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Project title

Acquisition of Essential Data for Assessments of Carbon Sequestration by Soils

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University of Limerick (UL)

Lead Applicant

Michael Hayes

Project Abstract

The overall aim of this project was to provide seminal information about the nature and the associations of the organic matter (OM) in Irish soils with a view to establishing a better awareness of the extents to which different Irish soil types are sinks for carbon (C) and of the ways in which changes in management procedures might alter the capacities of the soils as C sinks. An understanding of the compositions of the soil organic matter (SOM) components in Irish soils of aspects of the structures of these components and of the ways in which these are associated with each other and with the inorganic soil colloids is of fundamental importance for predictions of how the SOM in different soils will react to environmental changes. A better awareness was sought of the extents and processes of biodegradation of SOM in Irish soils and of how the soils would respond to organic amendments and produce from these transformed or humified products with a degree of resistance to degradation and thereby give possibilities for enhancements of C sequestration by Irish soil systems. The hope is that the information obtained will eventually contribute lead to more realistic models for more accurately of the abilities of Irish soils to sequester C.Investigations of the compositions aspects of the structures and the properties of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) in the drainage waters from the soils is considered to be important for an awareness the compositions and amounts of OM lost in drainage waters. Relating the properties of the DOC with those of the indigenous SOM would make it possible to gain a better understanding of the reasons why more DOM is released from some soils than from others. Aspects The UL-based project are relevant to EPA supported projects led by Professor M. Jones of Trinity College Dublin and by Professor G. Kiely of University College Cork and so in so far as was feasible the Limerick based project took account of the soils that were relevant to the studies of Professors Jones and Kiely. The TCD project involves measurements of greenhouse gases evolved from cultivated and pasture lands at the Teagasc Oak Park Carlow Research Centre. The UCC project measures greenhouse gases from a pasture at Dripsey Co. Cork and from a blanket peat at Glencar Co. Kerry.

Grant Approved

�322,132.55

Research Hub

Natural Environment

Research Theme

Soils and Land-Use

Start Date

01/12/2001

Initial Projected Completion Date

01/03/2006