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Related Concept Videos

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Carbon is the basis of all organic matter on Earth, and is recycled through the ecosystem in two primary processes: one in which carbon is exchanged among living organisms, and one in which carbon is cycled over long periods of time through fossilized organic remains, weathering of rocks, and volcanic activity. Human activities, including increased agricultural practices and the burning of fossil fuels, has greatly affected the balance of the natural carbon cycle.
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Green algae, also referred to as chlorophytes, are different from red algae in having the chloroplasts containing chlorophylls a and b, which give them their distinct green hue. However, they lack phycobiliproteins, preventing them from developing the red or blue-green pigmentation seen in red algae. In terms of photosynthetic pigment composition, green algae closely resemble plants and share a close evolutionary relationship with them. Taxonomically Green algae belong to Phylum Chlorophyta in...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 27, 2026

Monitoring Pedogenic Inorganic Carbon Accumulation Due to Weathering of Amended Silicate Minerals in Agricultural Soils.
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Phytolith carbon sequestration in global terrestrial biomes.

Zhaoliang Song1, Hongyan Liu2, Caroline A E Strömberg3

  • 1Institute of the Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.

The Science of the Total Environment
|June 24, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Global terrestrial ecosystems sequester 156.7 Tg CO2 annually via phytoliths, primarily in grasslands and croplands. Enhancing these practices could double this significant carbon sink.

Keywords:
Biogeochemical carbon sequestrationCarbon sinkPhytolith-occluded carbon (PhytOC)SiliconTerrestrial biomes

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Area of Science:

  • Biogeochemistry
  • Ecology
  • Earth Science

Background:

  • Terrestrial carbon sequestration is linked to the silicon cycle via phytoliths.
  • The scale and location of the phytolith carbon sink are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the global phytolith carbon sequestration in terrestrial biomes.
  • To identify dominant biomes and geographic regions contributing to this sink.
  • To assess the potential for increasing phytolith carbon sequestration.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized biome data on productivity, phytolith and silica content, and phytolith stability.
  • Calculated phytolith carbon sequestration rates across global terrestrial biomes.

Main Results:

  • Global terrestrial phytolith carbon sequestration is estimated at 156.7±91.6 Tg CO2 yr-1.
  • Grasslands (40%), croplands (35%), and forests (20%) are the primary contributors.
  • Asia (31%), Africa (24%), and South America (17%) are key geographic regions.

Conclusions:

  • Phytolith carbon sequestration is a vital component of the global carbon cycle.
  • Afforestation/reforestation and grassland recovery could potentially double the phytolith carbon sink.
  • Integrating plant-soil silica cycling into carbon cycle models is essential.