Effects Of Soil Carbon Sequestration ( Scs )

Soil respiration is a process which results in the production of carbon dioxide and can be affected by several factors including plant litter and temperature (Biology 208 Lab Manual 2017). With increasing temperatures, the amount of carbon dioxide released during soil respiration will increase (Schlesinger and Andrews 1999). The presence of plant litter in the soil results in increased soil respiration, and results in increased rates of carbon dioxide production (Xiao et al. 2014). This experiment is looking at the effects of temperature and type of plant litter on the rate of soil respiration. For the abiotic factor, we hypothesize that increasing the temperature will positively affect soil respiration rate as it will increase the rate of metabolism of the microorganisms. Soil placed in 30°C chamber will produce more carbon dioxide than the soil placed in the 15°C chamber. For the biotic factor, decreasing the carbon:nitrogen ratio in plant litter will positively affect soil respiration rate by speeding up the rate of decomposition of the plant litter. Therefore, soil with grass will decompose faster and have higher carbon dioxide production than soil with pine needle litter. The interaction between temperature and type of plant litter indicates that soil with grass litter and in a 30°C chamber will have the highest carbon dioxide production.

“Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations have increased by approximately 40% since the start of the Industrial Revolution” (Wilmers et al. 2012). This increase in atmospheric CO₂ is a leading cause and contributor to Earth’s climate change with effects such as: “measurable global heat retention and elevated atmospheric temperatures, partial melting of the polar ice caps, ocean acidification, and a host of other impacts on Earth’s environments” (Wilmers et al. 2012). Earth’s ecosystems are combating this climate change by helping reduce the concentration of CO₂ and “sequestering C” (Carbon) in the atmosphere through “photosynthesis” (Wilmers et al. 2012). “Kelp forests are among

Glomalin is a type of protein that works as a natural glue preventing soil from washing away. The producer of this protein is a type of fungi, which is torn by tillage during plowing. However, research shows that farming without tillage (silvopastoral systems for example) has the opposite effect because it leads to an increase of fungi and glomalin. The fungi carries minerals to the plants in exchange for carbon, which the plant takes from the atmosphere; therefore grazing areas such as rangelands and pasture lands can play an important part in restoring lost carbon soil (Niman, 28-30). Grass is also capable of producing soil carbon. According to the UK Soil Association, “Grass has high root densities, fine root hairs, and high mycorrhizal fungal levels, all of which increase soil aggregation. Animal manures and compost also promote soil carbon, again reinforcing how including animals in farming benefit carbon sequestration” (qtd. in Niman, 31). Niman concludes that while converting grassland to croplands does cause carbon losses, converting cropland into grass results in carbon gains (Niman, 32). In a study by the University of Maryland, field tests on 6 different continents consistently showed that the areas with grazing animals had a greater plant diversity than those without animals. These scientists argue that “the absence of animals rather

What is the relationship between increased carbon in the ocean and increased carbon in the soil? Soil started off with a higher level of carbon increasing, but the ocean’s level of

When assembling all roles of soil, one is able to see that soil plays a vital part of the natural environment. It is just as important as plants, and animals. It influences the distribution of plant species and provides a habitat for a wide range of organisms.

For the thermonuclear reaction involving carbon that powers some stars, see CNO cycle. For organic chemical ring-shaped structures, see cyclic compounds. This diagram of the fast carbon cycle shows the movement of carbon between land, atmosphere, and oceans in billions of tons per year. Yellow numbers are natural fluxes, red are human contributions, white indicate stored carbon. Note this diagram does not account for volcanic and tectonic activity, which also sequesters and releases carbon. The carbon cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth. Carbon is the main component of biological compounds as well as a major component of many minerals such as limestone. Along with the nitrogen cycle and the water cycle, the carbon cycle comprises a sequence of events that are key to make Earth capable of sustaining life. It describes the movement of carbon as it is recycled and reused throughout the biosphere, as well as long-term processes of carbon sequestration to and release from carbon sinks

