Chemistry and bioavailability of organic matter adsorbed on soil mineral surfaces

Evidence of anthropogenic climate change has become increasingly stronger and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has called for strong, global action to reduce the risk of human-induced climate change. Agricultural practices adopted since the mid-twentieth century have progressively diminished soil quality through the reduction of soil organic matter levels. Sustainable agricultural practices provides a pathway to reverse the trend for soil organic matter levels by adopting management practices to increase soil carbon storage. This proposed research will help attain greater sustainability by increasing our understanding of how the primary inputs for soil organic matter formation (crop residues, litter, animal manure) adsorb onto minerals which is the first and important soil reaction in the carbon sequestration process. It is anticipated that this chemically detailed understanding of organic matter interactions with soil surfaces will help the development of a more sustainable agricultural future for the state of Maine.

Investigator: Ohno, T.

Unit: School of Food and Agriculture

Termination Date: 30-Sep-20