際際滷

際際滷Share a Scribd company logo

Bio-Sequestration

Patrick Byrne
Patrick Byrne

This document discusses carbon sequestration through plantstones, which are silicified structures formed in many plants. Plantstones contain organic carbon that is stored for thousands of years. The document examines over 500 plant samples and finds that some plants can sequester over 6% of their weight in carbon within plantstones. It proposes that agricultural soils, degraded lands, and wetlands could be used to sequester carbon through the cultivation of plant species found to produce high levels of carbon-containing plantstones, providing a long-term solution for carbon storage.

1 of 25
Downloaded 20 times
Carbon Sequestration in Plantstones The next generation of carbon sequestration solutions Jeff Parr and Leigh Sullivan Southern Cross University & Plantstone Pty Ltd 9/18/2005 1
Tradable carbon sequestered in Australia is currently restricted to the carbon that is accumulated in woody plants. Eucalypt Plantations Pine Plantations Mallee tree strips between grain crops CO2 Australia 9/18/2005 2
A slight problem Forests are very important carbon sinks, however, the land area covered by old growth forest and available for farm-forestry, plantation timber and strip plots is limited due to our needs for land to produce food. Forests cover 7% of People use 25% of world land mass world land mass The introduction of new methods of emission free energy production is also going to play a major role in CO2 reduction but, this will be a slow and long-term process to implement. CO2 needs to be reduced ASAP by a range of processes. All deserving equal attention. 9/18/2005 3
Agricultural Approach One solution to the shortage of landscape for sequestering carbon is to increase this process in agricultural soils. Agricultural grain crops cover an area of 20 million hectares annually in Australia alone. We cannot afford to aside this land for woody plant production because we need to eat as well as sequester more carbon. We can introduce no-till direct drill agriculture to lock up carbon. 9/18/2005 4
The Plantstone Approach Our contribution/solution to the shortage of landscape for sequestering carbon is to increase this process in: Agricultural soils Degraded lands (acid sulfate or salinity affected) and, Wetland areas (natural or constructed). 9/18/2005 5
Agricultural soils, (1) Can be important areas of herbaceous plant production. Acid sulfate soils, (2) All herbaceous plants particularly grasses produce Plantstones. Saline soils and, (3) Plantstones of many grasses and other Wetland areas herbaceous plants efficiently sequester carbon. 9/18/2005 6
So what are Plantstones? Plantstones are also referred to as phytoliths or plant opal. They are silicified cell structures formed within many plants as a result of silicic acid Si(OH4) uptake from soil. Si(OH)4 uptake into vegetation 9/18/2005 7
This hydrated silica moves throughout the plant impregnating cell walls forming thick coatings of silica opal that encapsulates the organic carbon content. 9/18/2005 8
The organelles of a plant cell are composed of organic material - carbon. This organic carbon is encased within the plant cell by silica forming a plantstone. This organic carbon occluded in plantstones we call PhytOC Phyto = plant OC = organic carbon 9/18/2005 9
Scanning electron micrograph of a solid bilobate type plantstone. The microprobe analysis for Carbon and Silica. The green line represents the silica content. The red line represents the carbon content. Scanning electron micrograph of epidermal long cell plantstones. 9/18/2005 10
