Читать книгу Applied Soil Chemistry - Группа авторов - Страница 34

The average carbon densities in forest soils of high-latitude Europe are known to be about three to five times higher than average carbon densities in soils of low-latitude Europe, with a 10-fold difference in their potential as carbon sinks [44]. On the other hand, with the exception of tropical peatlands, the carbon density of tropical soils is typically less than temperate soils and many times less than the vegetation that grows upon it. Soil carbon losses are high due to higher soil temperatures and water leaching rates. Potential carbon sequestration rates in tropical soils are about half those of temperate soils. Deforestation, a common practice in many tropical regions for conversion to cropland and grazing land, further exacerbates the relatively low carbon stock in tropical stores by releasing much of it rapidly to the atmosphere, especially where over grazing leads to drastic soil erosion.