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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #346799
Title: A new platform for managing soil carbon and soil health

Author
item LOISEL, JULIE - Texas A&M University
item MALHOTRA, AVNI - Oak Ridge National Laboratory
item Phillips, Claire

Submitted to: Earth and Space Science
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/6/2017
Publication Date: 8/25/2017
Citation: Loisel, J., Malhotra, A., Phillips, C.L. 2017. A new platform for managing soil carbon and soil health. Earth and Space Science. 98. https://doi.org/10.1029/2017EO080753.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2017EO080753

Interpretive Summary: In early 2017, the International Soil Carbon Network (ISCN) was hosted by the Stanford School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences, to lead a workshop aimed at defining future research priorities related to soil organic matter carbon (SOM-C) cycling. Key initiatives resulting from the workshop include (1) a data rescue project that will be launched in 2017 to recover and compile SOM-C data from repositories and the literature, and (2) a new modeling platform, which will be developed in collaboration with the International Soil Modeling Consortium. Improving data and other information sharing between the ISCN and partner networks, such as the International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC), Fluxnet, the USGS, and USDA, will also be advanced as a priority.

Technical Abstract: Soil organic matter and its carbon content (SOM-C) is a key indicator of soil health, ecosystem productivity, and resilience. As scientific interest and management needs are converging towards enhancing SOM-C stocks and soil health, the need for an interdisciplinary collaboration has emerged. To define future research priorities related to SOM-C cycling, the International Soil Carbon Network (ISCN) held a workshop in early 2017, hosted by Stanford University's School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences. Key initiatives resulting from the workshop include (1) a data rescue project that will be launched in 2017 to recover and compile SOM-C data from repositories and the literature, and (2) a new community modeling platform, which will be developed in collaboration with the International Soil Modeling Consortium. Increased interoperability between the ISCN and partner networks (e.g., ISRIC, IUSS, USGS, USDA, Fluxnet) will also be advanced to improve ISCN's new data platform.