SPONSOR:
National Institute of Food and Agriculture: Research/Extension Capacity Funds
PROJECT PERIOD:
2020 – 2021
PROJECT PI:
Susan Crow, CO-PIs: Jonathan Deenik, Francesca Cotrufo, and Carlos Sierra
ABSTRACT:
Soil organic matter (SOM) is central to linking soil health and carbon (C) sequestration. SOM is approximately one-half C and critical to multiple soil functions that cross biological, physical, and chemical realms and affect the balance and flow of water, nutrients, and energy. Given that SOM links soil health and C sequestration, there is a need for the application of emergent paradigms of SOM dynamics and new research oriented around the connection of healthy soils and healthy societies. As healthy soils and healthy societies are intertwined, our team asks: The short-term goal of this proposal is to leverage components of related, ongoing work into a fully developed quantitative framework for systems-level thinking about land sector climate change mitigation and soil health using Hawaiʻi as a model system. Ultimately, our team will develop the necessary scientific basis for ecosystem models across land use sectors to power management decision support tools that benefit producers, policy makers, and communities in Hawaiʻi and other similar Pacific and island locations.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
