Summary
Abstract The words we choose to describe our research ultimately directs its course. A dominant term in soil science now, is ‘sequestration’, referring to the removal of carbon (C) from air and its irreversible seclusion in soil, ideally as stable soil organic carbon (SOC). An emerging view, however, now sees SOC as an inherently dynamic assemblage of forms, all potentially vulnerable to decay, with no discrete, measurable fraction holding C in ‘sequestered’ form. Rather than speaking of C ‘sequestration’, then, we might refer instead to SOC ‘stewardship’. This word, now, enfolds the entire spectrum of SOC, not merely some elusive ‘persistent’ or ‘stable’ fraction, perhaps redirecting inquiry; for example, does C need to be ‘sequestered’ in stable form for SOC to serve as effective reposit
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.