{"id":6233,"date":"2022-02-22T19:00:32","date_gmt":"2022-02-22T18:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/?p=111042"},"modified":"2022-02-22T19:19:22","modified_gmt":"2022-02-22T18:19:22","slug":"how-does-soil-store-carbon","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/how-does-soil-store-carbon\/","title":{"rendered":"How does soil store carbon?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Luis Villazon\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 22 February 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Soil locks up carbon but since the invention of agriculture 12,000 years ago, the conversion of natural ecosystems like grassland and forests has released 110 billion tonnes of carbon from the topsoil into the air. Now scientists are looking at different land management techniques that could reverse this process and use the soil as a long-term carbon sink.<\/p>\n

1. Productive soil<\/h3>\n
Only about 42 per cent of the carbon in a forest is contained in the plant matter above the ground. The rest is made up of the roots, soil organisms and partially decomposed matter in the soil.<\/p>\n

2. Setting down roots<\/h3>\n
Plant roots grow into deeper layers of soil. When the plant dies, the carbon in the roots is left there \u2013 often out of reach of most of the soil microorganisms that would break down the organic matter.<\/p>\n

3. Trapped carbon<\/h3>\n
Highly decomposed carbon forms particles small enough to chemically bond to the clay in soils, which can stay trapped below ground for hundreds or thousands of years.<\/p>\n

4. Going deeper<\/h3>\n
Some carbon compounds are water-soluble, and rainwater steadily moves them downwards to even deeper rock strata. High organic content in the soil increases water retention, which not only helps to drive this process but makes the land more resistant to droughts.<\/p>\n

1. Productive soil<\/h3>\nOnly about 42 per cent of the carbon in a forest is contained in the plant matter above the ground. The rest is made up of the roots, soil organisms and partially decomposed matter in the soil.<\/p>\n

2. Setting down roots<\/h3>\nPlant roots grow into deeper layers of soil. When the plant dies, the carbon in the roots is left there \u2013 often out of reach of most of the soil microorganisms that would break down the organic matter.<\/p>\n

3. Trapped carbon<\/h3>\nHighly decomposed carbon forms particles small enough to chemically bond to the clay in soils, which can stay trapped below ground for hundreds or thousands of years.<\/p>\n

4. Going deeper<\/h3>\nSome carbon compounds are water-soluble, and rainwater steadily moves them downwards to even deeper rock strata. High organic content in the soil increases water retention, which not only helps to drive this process but makes the land more resistant to droughts.<\/p>\n

1. Productive soil<\/h3>\n
Only about 42 per cent of the carbon in a forest is contained in the plant matter above the ground. The rest is made up of the roots, soil organisms and partially decomposed matter in the soil.<\/p>\n

2. Setting down roots<\/h3>\n
Plant roots grow into deeper layers of soil. When the plant dies, the carbon in the roots is left there \u2013 often out of reach of most of the soil microorganisms that would break down the organic matter.<\/p>\n

3. Trapped carbon<\/h3>\n
Highly decomposed carbon forms particles small enough to chemically bond to the clay in soils, which can stay trapped below ground for hundreds or thousands of years.<\/p>\n

4. Going deeper<\/h3>\n
Some carbon compounds are water-soluble, and rainwater steadily moves them downwards to even deeper rock strata. High organic content in the soil increases water retention, which not only helps to drive this process but makes the land more resistant to droughts.<\/p>\n