‘This is the first direct evidence’
As the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has steadily increased in recent years, the need to capture and store carbon has become more vital than ever.
while there is natural ways to do this through forests and other areas and through technological means, e.g. Post-combustion CO2 collection and storageThe more diverse the methods, the better off the planet will be.
Interestingly, Canadian Light Source Researchers from Kansas State University reported in 2024 studied the ways various farming methods affect how much carbon is stored in the soil; It turns out that using organic fertilizer not only increases the amount of carbon stored but also improves soil health.
Trying to understand the mechanisms behind carbon storage in soil and how different farm management practices affect this storage, the research team took soil from a corn field that had been farmed uncultivated and with various fertilizers for the last 22 years. He examined the land Advanced Light Source in Berkeley, California and Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan.
The use of ultra-bright synchrotron light in these research facilities allowed the team to see exactly how soil stores carbon. While some of the carbon he found was preserved in pores, some was bound to minerals in the soil.
Additionally, researchers learned that soil treated with organic fertilizer had more microbial carbon; This is a strong indication that this carbon supports microorganisms more. The team also discovered specific minerals in soil samples treated with organic fertilizer, indicating that these treatments contribute to active biological and chemical processes.
“To my knowledge, this is the first direct evidence of the mechanisms by which organic amendments improve soil health, microbial diversity, and carbon sequestration,” said Ganga Hettiarachchi, professor of soil and environmental chemistry at K-State. explained.
This research is good news for farmers and their communities because it shows that farmers can reduce the amount of pollution they create by switching away from chemical fertilizers, which will reduce health risks for those living nearby. Additionally, this can encourage the agricultural industry to prioritize organic fertilizer, contributing to the overall goal of reducing pollution and cleaning up food growing practices.
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