Proof of concept ? Done Proven in the natural laboratory Proven in Field trials Proven by extensive laboratory analysis 9/18/2005 11
Our research to date Radiocarbon dated the carbon in the Plantstones themselves. Plantstones - resistant to decomposition in a range of soils to at least 35,000 yrs. 9/18/2005 12
We have examined over 500 samples to date from modern soils and paleosols. 9/18/2005 13
West New Britain PNG Volcanic sediments Generalised Topsoil W-H5 W-H4 FABK VII FABK XI FAAH FAAY V FABD I FABD t2 FABD t3 W-H W-K4 Pumice W-K3 3590+/- 40 W-K2 W-K1S W-K1T 5820+/-90 Soil Tephra 5o cm Pumice Clay 9/18/2005 14 Cobbles
Byron Bay NSW Acid sulphate soils Samples PNG and Byron Bay 5cm intervals 9/18/2005 15
Data for these modern soils and paleosols revealed that up to 82% of total carbon occurring after 2000 years is PhytOC. Plantstone organic carbon Plantstone concentrations ranged from 15% to 44.88% of soil weight under a range of vegetative conditions. 9/18/2005 16
We have screened the abundance of Plantstones in over 230 plant species native to PNG and eastern Australia 9/18/2005 17
Abundance of Plantstones in over 230 plant species native to PNG and eastern Australia. e.g.(Parr and Sullivan 2005) 9/18/2005 18
Observations on plants Plantstones occur in many plants particularly grasses. There is a huge variation in the amount of carbon occluded in the plantstones of different plant species. Ongoing research We are currently screening economic plant species and varieties to establish those that are the most prolific producers of Plantstones and PhytOC. The best at sequestering carbon for the long-term. 9/18/2005 19
Recent plants screened for carbon occluding Plantstones Grain crops Legumes Barley Faba beans Canola Pink serradella FHS 3 Chickpeas Purple clover Pur-A Mustard Rose clover 95GCN Sorghum Sulla cross Wheat - bread Zulu arrowleaf clover Wheat - durum Regeneration Plants Coolatai grass Other grass crops Kangaroo grass Sugarcane Saltbush Tall wheat grass 9/18/2005 20
Tamworth and other plant PhytOC trials Sorghum Breadwheat Faba Beans Barley Legumes Mustard 9/18/2005 21
Trials Tamworth NSW 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Variety 9/18/2005 22
With the exception of two varieties of one species the mean organic carbon locked up in Plantstones (PhytOC) ranged from 0.5% to 6% of Plantstone weight. One variety of one cereal crop had PhytOC levels 5 times higher than other varieties of this crop. No apparent loss in grain or biomass yield. Tall Wheatgrass and Salt Bush PhytOC content for Tall Wheatgrass was 6% of Plantstone wt. Change in vegetation & land-use + significant increases in long-term sequestered Plantstone carbon. 9/18/2005 23 Picture supplied by George Truman Catchment Management Authority & Lachlan Rowling NSW Ag.
Summary Many plants contain Plantstones i.e. phytoliths or plant opal Many Plantstones contain carbon Carbon in Plantstones is stored for thousands of years With no apparent loss in grain or biomass yield. Carbon stored in Plantstones can be used for the long term secure sequestration of carbon in agriculture and environmental remediation. Carbon sequestration in Plantstones can be optimized by selection of plant types or crop variety. 9/18/2005 24
Agricultural soils, Acid sulfate soils, The next generation of Saline soils and, Carbon Sequestration Solutions. Wetland areas 9/18/2005 25

