376
E. M. Koriesh and I. H. Abo-Soud
in woody plants biomass. In addition, a total amount of wood, 11.5 GT of carbon
year
−1 , could be removed for reducing CO 2 emissions by replacement of wood for
fossil fuels. A recent multi-city study estimated that, as a whole, the urban trees of
the contiguous United States accumulate nearly 23 million tons of carbon in their
tissues per year. While all trees store carbon, urban and suburban trees can also
prevent CO 2 emissions because they help reduce energy use in nearby homes and
buildings. Well-placed trees can shade buildings from the summer sun or buffer them
from cold winter winds, reducing heating. Through evapotranspiration, urban and
suburban trees can lower temperature during the summer. Thus, one study found that
in addition to storing between 4 and 10 kg of carbon annually, a single shade tree in
Los Angeles helps residents and businesses save enough energy to avoid the release
of nearly 18 kg of carbon from power plants each year [122].
10.3.3 Expand Recycling to the Garden
According to the USEPA [123], yard trimmings and food wastes make up about
one-quarter of the country’s municipal solid waste (EPA [124]. When these organic
wastes are disposed of in landfills, ample of the carbon is deposited underground,
but the waste that breaks down releases methane gas—a heat-trapping gas 23 times
strong than CO 2 [125].
Horticulturists can help decreasing the global warming pollution linked with waste
disposal by turning leaves, grass, woody garden clippings, dead garden plant parts,
besides kitchen waste into biochar, mulch or compost, then using it in the garden or
reclamation of sandy soils. “Recycling” these wastes will not only reduce methane
emissions but also improve garden’s soil and help it store carbon [126, 127].
Compost, which can be any mixture of decaying organic materials (for example,
plant leaves, animal manure, food scraps), is created by a and other organisms break
down wastes into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. While composting does produce
global warming gases, studies indicate that the best practices for creating and using
compost have a smaller climate impact than landfills [128, 22].
That’s because efficient composting takes place aerobically (that is, in the presence
of oxygen), which minimizes the formation of methane. By contrast, landfills lack
oxygen circulation, so organic materials are broken down primarily by bacteria that
thrive in the absence of oxygen and produce methane. One study suggests composting
is also better than incinerators for reducing heat-trapping emissions from organic
waste disposal [129].
d. Think a lot about private and public Lawns
lawns can be make climate-friendly
A growing frame of research indicates that soils covered in lawn grasses can
capture and store noteworthy amounts of carbon.
It appears that practices designed to maximize lawn growth and health with minimal inputs of fertilizer and water may achieve the best balance of carbon storage
and nitrous oxide emissions.
E. M. Koriesh and I. H. Abo-Soud
in woody plants biomass. In addition, a total amount of wood, 11.5 GT of carbon
year
−1 , could be removed for reducing CO 2 emissions by replacement of wood for
fossil fuels. A recent multi-city study estimated that, as a whole, the urban trees of
the contiguous United States accumulate nearly 23 million tons of carbon in their
tissues per year. While all trees store carbon, urban and suburban trees can also
prevent CO 2 emissions because they help reduce energy use in nearby homes and
buildings. Well-placed trees can shade buildings from the summer sun or buffer them
from cold winter winds, reducing heating. Through evapotranspiration, urban and
suburban trees can lower temperature during the summer. Thus, one study found that
in addition to storing between 4 and 10 kg of carbon annually, a single shade tree in
Los Angeles helps residents and businesses save enough energy to avoid the release
of nearly 18 kg of carbon from power plants each year [122].
10.3.3 Expand Recycling to the Garden
According to the USEPA [123], yard trimmings and food wastes make up about
one-quarter of the country’s municipal solid waste (EPA [124]. When these organic
wastes are disposed of in landfills, ample of the carbon is deposited underground,
but the waste that breaks down releases methane gas—a heat-trapping gas 23 times
strong than CO 2 [125].
Horticulturists can help decreasing the global warming pollution linked with waste
disposal by turning leaves, grass, woody garden clippings, dead garden plant parts,
besides kitchen waste into biochar, mulch or compost, then using it in the garden or
reclamation of sandy soils. “Recycling” these wastes will not only reduce methane
emissions but also improve garden’s soil and help it store carbon [126, 127].
Compost, which can be any mixture of decaying organic materials (for example,
plant leaves, animal manure, food scraps), is created by a and other organisms break
down wastes into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. While composting does produce
global warming gases, studies indicate that the best practices for creating and using
compost have a smaller climate impact than landfills [128, 22].
That’s because efficient composting takes place aerobically (that is, in the presence
of oxygen), which minimizes the formation of methane. By contrast, landfills lack
oxygen circulation, so organic materials are broken down primarily by bacteria that
thrive in the absence of oxygen and produce methane. One study suggests composting
is also better than incinerators for reducing heat-trapping emissions from organic
waste disposal [129].
d. Think a lot about private and public Lawns
lawns can be make climate-friendly
A growing frame of research indicates that soils covered in lawn grasses can
capture and store noteworthy amounts of carbon.
It appears that practices designed to maximize lawn growth and health with minimal inputs of fertilizer and water may achieve the best balance of carbon storage
and nitrous oxide emissions.