Although China’s tree-planting efforts have increased carbon sequestration for climate mitigation and protected the soil from erosion, they have also led to drastic water shortages.
A real-life experiment to mimic future conditions for soils affected by climate change suggests that some of the biggest impacts could be to ecosystems buried out of sight beneath our feet.
No-till farming conserves soil by greatly reducing erosion.
USDA NRCS South Dakota/Eric Barsness
More than one-fifth of global warming emissions come from land use. Sustainable farming can make soil healthier and better able to soak up carbon, while saving energy and boosting food production.
Carbon in soil can help with tackling climate change. Maintaining soil quality by supporting farmers through economic incentives and technical approaches is important.
The key to predicting drought is knowing how much water is in the soil, as well as how much rain is on the way.
AAP Image
New satellite-based research shows there is at least as much value in knowing how much water is left for plants to use as there is in knowing how much rain may be on the way.
Soil is a non-renewable part of the environment. Can it sustain food production for our growing population?
www.shutterstock.com
The thin layer of soil on our planet’s surface ultimately sustains us all, but it’s a finite resource. With a growing global population, perhaps it is time to start looking for alternatives.
Snowpack protects tree roots and soil from harmful freeze/thaw cycles.
Rebecca Siegel
Climate change is shrinking winter snow cover in Northeast forests, which protects tree roots and soil from repeated freezing and thawing. This could stunt tree growth and forest carbon storage.
India has developed a pioneering national agroforestry policy.
Suleman Merchant/Shutterstock
Leigh Ann Winowiecki, Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and Tor-Gunnar Vågen, Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)
A Land Degradation Surveillance framework could solve this problem by systematically measuring and tracking indicators of land health in Africa.
Scientists must remember that farmers are focused on the best return from their inputs with little risk as possible.
Dominic Chavez/World Bank/Flickr