Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF GUAM UOG STATION
(N/A)
MANGILAO,GU 96913
Performing Department
Soil Labs
Non Technical Summary
Soil carbon sequestration is defined as the capture and secure storage of atmospheric carbon during the process of photosynthesis. The effectiveness of agricultural soils in the process of securing the available carbon by below and above ground biomass is widely researched under different management systems. Row cropping systems and soil management practices have significant impacts on the stability of a soil system, especially where factors such as soil erosion become a significant concern in soil C sequestration on field and landscape scales. The process and mechanisms of soil C sequestration are governed by sets of chemical, physical, and biological factors that are still of significant discussion and debate within many scientific communities. In addition, land use and associated tillage and cropping systems, and other management input are the subject of even greater discussion through scientific publications and symposiums as well as policy discussions. The implementation of a suite of agriculture management practices can have significant impact on the resiliency of agro-ecosystems to minimize potential climate change influence on soil and crop sustainability. To achieve such balance and resiliency in the agroecsystem, understanding mechanisms and processes of the soil C dynamics is essential. Understanding of the processs and mechanisiims of soil carbon dynamics and aformentioned issues are being sought by bringing together multidisciplinary/multinational perspectives from chemical, microbial, plant, soil, environmental scientists, and agronomist, in a dedicated meeting outside of the conventional circuit. By bringing together a of leading researchers, as well as practitioners, with fresh perspectives and ideas, we will foster innovative brainstorming on understanding a truly multidisciplinary context. The conference will facilitate an open atmosphere allowing time for both formal presentations and informal discussions enabling the exchange of ideas, hypotheses and results, and delineating potentially fruitful directions for future research, dissemination, and education. Such opportunities for interdisciplinary interactions have been lacking on this subject in soil science. This Bouyoucos conference is expected to provide a unique opportunity for interaction and exchange of ideas between these different disciplines with different research background and dvance the understanding of the processes and mechanisms of soil C dynamics.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
100%
Goals / Objectives
This grant is sought for conducting a conference. The goal of the conference is to stimulate and instigate an international and interdisciplinary exchange resulting in a focused application of novel, unorthodox and untested experimental approaches with the ultimate objective to foster groundbreaking advances in the elucidation of the interplay between chemical, biological and physical processes affecting soil C storage, C sequestration processes and mechanisms. To ensure this goal is achieved, we will invite, in addition to agronomists, hydrologists, environmental chemists, and microbiologists, experts from the fields of organic surface characterization, selected graduate students, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservationists, and crop consultants. It is anticipated that we will invite both scientists and practitioners from the US as well as the scientists and practitioners from the western pacific regional institutions to bridge the gap in understanding the process of soil C sequestration and develop a common understanding of both basic and applied principles in managing agro-ecosystems specially for the eroded soils formed from the volcanic rock in some of the islands of the pacific. By bringing together a multidisciplinary/multinational group of leading researchers, as well as practitioners, with fresh perspectives and ideas, we will foster innovative brainstorming on understanding a truly multidisciplinary context. The conference will facilitate an open atmosphere allowing time for both formal presentations and informal discussions enabling the exchange of ideas, hypotheses and results, and delineating potentially fruitful directions for future research, dissemination, and education. Such opportunities for interdisciplinary interactions have been lacking on this subject in soil science. This Bouyoucos conference proposal is expected to provide a unique opportunity for interaction and exchange of ideas between these different disciplines with different research background.
Project Methods
A group of 6-9 leading experts on various aspects of soil carbon dynamic and soil erosion will provide keynote presentations. Estimated 10-15 additional invited speakers will give shorter presentations on their latest advances in their respective relevant fields of research. Beyond this, a group of unsolicited oral presentations will be selected from among those interested in attending the conference. A panel of discussion, a poster session with the opportunity for each presenter to briefly describe his/her study is also planned, as are opportunities for formal and informal discussions. The proposed speakers listed below and additional speakers are selected to represent a wide range of different disciplines and different regional background, with diverse views, expertise, and analytical approaches and facilities. Facilitating multidisciplinary/multinational exchange and collaboration is fundamental to achieving the overall goal of the conference. In the choice of location for the conference we aimed to balance the following key aspects: attractive, yet quiet and thus conducive to a constructive meeting; promoting collaboration between mainland and Pacific Islands such as accessibility to US and overseas participants is cost effective. The added benefit of this location is close to other Pacific Rim Countries for further participation and collaboration, addressing management problems and suitability for traditional agriculture production in those countries.