Elucidating the potential of subsoils for enhanced carbon stocks in oxisol

• Grant number: 18/24376-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: March 08, 2019
• End date: February 27, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Rafael Otto
• Grantee: Thales Meinl Schmiedt Sattolo
• Supervisor: David Leonard Jones
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Bangor University, Wales
• Associated to the scholarship: 17/20602-6 - ARE OXISOLS UNDER CERRADO AGROSSYSTEMS ACHIEVING A CARBON AND NITROGEN SATURATION PLATEAU?, BP.DR

Abstract

Almost all agrosystems soils are suffering a progressive loss of organic matter, leading to a decline in soil quality, release of damaging greenhouse gases, and the sub-optimal delivery of many ecosystem services. Previous attempts at promoting C storage in topsoils have had limited success and poor uptake by end-users. We hypothesize that subsoils represent an unharnessed zone for enhanced C storage within Oxisols, offering a better opportunity to deliver and stabilize greater amounts of C, and that this will yield benefits above and beyond those of just C sequestration. By improving our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms controlling subsoil C dynamics, alongside novel management interventions (physical, chemical and biological), this study seeks to provide practical solutions to promote C storage and greater sustainability in the two most important grain producing regions in Brazil (i.e. Mato Grosso and Paraná). Aligned to this, the aim of this project is to determine the amount, quality and spatial distribution of SOC as a function of soil depth and its relationship to the size and the chemistry of the mineral fraction. This proposal is corresponding to Deep-C project from UK, which is led by Prof. Davey Jones, his research group and a team of scientists with proven track record from 8 of the leading soil research institutions in the UK. (AU)