Title: Soil carbon CO<sub>2</sub> fertilization factor: The measure of an ecosystem's capacity to increase soil carbon storage in response to elevated CO<sub>2</sub> levels
Abstract:This research introduces the concept of a “CO 2 fertilization factor for soil carbon” (σ CF ). The σ CF is a measure of an ecosystem's capacity to increase soil carbon storage in response to elevated ...This research introduces the concept of a “CO 2 fertilization factor for soil carbon” (σ CF ). The σ CF is a measure of an ecosystem's capacity to increase soil carbon storage in response to elevated carbon dioxide levels. This paper describes the mathematical derivation of σ CF and illustrates how σ CF can be determined experimentally, using data from a white oak study. I have developed this concept to compare the results of carbon dioxide enrichment experiments having different soil carbon turnover times, different levels of CO 2 enrichment, and different lengths of exposure to elevated carbon dioxide levels. The σ CF can also be used to estimate increases in soil carbon uptake due to observed contemporary increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Although the approach used here may seem oversimplified, I present it as a simple way of estimating the extent to which elevated levels of CO 2 could increase soil carbon storage. I have determined a σ CF of 1.18 for a white oak ecosystem using soil carbon and radiocarbon measurements. If major terrestrial ecosystems have similar σ CF values, CO 2 fertilization may be transferring enough carbon from the atmosphere to soil to balance the global carbon budget.Read More
Publication Year: 2004
Publication Date: 2004-05-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 4
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