Root engineering for self-irrigation that exploits soil depth dimension for carbon sequestration.

Technical Report · Tue Jul 16 04:00:00 EDT 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/964000· OSTI ID:964000

Gatliff, E G; Negri, M C

A comprehensive carbon management program to sequester excess CO{sub 2} includes the maximization of the carbon sink potential of the terrestrial ecosystem. The establishment of sustainable vegetation on semi-arid or damaged land is necessary to increase the carbon inventory in the terrestrial ecosystem, as it is increasing the depth of the soil carbon sink. The availability of water for sustained growth at acceptable costs, when or where precipitation is too scarce or unpredictable, may, however, significantly affect the cost and sustainability of the revegetation efforts. We tested an innovative technology that enables the establishment of 'plantations' that are independent of erratic water supplies or irrigation by developing deep root systems that tap into deeper groundwater. Applied Natural Sciences (ANS) patented technologies (TreeMediation{reg_sign} and TreeWell{reg_sign} systems) overcome soil conditions unfavorable to deep rooting and 'engineer' the growth of phreatophytic tree roots into soil to reliably reach the groundwater. Carbon sinks can then be increased by increasing rooting depths and especially by enabling vegetative growth altogether. We collected soil cores from three phytoremediation sites where these technologies have been previously deployed. From these, we developed detailed information on root density and soil conditions at increasing depths to estimate C gains. The largest C gains were found when these technologies are used to control desertification. In these cases, significant gross C gains (at least between 4 and 6 tons/ha per year) can be envisioned. Other indirect benefits include resource recycling, pollution prevention, remediation, creating agricultural diversity and innovation in fruit and other tree crop and hardwood management.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Applied Natural Sciences, Inc., Hamilton, OH
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-01ER83146
• OSTI ID: 964000
• Report Number(s): ANL/ES/RP-43758; C0102801
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CARBON
CARBON SEQUESTRATION
CARBON SINKS
CROPS
DIMENSIONS
IRRIGATION
MANAGEMENT
PLANTS
POLLUTION
PRECIPITATION
RECYCLING
REVEGETATION
SOILS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TREES