What’s the Dirt on Agnes Scott College? Baseline geo-biochemical findings of campus soils.

Abby Peters, Nimco Cabdiraxmaan Yuusuf, Zamira Johnson-Sfaelos, Kennedy Harris, Dr. Molly Embree

One challenge of mitigating the climate crisis caused by runaway greenhouse gases iis convincing people that solutions are within reach (Kiss the Ground ref, 2020). Overlooked until recently in popular discussion of climate action, the soil has more capacity to store carbon than the combined capacity of the atmosphere, oceans, and all living things (Hawken, 2017). Historically, humans have managed land in ways that have rapidly extracted nutrients from the soil and released CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to the positive feedback loop warming the Earth’s atmosphere (Amundson et al, 2021). Yet soil management practices can remediate soil health within a 10-20 year time frame (Liang et al, 2021), and significant land area iis managed by homeowners and private landowners, especially in urban and suburban areas (Leake et al, 2011). To assist ASC meet its carbon neutrality goal by 2037, we are conducting a baseline study to characterize soil health and quantify current levels of organic matter and carbon in campus soils. Results from best and worst functioning soil areas of interest will be compared with each other and with an appropriate referent soil in order to estimate the amount of carbon currently stored in the ASC footprint, and the potential capacity to increase carbon sequestration with improved soil health. Implications of improved campus soil health (or, alternatively, continuing erosion) on climate justice will be discussed, especially considering urban heat islands, stormwater runoff, and partnerships with local food growers in the Agnes Scott College environs.

(references available upon request)