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Title: Role of organic soils in the world carbon cycle: problem definition and research needs

Abstract

Findings and recommendations of the workshop on organic soils are summarized. The major finding of the workshop is that 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. If half of the released carbon remains airborne, organic soils contribute 0.6% to 8.0% of the annual rise in CO/sub 2/. Uncertainties in data suggest the actual release could lie outside the range. 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. When combined with additional carbon release from other known drainage programs and the possibility of major drainage activity in the tropics, this figure suggests that the lower limit of the world estimate ofmore » carbon release from organic soils is too low. Annual sequestering of carbon by undrained organic soils has been estimated at about 0.045 x 10/sup 9/ tons. This estimate is based on only a few studies, however, and precision is probably no better than an order of magnitude. Several strategies for peatland management are available, including creation, preservation, functional designation, and use of wetlands for agriculture and energy supply.« less

Authors:
 [1]
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  1. (ed.)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Institute of Ecology, Indianapolis, IN (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
5735654
Report Number(s):
DOE/ET/10040-1(Summ.)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-79EV10040
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CARBON CYCLE; MEETINGS; CARBON DIOXIDE; POLLUTION SOURCES; SOILS; AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS; EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK; MARSHES; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; RECOMMENDATIONS; RESEARCH PROGRAMS; SINKS; SWAMPS; TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS; VALLEYS; CARBON COMPOUNDS; CARBON OXIDES; CHALCOGENIDES; ECOSYSTEMS; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PUBLIC LANDS; 510100* - Environment, Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (-1989); 500200 - Environment, Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989); 500100 - Environment, Atmospheric- Basic Studies- (-1989)

Citation Formats

Armentano, T.V. Role of organic soils in the world carbon cycle: problem definition and research needs. United States: N. p., 1979. Web. doi:10.2172/5735654.
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Armentano, T.V. Role of organic soils in the world carbon cycle: problem definition and research needs. United States. doi:10.2172/5735654.
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Armentano, T.V. Mon . "Role of organic soils in the world carbon cycle: problem definition and research needs". United States. doi:10.2172/5735654. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5735654.
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@article{osti_5735654,
title = {Role of organic soils in the world carbon cycle: problem definition and research needs},
author = {Armentano, T.V.},
abstractNote = {Findings and recommendations of the workshop on organic soils are summarized. The major finding of the workshop is that 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. If half of the released carbon remains airborne, organic soils contribute 0.6% to 8.0% of the annual rise in CO/sub 2/. Uncertainties in data suggest the actual release could lie outside the range. 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. When combined with additional carbon release from other known drainage programs and the possibility of major drainage activity in the tropics, this figure suggests that the lower limit of the world estimate of carbon release from organic soils is too low. Annual sequestering of carbon by undrained organic soils has been estimated at about 0.045 x 10/sup 9/ tons. This estimate is based on only a few studies, however, and precision is probably no better than an order of magnitude. Several strategies for peatland management are available, including creation, preservation, functional designation, and use of wetlands for agriculture and energy supply.},
doi = {10.2172/5735654},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979}
}
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DOI:  10.2172/5735654
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  • 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 aremore » 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.« less

  • ;
    The proceedings of a workshop on carbon uptake and losses from temperate zone forests are presented. The goals of the workshop were to analyze existing data on growth and utilization of the temperate zone forest carbon pool and to identify further research needs in relation to the role of temperate forests in the global carbon cycle. Total standing stock and growth recovery transients were examined for most of the temperate region over a period from pre-settlement times to the present, with emphasis on the last three decades. Because of data availability, certain regions and topics were covered more in detailmore » than others. Forest inventory data from most of the commercial timberlands of the north temperate zone suggest these forests have functioned over the past several decades as an annual sink for about 10/sup 9/ metric tons of carbon. Thus, net growth of these forests has withdrawn carbon from the atmosphere at a rate equivalent, approximately, to 50% of the annual rise in atmospheric carbon. Various data inadequacies make this estimate probably no more precise than plus or minus half of the value. Analysis of growth and vegetation changes in New England and the southeastern United States shows that forest biomass has partly recovered since extensive clearing took place in the 18th and 19th centuries. This regrowth represents a net withdrawal of carbon (carbon sink) from the atmosphere in recent decades, although the difference in pool size between present and original forests means that, in the longer term, the two regions have functioned as carbon sources.« less

  • ;
    The proceedings of a workshop on carbon uptake and losses from temperate zone forests are reported. Total standing stock and growth recovery transients were examined for most of the temperate region over a period from pre-settlement times to the present, with emphasis on the last three decades. Because of data availability, certain regions and topics were covered more in detail than others. The forest inventory data reviewed here suggests the temperate zone forests could have functioned for the past several decades as a net sink for 10/sup 9/ tons of carbon annually. This is nearly one-half of the total annualmore » rise in carbon concentration of the atmosphere. However, due to the limited data on non-commercial timberlands, nonmerchantable tree components, and soil organic matter changes, the precision of this estimate of temperate zone C retention may be only within one-quarter to one-half of the true value. Despite this limitation, the available data suggests strongly that temperate zone forests probably are not a source of carbon as implied by the 2.2 x 10/sup 9/ tons annual release postulated by Woodwell et al (1978). The principal areas for which new information would reduce uncertainties in estimates of carbon uptake and losses from temperate zone forests are discussed, and recommendations are made for a series of research initiatives to increase resolution of the problem areas. (JGB)« less

  • In May 1979, The Institute of Ecology held a workshop to determine the role of organic soils in the global carbon cycle and to ascertain their past, present and future significance in world carbon flux. Wetlands ecologists and soil scientists who participated in the workshop examined such topics as Soils as Sources of Atmospheric CO/sub 2/, Organic Soils, Primary Production and Growth of Wetlands Ecosystems, and Management of Peatlands. 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 sequestermore » 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/.« less

  • ;
    The continuing rise in the CO/sub 2/ content of the atmosphere has produced concern that in the next half-century, climatic, ecological and societal effects may occur throughout the world which will not easily be reversed. This prospect has encouraged a critical assessment of the many elements of the global carbon cycle and the influence of man on it. The role of the terrestrial biosphere has been underscored by recent evidence that reduction of the world's biota may be adding as much or more carbon to the atmosphere as combustion of fossil fuels. The diversity of world ecosystems, and the lackmore » of data on carbon content in many of them, have led to different interpretations of how much the terrestrial biosphere contributes to carbon accumulation in the atmosphere. A detailed review is needed of the principal elements of biospheric influence on the carbon cycle, of where the accumulating atmospheric carbon is originating, and of the options there may be to control it. The Office of Carbon Dioxide Effects Research and Assessment of the US Department of Energy has funded The Institute of Ecology to evaluate three terrestrial biospheric components which may be important in the world carbon cycle. These components are: the temperate zone forest, particularly over the past 100 years; organic soils of the world; and freshwater systems subject to eutrophication. From 10 to 12 researchers have participated in each panel. Data review, problem definition and recommendations for research have been the focus in each workshop. The results reported here cover the temperate forest component.« less