What is the impact of climate change, extreme weather and variability on soil function, across the full continuum of Scotland's soils from mineral to deep peats, and its relation to water and biodiversity?
Background
Question Group: Focused on safeguarding and enhancing Scotland’s natural resources, its air, soils, land, water, plants and wildlife, by addressing the drivers of nature loss and environmental degradation. Emphasises restoration of degraded ecosystems, sustainable use of wild species, minimising of pollution, improving the management of invasive non-native species. Targets sustainable use of resources to support thriving communities, nature, and the economy in a changing climate.
Sub-questions: -How can we better understand the spatial and temporal drivers of soil functions, in order to support effective monitoring?
-How stable are Scotland's soil carbon stores, across soils types and management systems, and how are these impacted by climate change?
-What activities can we undertake to support soil resilience in the face of climate change and extreme weather?
-What are the long-term risks and benefits of biochar and enhanced rock weathering for soils, water, the environment and people, and how do these contribute to wider Carbon Capture and Storage goals?
Next steps
Get in touch with [email protected]
Source
This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:
Environment natural resources agriculture research strategy 2027 2032
Topics
Research fields
Related UKRI funded projects
-
U-Grass: Understanding and enhancing soil ecosystem services and resilience in UK grass and croplands
Humans are exerting increasing pressure on the Earth's soils to produce food crops and provide us with other natural resources. With growing populations and possible climate change it is important that we protect our soi...
Funded by: NERC
Lead research organisation: Rothamsted Research
Why might this be relevant?
The project focuses on understanding soil ecosystem services, resilience, and biodiversity in response to land use and climate change, which directly addresses the impact of climate change on soil function and stability.
-
U-GRASS: Understanding and enhancing soil ecosystem services and resilience in UK grass and croplands
Humans are exerting increasing pressure on the Earth's soils to produce food crops and provide us with other natural resources. With growing populations and possible climate change it is important that we protect our soi...
Funded by: NERC
Lead research organisation: NERC CEH (Up to 30.11.2019)
Why might this be relevant?
The project focuses on understanding soil ecosystem services, biodiversity, and responses to land use and climate change, which directly relates to the impact of climate change on soil function and resilience.
-
Resistance and resilience of mountain soils in the face of change
Mountain ecosystems are extreme environments, experiencing strong seasonal contrasts in climate. The plant and animal communities that are found there are uniquely adapted to these extremes, and together create a familia...
Funded by: NERC
Lead research organisation: Lancaster University
Why might this be relevant?
The project specifically addresses the resistance and resilience of mountain soils to climate extremes, which is relevant to understanding soil function and resilience in the face of climate change and extreme weather.