Abstract
Soils contain far more carbon than vegetation or the atmosphere, and the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and hence the climate are sensitive to any changes in soil carbon. The amount of soil carbon is itself sensitive to the way the land is managed, and there is evidence that soils across England and elsewhere have been losing carbon as a result of past changes in land management. This project is concerned with measures to redress this problem and potentially to increase carbon storage in English soils. Four sub-projects are addressed within the project which concentrates on knowledge gaps relating to soil carbon and how it may change with management practices and climatic factors. The sub-projects have the following overall objectives: Objective i: To (a) develop a flexible methodology to quantify changes in soil carbon from soil protection measures, appropriate for conditions across England; and (b) quantify potential changes in soil carbon as a result of the application of soil protection measures within SPR2010 and associated guidance. Objective ii: To assess the response of organo-mineral soils to changes in management practices. Objective iii: To evaluate the current status and dynamics of carbon below 15 cm in soils (the subsoil) in England and Wales by reviewing the best-available evidence and by sensible extrapolation. Objective iv: To explore the methodologies for accurate routine determination of soil carbon. The overall project will be co-ordinated by SKM Enviros. The detailed studies will be carried out by leading scientists from Rothamsted Research/North Wyke, Cranfield University, ADAS Consulting Ltd, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the British Geological Survey and SKM Enviros. A report will be written for each sub-project with an overall executive summary and main report encompassing all of the findings. The benefits arising from this work will be a greater understanding of the potential effects of future changes in our climate and land management practices on soil carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. Soil carbon underlying the topsoil and its interactions with the surface horizon will be explored to improve carbon storage and sampling and laboratory determination of soil carbon will be standardised for soil monitoring schemes in the future.
United Kingdom