Global estimates of soil carbon sequestration via livestock waste: a STELLA simulation |
| |
Authors: | Jason B Fellman Eldon H Franz Chelsea L Crenshaw Denise Elston |
| |
Institution: | (1) Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA;(2) Environmental Science and Regional Planning Program, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA;(3) Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA;(4) Water Resource Management and Policy Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA |
| |
Abstract: | It has become increasingly well documented that human activities are enhancing the greenhouse effect and altering the global
climate. Identifying strategies to mitigate atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions on the national level are therefore critical.
Fossil fuel combustion is primarily responsible for the perturbation of the global carbon cycle, although the influence of
humans extends far beyond the combustion of fossil fuels. Changes in land use arising from human activities contribute substantially
to atmospheric carbon dioxide; however, land use changes can act as a carbon dioxide sink as well. A soil carbon model was
built using STELLA to explore how soil organic carbon sequestration (SOC) varies over a range of values for key parameters
and to estimate the amount of global soil carbon sequestration from livestock waste. To obtain soil carbon sequestration estimates,
model simulations occurred for 11 different livestock types and with data for eight regions around the world. The model predicted
that between 1980 and 1995, United States soils were responsible for the sequestration of 444–602 Tg C from livestock waste.
Model simulations further predicted that during the same period, global soil carbon sequestration from livestock waste was
2,810–4,218 Tg C. Our estimates for global SOC sequestration are modest in proportion to other terrestrial carbon sinks (i.e.
forest regrowth); however, livestock waste does represent a potential for long-term soil carbon gain. SOC generated from livestock
waste is another example of how human activities and land use changes are altering soil processes around the world.
Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue. |
| |
Keywords: | Carbon sink Climate change Global carbon cycle Livestock manure Soil carbon sequestration Soil organic carbon |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|