"Although it's called global warming, that's really misleading because although the overall temperature goes up, some parts of the earth may actually see lower temperatures," Turco said. "Instead of calling it global warming, we should call it global climate instability because what we are seeing is more extreme weather."
Although scientists have not found a direct cause-and-effect relationship between increased carbon in the atmosphere and global climate instability, it is known that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased 30 percent over the past 200 years.
Rice said the CASMGS program will be investigating ways that agriculture can reduce greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
"The goal is to determine the potential and how to implement carbon sequestration into agricultural soils," he said. "We are also looking to reduce the other greenhouse gases in an agriculture system, particularly nitrous oxide and methane."
Research has shown that agriculture holds the key to fast, inexpensive reduction in greenhouse gases, Rice said.
"Economic analysis suggests that carbon sequestration in the soil is one of the most beneficial and cost effective options available for reducing greenhouse gases," he said. "This is particularly true over the next 30 years until we are able to develop alternative energy sources with less use of fossil fuels."
Turco says adding carbon to the soil will do more than help the environment. It also will help farmers by improving soil quality.
"Putting carbon in the soil improves tilth, soil structure, nutrient retention, rooting depth and stability. All of the good things you can think of with soil are attributable to adding carbon and increasing soil organic matter," Turco said.
In additional to improving the soil, farmers may also see a more direct benefit in the form of payments.
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Contact: Steve Tally
tally@purdue.edu
765-494-9809
Purdue University
2-Jul-2002