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https://theconversation.com/soil-is-our-best-ally-in-the-fight-against-climate-change-but-were-fast-running-out-of-it-128166>
"Global soil resources contain more organic carbon than the world’s
atmosphere and all of its plants combined. When plants photosynthesise,
they take carbon out of the atmosphere and when they die, that carbon is
returned to the soil.
Storing more carbon in the soil helps to remove carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere. But it also helps release nutrients for plant growth and
improves the structure of the soil, enhancing how well it retains water.
Maintaining these soil ecosystem services will become more important
over the next few decades. By 2050, the global population is estimated
to soar to more than 9 billion, and that will mean a much greater demand
on the world’s soil. In business, when demand for a product grows, you
increase its production. But for soil, it’s a different story.
Soil is largely made at the bedrock deep below the Earth’s surface, and
it is a slow process. Across the world, soil erosion, which is
accelerated by some agricultural activities, is exceeding the rates at
which new soils can form. As a soil thins, its productivity wanes. Less
soil means a lower capacity to store nutrients, water and carbon. The
long-term ability for soils to slow climate change and feed the world is
under threat."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://www.xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
http://www.glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
http://www.sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
