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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #248456
Title: Effects of outplanting horticultural species on soil CO2 efflux

Author
item MARBLE, CHRISTOPHER - Auburn University
item Prior, Stephen - Steve
item Runion, George
item Torbert, Henry - Allen
item GILLIAM, CHARLES - Auburn University
item FAIN, G - Auburn University

Submitted to: Southern Nursery Association Research Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/21/2010
Publication Date: 8/1/2010
Citation: Marble, C., Prior, S.A., Runion, G.B., Torbert III, H.A., Gilliam, C.H., Fain, G.B. 2010. Effects of outplanting horticultural species on soil CO2 efflux. Southern Nursery Association Research Conference. 55:69-72.

Interpretive Summary: Increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration may change the global climate. Most work evaluating greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon storage has been done in crop and forest systems. But, little work has looked at the horticulture industry. This pilot study investigated standard and new alternative potting mixtures. The goals of this early effort is to determine if these potting mixtures will release different amounts of CO2 to the atmosphere after these potted plants are replanted into the urban landscape.

Technical Abstract: Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration is widely thought to be the main driving factor behind global climate change. Much of the work on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and methods of carbon (C) sequestration has been conducted in row crop and forest systems; however, virtually no work has focused on contributions from sectors of the specialty crop industry such as horticulture. As with all industries, horticulture has the potential to negatively impact the global atmosphere, but it also has tremendous potential to improve atmospheric GHG conditions through the sequestering of C in urban landscapes. The objective of this on-going research is to determine the positive and negative effects of growth media on soil CO2 efflux from commonly grown horticultural species planted in the landscape.