1st Edition

The Potential of U.S. Forest Soils to Sequester Carbon and Mitigate the Greenhouse Effect

    448 Pages 99 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    446 Pages 99 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    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.

    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

    Biography

    John M. Kimble, Rattan Lal, Richard Birdsey, Linda S. Heath

    "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