in the soil. The researchers suggest that positive and negative effects of fauna in the soil cancel each other out, leading to no net ecosystem effects.
Research at six experimental field sites found that trees and shrubs invading grasslands in wet environments can lead to significant losses of soil organic carbon, offsetting the carbon stored in growing wood. This challenges previous estimates suggesting that woody encroachment could balance emissions.
Purdue researchers are working on a $1 million project to control carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by using U.S. farmland. The goal is to trap plant residue carbon in soil and reduce the country's annual contribution to carbon dioxide, which could offset up to 20% of projected emissions.
The Kansas State University-led consortium aims to develop carbon sequestration strategies for U.S. agriculture, reducing greenhouse gas accumulation. The project will provide tools and information for farmers to implement soil carbon sequestration programs, improving the nation's farmlands and agricultural economy.
INEEL researchers successfully cleaned over 69% of plutonium and americium from spiked, local soil using supercritical fluid extraction with carbon dioxide. The method is nondestructive, environmentally friendly, and suitable for cleaning up plutonium-contaminated soil at DOE sites.
Grasslands have been found to sequester carbon under elevated CO2 conditions, with soil microbes playing a critical role in the process. This finding has important implications for understanding how ecosystems can mitigate climate change.
Researchers suggest adopting conservation tillage, cover crops, and grazing management to reduce erosion and capture carbon in agricultural lands. By implementing these practices, farmers can create a net-positive carbon balance and help mitigate global warming.
Researchers found ancient soil in South Africa with organic carbon dating back 2.6-2.7 billion years, indicating microbial mats developed on land during rainy seasons. The findings suggest the development of terrestrial biomass more than 1.4 billion years earlier than previously reported.
Researchers analyzed 176 species of modern-day plants to determine the sources of carbon in the atmosphere hundreds of millions of years ago. However, their results suggest that fossil plants may not provide a direct link between ancient carbon levels and climate change.
A four-decade study of a Southeastern forest found that while trees take up substantial amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the accumulation in soils is relatively slow. The researchers used radioactive Carbon-14 as a tracer to estimate carbon sequestration and found that only a small percentage of carbon was retained in topsoil, wi...
Scientists from Canadian Forest Services found that Canada's forests have shifted from a carbon sink to a source, primarily due to changes in disturbance regimes related to climate change. Strict carbon accounting is necessary to determine whether boreal forests can mitigate atmospheric carbon dioxide.
A conference of 800 environmental scientists explores whether terrestrial ecosystems can slow down climate change by absorbing CO2. Recent technological developments, such as Free Air CO2 Enrichment technology, improve our ability to study carbon storage at the ecosystem level.
Recent experiments on Alaska's North Slope show that the arctic tundra is now releasing more carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere than it absorbs. This could exacerbate global warming due to the release of stored carbon from thawing permafrost.