More Related Content

Bio-Sequestration

  • 1. Carbon Sequestration in Plantstones The next generation of carbon sequestration solutions Jeff Parr and Leigh Sullivan Southern Cross University & Plantstone Pty Ltd 9/18/2005 1
  • 2. Tradable carbon sequestered in Australia is currently restricted to the carbon that is accumulated in woody plants. Eucalypt Plantations Pine Plantations Mallee tree strips between grain crops CO2 Australia 9/18/2005 2
  • 3. A slight problem Forests are very important carbon sinks, however, the land area covered by old growth forest and available for farm-forestry, plantation timber and strip plots is limited due to our needs for land to produce food. Forests cover 7% of People use 25% of world land mass world land mass The introduction of new methods of emission free energy production is also going to play a major role in CO2 reduction but, this will be a slow and long-term process to implement. CO2 needs to be reduced ASAP by a range of processes. All deserving equal attention. 9/18/2005 3
  • 4. Agricultural Approach One solution to the shortage of landscape for sequestering carbon is to increase this process in agricultural soils. Agricultural grain crops cover an area of 20 million hectares annually in Australia alone. We cannot afford to aside this land for woody plant production because we need to eat as well as sequester more carbon. We can introduce no-till direct drill agriculture to lock up carbon. 9/18/2005 4
  • 5. The Plantstone Approach Our contribution/solution to the shortage of landscape for sequestering carbon is to increase this process in: Agricultural soils Degraded lands (acid sulfate or salinity affected) and, Wetland areas (natural or constructed). 9/18/2005 5
  • 6. Agricultural soils, (1) Can be important areas of herbaceous plant production. Acid sulfate soils, (2) All herbaceous plants particularly grasses produce Plantstones. Saline soils and, (3) Plantstones of many grasses and other Wetland areas herbaceous plants efficiently sequester carbon. 9/18/2005 6
  • 7. So what are Plantstones? Plantstones are also referred to as phytoliths or plant opal. They are silicified cell structures formed within many plants as a result of silicic acid Si(OH4) uptake from soil. Si(OH)4 uptake into vegetation 9/18/2005 7
  • 8. This hydrated silica moves throughout the plant impregnating cell walls forming thick coatings of silica opal that encapsulates the organic carbon content. 9/18/2005 8
  • 9. The organelles of a plant cell are composed of organic material - carbon. This organic carbon is encased within the plant cell by silica forming a plantstone. This organic carbon occluded in plantstones we call PhytOC Phyto = plant OC = organic carbon 9/18/2005 9
  • 10. Scanning electron micrograph of a solid bilobate type plantstone. The microprobe analysis for Carbon and Silica. The green line represents the silica content. The red line represents the carbon content. Scanning electron micrograph of epidermal long cell plantstones. 9/18/2005 10
  • 11. Proof of concept ? Done Proven in the natural laboratory Proven in Field trials Proven by extensive laboratory analysis 9/18/2005 11
  • 12. Our research to date Radiocarbon dated the carbon in the Plantstones themselves. Plantstones - resistant to decomposition in a range of soils to at least 35,000 yrs. 9/18/2005 12
  • 13. We have examined over 500 samples to date from modern soils and paleosols. 9/18/2005 13
  • 14. West New Britain PNG Volcanic sediments Generalised Topsoil W-H5 W-H4 FABK VII FABK XI FAAH FAAY V FABD I FABD t2 FABD t3 W-H W-K4 Pumice W-K3 3590+/- 40 W-K2 W-K1S W-K1T 5820+/-90 Soil Tephra 5o cm Pumice Clay 9/18/2005 14 Cobbles
  • 15. Byron Bay NSW Acid sulphate soils Samples PNG and Byron Bay 5cm intervals 9/18/2005 15
  • 16. Data for these modern soils and paleosols revealed that up to 82% of total carbon occurring after 2000 years is PhytOC. Plantstone organic carbon Plantstone concentrations ranged from 15% to 44.88% of soil weight under a range of vegetative conditions. 9/18/2005 16
  • 17. We have screened the abundance of Plantstones in over 230 plant species native to PNG and eastern Australia 9/18/2005 17
  • 18. Abundance of Plantstones in over 230 plant species native to PNG and eastern Australia. e.g.(Parr and Sullivan 2005) 9/18/2005 18
  • 19. Observations on plants Plantstones occur in many plants particularly grasses. There is a huge variation in the amount of carbon occluded in the plantstones of different plant species. Ongoing research We are currently screening economic plant species and varieties to establish those that are the most prolific producers of Plantstones and PhytOC. The best at sequestering carbon for the long-term. 9/18/2005 19
  • 20. Recent plants screened for carbon occluding Plantstones Grain crops Legumes Barley Faba beans Canola Pink serradella FHS 3 Chickpeas Purple clover Pur-A Mustard Rose clover 95GCN Sorghum Sulla cross Wheat - bread Zulu arrowleaf clover Wheat - durum Regeneration Plants Coolatai grass Other grass crops Kangaroo grass Sugarcane Saltbush Tall wheat grass 9/18/2005 20
  • 21. Tamworth and other plant PhytOC trials Sorghum Breadwheat Faba Beans Barley Legumes Mustard 9/18/2005 21
  • 22. Trials Tamworth NSW 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Variety 9/18/2005 22
  • 23. With the exception of two varieties of one species the mean organic carbon locked up in Plantstones (PhytOC) ranged from 0.5% to 6% of Plantstone weight. One variety of one cereal crop had PhytOC levels 5 times higher than other varieties of this crop. No apparent loss in grain or biomass yield. Tall Wheatgrass and Salt Bush PhytOC content for Tall Wheatgrass was 6% of Plantstone wt. Change in vegetation & land-use + significant increases in long-term sequestered Plantstone carbon. 9/18/2005 23 Picture supplied by George Truman Catchment Management Authority & Lachlan Rowling NSW Ag.
  • 24. Summary Many plants contain Plantstones i.e. phytoliths or plant opal Many Plantstones contain carbon Carbon in Plantstones is stored for thousands of years With no apparent loss in grain or biomass yield. Carbon stored in Plantstones can be used for the long term secure sequestration of carbon in agriculture and environmental remediation. Carbon sequestration in Plantstones can be optimized by selection of plant types or crop variety. 9/18/2005 24
  • 25. Agricultural soils, Acid sulfate soils, The next generation of Saline soils and, Carbon Sequestration Solutions. Wetland areas 9/18/2005 25