It is intended to determine the possible maximum loss of natural carbon in the upper soil. In this condition, the carbon should be stable. But researches in Germany showed, the amount of carbon is decreasing on farmland. The highest losses are observed on areas with pure corn production where the soil is exposed to sun, water, and wind.
The loss has in my opinion two main factors: erosion and oxidation.
I'm quite familiar with erosion but I need some input about the chemical component.
What triggers the oxidation of carbon and what soil related catalysts are possible? (UV-light, ions from artificial fertilizers, water, higher temperatures from sun radiation)
Thank you for your collaboration!
Steffen
Article Low-Temperature Oxidation of Carbon
I think the above link will give an insight into it
Hello to answer your question, check out this reading
Steffen Krei, You are right that the losses of soil organic matter is largely a function of soil erosion and the oxidation of soil organic matter.
Our modern agriculture system has about one quarter or less of the original soil organic matter of the natural climax community soil.
Oxidation and erosion are addressed by keeping the soil covered by ley cropping cover cropping and reducing and elimination inversion tillage in particular
Photosynthesis minus the oxidation plus erosion will give a measurement of net gain or lose of soil organic matter.
It is the net effect which will determine if our soil is degrading or if it is being regenerated.
The net effect photosynthesis menus respiration and erosion can be best addressed by working the losses oxidation and erosion.
A mulch will lower soil temperature greatly reducing the respiration of the soil organic and the soil erosion.
When the mulch is used it is also added carbon and nitrogen to the soil rather that directly to the air.
Stabilized organic materials are the best for long term soil improvement such as mature compost and biochar can be very effective especially in acid soils which predominate in at last one third of the world.
Reduced and no tillage, permanent covers, compost and mulch and liming of acid soils are key practices of taking degenerative soil cycle into a regenerative soil cycle.
Soil carbon can be used as a useful indicator and yardstick of the progress or constraint.
When soils have 5% or more soil organic matter they do not experience the conclusive soil health constraints found common to our largely depleted soil conditions.
The regenerative soil management can serve as the bastion of mitigating the effects of global warming but also dealing with fossil fuel acceleration of the over enrichment of the atmospshere in greenhouse gases.
As soil charged with optimized soil organic matter avoids and tolerates drought better, pests diseases and other environmental stress and has more capacity to produce greater food quality and quantity.
Thank you so much for your answer, Paul Reed Hepperly. I appreciate your expertise very much.
In addition, I requested a full text copy of the literature recommended by Joan Nyika and S Kalaiselvan for review.
The answer of Mr. Hepperly gave me fruitful research hints.
We are currently searching for solutions for developing a secure levee vegetation threatened by fluvial floods and storm surge. The upper soil consist mainly of sand, has a lack of organic matter, is low in nutrients, and has a high pH-Value (8-10). The vegetation is exposed to the south, has a 1:3 slope, and is very dry during summer. The erosion might be the main factor for the ongoing degradation of organic matter. However, it seems the regular overflowed surfaces at the lower side of the slope are much more stable than the levee crest, where erosion does not apply.
We achieved the best short-term results with applying a layer of special soil on the slope and a special created seed with 70% grass and 30% wild herbs. The soil is a mixture of in situ milled topsoil, silt, compost, and some artificial nutrients to achieve a balanced C-N-ratio. We observing still a sparse vegetation and an ongoing degradation of carbon at the sun exposed and dry locations. The maintenance crew started to let sheep graze on the levee instead of mowing with machinery. We didn't assessed the results so far.
We assume so far, the oxidation rate of the organic matter in soil is largely a function over the temperature. It's in question if the high pH-Value accelerates the degradation or not. We didn't found evidence so far. It's also thinkable that regular applied potash triggers the oxidation of the carbon.
When we are able to determine the possible oxidation rate of the carbon (cellulose), we can compare this to the overall degradation.
Low-Temperature Oxidation of Carbon
Article Low-Temperature Oxidation of Carbon
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