Central America is one of the regions most exposed to climate change. A narrow isthmus between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea has especially been affected by droughts, hurricanes and the El Niño-southern oscillation (ENSO) phenomena within the last century. Soil is the largest terrestrial organic carbon pool and can act as a source or sink for atmospheric CO2. Although reliable soil carbon (SOC) stock measurements of major ecosystems are essential for predicting the influence of advancing climate change, comprehensive data on SOC stocks is still scarce for most ecosystems in subtropical areas. Much of the regional economy is based on agriculture, especially in diverse farming systems of smallholders over the last century (Imbach

“On the global basis, the soil degradation is caused by over grazing (35%), agriculture activities (28%), deforestation (30%), over exploitation of land to produce fuel wood (4%), and industrialization (4%).” 100% of what causes soil degradation is caused by humans and animals. 35% of the blame goes to the animals for over grazing, but the other 65% of the blame goes to the humans for agriculture activities and chopping down trees. Another example is, David Pimentel also states, “The bottom line on soil production is that it takes (on average) about 100 years to generate a millimeter of soil. This is about a human lifetime.” Although it is stated that animals contribute to land degradation, it’s only a small portion (35%). The main reason for loss of arable land is human development. Forests are cut down for farming space, fuel wood, or space to build some kind of industry. When land is being used and used, and no one manages it, it can become deplete; which means, the land is dried out and unable to grow vegetation. Soil production takes a long time, on average, it takes 100 years. 100 years is too long to wait for new soil to plant food.

The release of carbon, however, was released in four phases. First, there was a large release of carbon over the initial 10 years, then it slowed down the next seven years, after the seven years, the emissions resumed, until stopping again recently. The author ends the article hinting that some sort of feedback loop is happening that favors certain organisms that consume carbon in the soil.

While watching the video-presentation of Tony Avants’ speech on soils, I came to realize the importance of not only the quality of soil that one begins with, but also the quality of products used to enhance it. He states that there is a common gardening myth that plants do not recognize the difference between chemical and organic fertilizers. While that may be true for plants, the microbes in the soil know the difference and have a preference. They prefer the fertilizers made by nature. It would be easy to add chemicals to increase the Carbon these microbes feed off, but it would be much more cost effective, and better for the environment to use a Carbon-rich compost to fertilize one’s soil.

About 45% of this carbon dioxide has remained in the atmosphere, while about 30% has been taken up by the oceans and the remainder has been taken up by the trees and plants.

Co2 also has many beneficial attributes to our environment. Carbon Dioxide is one of the most important gases for our plants “some scientists have argued that, until quite recently, many plants were starving for CO2” (Mathews Jr, NPA). And saving the plants is crucial. Not only to help regulate our environment but also because we live off these plants. They are our food; they clean our air. Bigger, healthier plants are grown with the help of Co2 “Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide doesn't just make a plant bigger. Carbon dioxide also makes plants more resistant to extreme weather conditions.”

The increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide is caused by anthropogenic impacts such as land usage and the burning of fossil fuels. The utilization of fossil fuels has exponentially risen after the Industrial Revolution. Therefore, the emissions of carbon dioxide have followed that trend as well since it is an emission from coal, oil, and gas. Using land for construction sites and industrialized farming leads to the deforestation of trees. Trees are primary carbon sinks for

Since the Industrial Revolution there has been a steady increase in the production of carbon dioxide, and an increase in global population. Some of the carbon dioxide is absorbed by trees and plants or dissolved into the oceans; these are known as carbon sinks. Unfortunately, human activities have been producing carbon dioxide faster than it can be absorbed naturally, while widespread forest clearance has reduced the carbon sinks. Scientists have been measuring the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere for about 40 years, over which time the concentration has risen by about 15%.

All the carbon released into our atmosphere contributes to the rise of greenhouse gases. The carbon from costal ecosystems is referred to as Blue Carbon. Most of the carbon on Earth is cycled through the ocean and coastal areas. These wet environments help to contain carbon and slow the increase of green house gasses in our atmosphere.