Agrosphärenkolloquium - Influence of climate change on carbon dynamics in the soil-plant system - Prof. Dr. Nele Meyer

Soils store large amounts of organic carbon (SOC) and therefore play a crucial role in climate change mitigation. Even a small increase in SOC stocks can help reduce rising atmospheric CO₂ levels, while small losses of SOC can release additional CO₂ into the atmosphere. Rising temperatures will undoubtedly accelerate the mineralization of soil organic carbon, potentially leading to increased CO₂ emissions. However, whether soils act as a carbon source or sink depends significantly on the response of plants and their interaction with soils. Plants play a vital role in transferring carbon into the soil through photosynthesis, while also regulating microbial activity and the processes that stabilize carbon in the soil. In this context, subarctic regions are particularly sensitive: they contain the world’s largest SOC stocks but are also experiencing the highest rates of warming globally. The future role of the subarctic as a carbon sink or source is a key question that will be addressed in this talk.