The Potential of U.S. Forest Soils to Sequester Carbon and Mitigate the Greenhouse Effect
Features
Summary
Much attention has been given to above ground biomass and its potential as a carbon sink, but in a mature forest ecosystem 40 to 60 percent of the stored carbon is below ground. As increasing numbers of forests are managed in a wide diversity of climates and soils, the importance of forest soils as a potential carbon sink grows.
The Potential of U.S. Forest Soils to Sequester Carbon and Mitigate the Greenhouse Effect provides researchers and policy makers with an understanding of soil processes and their relation to carbon dynamics, as well as strategies to monitor and techniques to measure forest soil carbon. It covers the effects of management on soils in a wide range of forest ecosystems together with policy options that are effective and benefit both the forest community and the over all environment. This valuable reference provides forest managers, urban planners, land owners, policy makers, and the general public with guidance that will allow for a holistic approach to land management, environmental quality, and improved forest productivity.
Table of Contents
THE EXTENT, GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS, AND CARBON DYNAMICS OF U.S. FOREST SOILS
Introduction and General Description of US Forests, J.M. Kimble, R.A. Birdsey, R. Lal, and L.S. Heath
Current and Historical Trends in use, Management and Disturbance of United States Forest Lands, R.A. Birdsey and G.M. Lewis
Carbon Trends in US Forest Lands: A Context for the Role of Soils in Forest Carbon Sequestration, L.S. Heath, J.E. Smith and R.A. Birdsey
Quantifying the Organic Carbon Held in Forested Soils of the United States and Puerto Rico, M. Johnson and J. Kern
Techniques to Measure and Strategies to Monitor Forest Soil Carbon, C. Palmer
SOILS PROCESSES AND CARBON DYNAMICS
Carbon Cycling in Forest Ecosystems with an Emphasis on Belowground Processes, K.S. Pregitzer
Forest Soil Ecology and Soil Organic Carbon, S.J. Morris and E.A. Paul
Global Change and Forest Soils, J. Hom
Processes Affecting Carbon Storage in the Forest Floor and in Downed Woody Debris, W.S. Currie, R.D. Yanai, K.B. Piatek, C.E. Prescott, and C.L. Goodale
Impacts of Natural Disturbance on Soil Carbon Dynamics in Forest Ecosystems, S.T. Overby, S.C. Hart, and D.G. Neary
MANAGEMENT IMPACTS ON US FOREST SOILS
Soil Erosion in Forest Ecosystems and Carbon Dynamics, W.J. Elliot
Impact of Soil Restoration, Management, and Land Use History on Forest Soil Carbon, W. M. Post
Fire and Fire Suppression Impacts on Forest Soil Carbon
D. Page-Dumroese, M. Jurgensen and A. Harvey
Soil Carbon Sequestration and Forest Management: Challenges and Opportunities, C.M. Hoover
Management Impacts on Compaction in Forest Soils, R. Lal
SPECIFIC FOREST ECOSYSTEMS
Soil Carbon in Permafrost Dominated Boreal Forests, J. Hom
Soil Carbon Distribution in High-Elevation Forests of the U.S.A., J.G. Bockheim
Soil Carbon in Arid and Semiarid Forest Ecosystems, D.G. Neary, S.T. Overby and S.C. Hart
Carbon Cycling in Wetland Forest Soils, C. Trettin and M.F. Jurgensen
Carbon Storage in North American Agroforestry Systems, P.K. Nair and V.D. Nair
Soil Carbon in Urban Forest Ecosystems, R. Pouyat, J. Russell-Anelli, I. Yesilonis, and P.M. Groffman
Soil Organic Carbon in Tropical Forests of the United States of America, W.L. Silver, A.E. Lugo, and D. Farmer
SYNTHESIS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The Potential of U.S. Forest Soils to Sequester Carbon, L.S. Heath, J.M. Kimble, R.A. Birdsey, and R. Lal
Economic Analysis of Soil Carbon in Afforestation and Forest Management Decisions, B. Sohngen, R. Alig, and Suk-won Choi
Research and Development Priorities for Carbon Sequestration in Forest Soils, R. Lal
Editorial Reviews
"The chapters' organizational consistency (introduction, meaty analysis, conclusion) enhances assimilation of the abundant data gathered and clearly points to what is and is not known. Most of the concluding sections indicate what yet needs to be learned about this very dynamic process of sequestering. . . Abundant graphs, maps, and tables; very complete citation list. ^BSumming Up: Recommended."
-E.J. Kormondy, emeritus, University of Hawaii at Hilo
