DEEP-SOM
Carbon Action
How deep soil organic matter is affected by the roots of living plants and how stabile carbon pools are formed?
Soil organic matter (SOM) forms one of the largest C pools globally. Recently, manipulation of SOM pools through different management practices has become one of the most tempting alternatives for climate change mitigation due the large potential and low unit cost. The aim of the project is to investigate how SOM in deeper soil layers (below 30 cm) is affected by the roots of living plants and how stabile C pools are formed.
Official name
The formation and dynamics of deep soil organic matter storages (DEEP-SOM)
Duration
2021-2025
Persons in charge
Jussi Heinonsalo, University of Helsinki (jussi.heinonsalo@helsinki.fi)
Consortium
University of Helsinki, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Laboratoire de Géologie, Sorbonne Université, The French National Research Institute of Science and Technology for Environment and Agriculture, Wageningen University and Research, and Chinese Academy of Sciences
Funder
Academy of Finland
The project helps to evaluate the effectiveness of carbon farming methods
The great novelty of this research is that our project focuses on deeper soil layers and combines factors that play a critical role in SOM stabilization: soil physical properties (mineral-associated and particulate fractions), presence of plant roots as a resource for C inputs, microbiology and biomarkers, and characterization of SOM based on its resistance to thermal decomposition and nutrient stoichiometry. The data produced improves future model predictions and verification of C sequestration as climate change mitigation tool.
The DEEP-SOM project, led by Assistant Professor Jussi Heinonsalo, has been granted a four-year funding from the Academy of Finland in 2021-2025. The project consortium includes the University of Helsinki, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, Laboratoire de Géologie (Fr), Sorbonne Université (Fr), The French National Research Institute of Science and Technology for Environment and Agriculture, Wageningen University (NL) and Research and Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Contact
Jussi Heinonsalo, University of Helsinki, jussi.heinonsalo@helsinki.fi
PROJECT PARTNERS
