Time Bomb Imploded.

A survey of long-term restoration sites and agricultural sites in North America was conducted to determine long-term benefits for soil carbon sequestration for restoration using organic residuals.  Use of organic amendments resulted in significantly greater soil carbon storage in comparison to conventionally reclaimed land, landscaped areas and agricultural lands.  Across sites in WA state rates of carbon storage per dry Mg of amendment ranged from 0.014 to 0.54.  Across reclamation sites, storage efficiency ranged from 0.03 to 0.31 Mg C per Mg amendment Soils with the lowest control carbon levels showed the highest levels of carbon storage (R² = 0.37, p< 0.001). For all sites, sites with multiple application rates showed a linear response with increased carbon storage at increased amendment application rates. For sites with data over time, carbon content increased with time or stabilized after an initial period of net mineralization.  Changes were also observed for many sites in bulk density and water holding capacity.