[Press Release] Fire-derived charcoal might promote fine root decomposition in boreal forests

Boreal forests in Russian Far East are frequently subjected to fire disturbance, which emit large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO₂) by burning trees.
An international research group that consists of Assist. Prof. Makoto Kobayashi (Division of Biosphere Science) and researchers of Russian Academy of Sciences provided the first field evidence that fire-derived charcoal may enhance the decomposition of fine larch roots died in sediment. This finding suggests that forest fires can affect CO₂ release from boreal forests even after the fires.

This research outcome is published in Soil Biology & Biochemistry.

Please visit links below to view the press release (Japanese ver. only).
Research Press Release (PDF)