Soil carbon’s role; CO2 emission & flood alleviation.

Soil carbon’s role; CO2 emission & flood alleviation.

Peter Smith of Aberdeen University has found that we can reduce CO2 emissions by 30% if we add more carbon to the soil. What is soil carbon?
Dr Julia Cooper of UEA describes carbon sugars; readily available to plants in the soil, as well as soil fauna and flora, flesh, plant residues, fresh manure, all forms readily absorbed by growing plants. Then there is mature plant residue carbon, well composted manure and peat; this is more stable. Finally there is biochar, black carbon, eg charcoal. This can take thousands of years to be taken up by living plants. So, each type of carbon varies in its ability to be taken up, the rate at which plants can absorb it and in its stability.

Why should we care about soil carbon?
How is it important in climate change and slowing global warming?
Despite tendency of soils to reach equilibrium of carbon levels, there is still ample room for many soils to accept and store more carbon. Soils that have been well managed for years tend to have higher levels of carbon stored in them, but there is room for improvement, especially on other less well managed soils, or soils that have been regularly cropped as arable, and not put down to ley grassland or protected by management as woodland. More carbon stored means less CO2 released into the atmosphere- thus slowing global warming.

Not only will increasing the carbon stores in the soil be good in reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, it is also proven that increased organic matter in the soil replenishes the nutrient balance and restores soil structure.

Why is this improving soil structure important?

Improving carbon levels and improving the structure of the soil creates a stable equilibrium in soils, with less soil erosion, less runoff and thus less flooding – soil carbon and organic matter acts like a sponge, soaking up water and retaining the nutrients in the soil. This combats flooding, as increased organic matter types of soil carbon slows water runoff rates, increases soil ground water infiltration as well as slowing global warming.

If we add organic matter to the soil, we can greatly increase the general health of the soil, one effect is encouragement of mycorrhizal fungi. These fungi increase plants’ nutrient uptake (especially of phosphorus). This helps to protect the plant from pathogens and also encourages healthy growth, with increased yields.

So, what kinds of carbon can we add to the soil? Adding a full diversity of different kinds of carbon to the soil is important. Slowly available carbon such as mature plant residues in the form of recycled, well composted Greenwaste, plus also adding some of the more stable forms of black carbon or biochar, will improve soil structure, plus soil and plant health.

Overall ecosystem health-Adding recycled Greenwaste to soil as an improver and a mulch, minimises the amount of greenwaste going into landfill, as well as having the potential of slowing global warming by reducing CO2 emisssions by 30%. Research shows that adding soil organic matter prevents and minimises the effects of soil erosion and flooding. We have a responsibility to safeguard and improve the soils of the world for our children and their children, so that they will be in a better position to tackle effects of climate change. At Landvision, we will continue our long standing practice of use of recycled Greenwaste as a mulch and soil improver on all landscape schemes; improving soil structure and plant health whilst lessening CO2 emissions & the effects of flooding.