On Thursday, February 27 @ 11am ET, join Cary Institute for a virtual scientific seminar by Dr. Ramesh Laungani, Marist College.
The rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations from human activity is projected to lead to a 2-4°C increase globally by the end of the 21st century. This increase has far-reaching consequences for plant community structure and soil carbon storage.
This has led to a focus on long-term carbon storage in soils through nature-based solutions and management strategies such as biochar additions to soil. Biochar additions to soil can impact both soil carbon stocks and plant community structure. However, it remains unclear whether biochar impacts on plant communities will remain consistent under future, warmer climates.
Through greenhouse experimentation, our results suggest that the addition of biochar may increase the persistence of certain species under future climates, where they may have been eliminated under warmer temperatures without biochar. It also suggests that, under future climates, biochar may directly influence soil carbon storage, and indirectly by altering plant community structure. Taken together, biochar impacts on plant community structure and functioning is an area of research that is ripe for collaboration given the multifaceted impacts this climate change mitigation tool can have on both plants and soils.
Free and open to all. Registration required via Eventbrite.
