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See more from this Session: Student Soils and Crops Oral Presentations
Monday, June 27, 2011: 2:20 PM
Results of simulated impacts of climate change on agriculture predict
reductions in crop yields as a result of increased temperature, water, and
nutrient stresses and an overall deterioration of soil functions. Biochar is
viewed as a potential long-term climate adapting / mitigating technique to
reduce GHG emissions, improve soil physical properties, moisture, air and
nutrient regimes, as well as sequester large quantities of carbon in the soil
and increase crop yields. Most biochar studies have been performed on highly
weathered soils, such as Oxisols, with no field studies testing biochar effects
on U.S. Midwest soils. We are modifying the EPIC (Environmental Policy
Integrated Climate) model to simulate the behavior and functioning of biochar
when applied to U.S. Midwest soils in terms of soil carbon sequestration, soil
quality, and crop performance. Preliminary literature analysis and algorithm
formulations suggest that biochar has the ability to impact soil
properties through positive modification of the soil's carbon and nutrient
balances. In the absence of existing full scale field studies of biochar’s
impact on soils of temperate regions, simulation studies with a
biochar-enhanced version of EPIC will be useful to evaluate the potential of
this adaptation / mitigation technique and guide the design of much needed
field experiments.
reductions in crop yields as a result of increased temperature, water, and
nutrient stresses and an overall deterioration of soil functions. Biochar is
viewed as a potential long-term climate adapting / mitigating technique to
reduce GHG emissions, improve soil physical properties, moisture, air and
nutrient regimes, as well as sequester large quantities of carbon in the soil
and increase crop yields. Most biochar studies have been performed on highly
weathered soils, such as Oxisols, with no field studies testing biochar effects
on U.S. Midwest soils. We are modifying the EPIC (Environmental Policy
Integrated Climate) model to simulate the behavior and functioning of biochar
when applied to U.S. Midwest soils in terms of soil carbon sequestration, soil
quality, and crop performance. Preliminary literature analysis and algorithm
formulations suggest that biochar has the ability to impact soil
properties through positive modification of the soil's carbon and nutrient
balances. In the absence of existing full scale field studies of biochar’s
impact on soils of temperate regions, simulation studies with a
biochar-enhanced version of EPIC will be useful to evaluate the potential of
this adaptation / mitigation technique and guide the design of much needed
field experiments.