My interests in soil sciences and microbiology are driven by the desire to return to Iraq and attempt to work their fertile basin between the Euphrates and Tigris. This article demonstrates an added benefit: the sequestering of greenhouse gasses by farms, a function I previously thought the sole property of forests.
Given the amount of deforestation in the world and Brazil's desire to develop the Amazon, it would seem that we must look to other areas to slow the rise of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. I am particularly interested in the white paper's desire to...
"review the current body of scientific literature to determine if there are ways to accelerate the formation of organic material in soil, and to determine if it is possible to predict the rate of carbon and nutrient sequestration."
Iraqis, like Americans, are not patient people. If we were able to arrange an agricultural project there, they would want to see an improvement in their production and soils... quickly. Perhaps a five year plan that would project improvments in productivity and in soil content?
Thursday, May 22, 2008
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