Carbon Sink

Underground and Unseen Carbon Cycle

Science tells us that there are more species and more tonnage of life under ground than living above. Tilling the soil upsets this soil life and exposes it to damaging sunrays and oxidation, which releases large amounts of CO2 to the atmosphere.

In a natural environment, the soil with its massive amount of carbon-based roots and other soil life is rarely exposed and destroyed.

Oxidation which creates CO2 does take place in a natural soil environment, but the timing and rate of the carbon cycle is governed by temperature and moisture to coincide with plant growth so the plants can capture the CO2 and re-process it, instead of letting it escape to the atmosphere.

The stomata (pores) on a plant leaf are mostly on the underside, and Carbon Dioxide is slightly heavier than air, so it (CO2) hovers close to the soil, easily accessible to the plant stomata. As it defuses and moves up, the plants capture it.

The stomata are capable of opening and closing. When there is a concentration of CO2 near the stomata, it quickly gets an ample supply – or you might say a mouth full – it doesn’t need to stay open very long. Plants transpire (lose moisture) through the stomata when they are open, so a more concentrated supply of CO2 near the leaves of plants result in less soil moisture lost.

If proper soil management were taught and practiced worldwide, the CO2 problems, perceived or real, would become less and less. Most of the farmlands worldwide are way below the organic content they should and could be. If we would weigh the excess carbon in the air and what is missing from the soil they would be close to equal.

Research in South Texas by the USDA has shown an increase of soil organic content of one tenth of one percent each year in cropland in a no-till program. In this program all crop residue is left on the soil surface to serve as mulch, which regulates soil temperatures, and traps rain water and protects the soil from the hot sun and drying wind.

Ranchers operating by Holistic Resource Management methods and organic gardeners and farmers that apply compost and mulch also see the organic soil content go up and experience moisture savings.

Building the organic content of all soils, worldwide, would also help solve the real and imminent problem of water shortages. The higher the soil organic content, the easier the annual rains can penetrate the soil. This prevents flooding, brings up the level of the aquifers and keeps the springs and rivers flowing.

In an organically rich soil, water is safe from evaporation. Trapping run off water in lakes is a poor answer to water shortages. In lakes water evaporates away — the amount depends on local environment. In central Texas the evaporation rate is around 55 inches per year.

Seventy-four percent of the Earth is covered with water, but only three percent is fresh and 80 to 90 percent of that fresh water is used for irrigation. Organic matter in the topsoil helps it hold a greater amount of water which can lessens the need for irrigation. Tests have shown up to 70 percent less in some cases.

Organic matter in the soil reduces the need for fertilizers by holding the nutrients in a non-leachable form, making fertilizers less polluting and more efficient. Plants grow healthier with more production, and less need for pesticides.

Recycling all waste could help do this.

Bio-solids and most of the organic waste that is filling up our landfills should be composted to pasteurize and detoxify them, then recycle them back to the land.

Building soil organic content is the answer to big problems mankind faces today. Health problems, air pollution, water pollution, food shortages, water shortages and floods are major problems worldwide.

But, Nature can fix them. No new technology is needed. In a natural environment there is no waste, everything is returned to the soil. Recycling and stop oxidizing the soil with over tillage are simple and viable answers.

Environmental problems, worldwide, can be solved by understanding and working with the carbon cycle on our farms, ranches, gardens and landscapes.

Next >>> Soil and Water Conservation