Award details

Physical factors involved in the sequestration of organic matter in soil

ReferenceD09445
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Dr W Whalley
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Professor Philip Charles Brookes
Institution Silsoe Research Institute
DepartmentResearch Division
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 217,483
StatusCompleted
TypeResearch Grant
Start date 06/07/1998
End date 06/07/2001
Duration36 months

Abstract

In soil some organic materials become encapsulated by clay resulting in the physical protection of organic matter from further microbial attack. Basic studies on protected organic matter pools will be conducted to provide an insight into the physical basis of their formation and breakdown. Protected pools of organic matter will be synthesised using a number of different organic matter nuclei to aggregate different clay types (1:1 and 2:1). The resulting microaggregates will be dried to selected water potentials with emphasis on water contents around the shrinkage limit. The formation of soil microaggregates and their resistance to mechanical breakdown will be evaluated to determine the significance of drying to aggregate stabilisation. We will also determine if dispersible clays are the primary mineral component of soil responsible for organic matter sequestration.

Summary

unavailable
Committee Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research TopicsX – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative X - not in an Initiative
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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