Forests – Can They Save Us from Ourselves?

Carbon Sequestration in Radish Plants

Plants use CO2 from the atmosphere for two primary purposes:1. To make sugar to burn for energy (respiration)2. To use in creating other carbon compounds –(i.e.

proteins, carbohydrates, fats etc.) for building their structures. These carbon compounds stored in these structures are “sequestered.”

Misconception! Many people think that trees will “soak-up” all the extra carbon being put into the

atmosphere• Plants – especially forests- are able to

sequester large amounts of carbon. But…….• Soil fertility (micro-organisms and nutrients)

limit carbon sequestration rates as does age of trees.

Put seeds in container on wet towels.Cover with more wet towels.

Cut below the curve of bottle top

Insert upper section into lower + secure with a tab of duct tape. Can use coffee filters or handiwipes

Fill reservoirs – Use filtered H20

Label bottles and fill with vermiculite perlite mixture 1:1 You now have a hydroponic set-up ---no soil!

Growth of a Radish Plant

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d26AhcKeEbE

Cotyledons provide both nutrients and photosynthesize. When true leaves develop, they take over photosynthesizing = feeding the

plants. Cotyledons drop off

CalCarb – A Foliar Spray designed to deliver more CO2 to stomata. Spray on underside of leaves

Start spraying CalCarb solution 2x/week under the cotyledons and then under true leaves. Make sure CalCarb solution is well

mixed before spraying.

Will not see important differences between control and “no fertilize” plants until true leaves have taken over.

True leaves may not form. Yellowing will occur.

CO2 Enhanced vs ControlCut off radishes at node between stem and root. Mass out 1-3 of

the most robust plants.

Control vs No fertilizer

Alternatives- Grow in Trays. Kids can then snip off plants from the trays and measure. Can use corn but may have to eliminate

Calcarb.

SOIL, MICROBES and ROT!

Soil Respiration Test Using LimewaterCO2 + Ca(OH)2 ---> CaCO3 + H2O