Role of organic soils in the world carbon cycle: problem definition and research needs
- ed.
The following goals were addressed in the workshop: review and analysis of available data on carbon in organic soils from the past century to the present; assessment of the probable flux of carbon to and from organic soils in the near future; identification of major data inadequacies which preclude reliable analysis of the principal processes influencing carbon flux in organic soils; and proposal of research initiatives which could improve understanding of organic deposits in relation to the carbon cycle within a time frame of two to four years. The major finding of the workshop is that the organic soils are important in the overall carbon budget. Histosols and gleysols, the major organic soil deposits of the world, normally sequester organic carbon fixed by plants. They may now be releasing enough carbon to account for nearly 10% of the annual rise in atmospheric content of CO/sub 2/. Current annual release of carbon from organic soils is estimated to fall within the range of 0.03 to 0.37 x 10/sup 9/ t, a release equivalent to 1.3% to 16% of the annual increase of carbon in the atmosphere. Present annual releases of carbon from the Everglades Agricultural Area in Florida and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley in California are estimated at 0.017 x 10/sup 9/ tons. Annual sequestering of carbon by undrained organic soils has been estimated at about 0.045 x 10/sup 9/ tons. Several strategies for peatland management are available, including creation, preservation, functional designation, and use of wetlands for agriculture and energy supply.
- Research Organization:
- Institute of Ecology, Indianapolis, IN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-79EV10040
- OSTI ID:
- 5337473
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/EV/10040-2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CARBON CYCLE
GLOBAL ASPECTS
SOILS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CALIFORNIA
CARBON DIOXIDE
DATA COMPILATION
DRAINAGE
FLORIDA
GRAPHS
MARSHES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORIGIN
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
TABLES
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA
DATA FORMS
ECOSYSTEMS
INFORMATION
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SOUTHEAST REGION
USA
WESTERN REGION
510100* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (-1989)
500100 - Environment
Atmospheric- Basic Studies- (-1989)