Abstract:

At present, we are faced with two world-class problems of “soil degradation” and “carbon peaking and carbon neutralization” target, both of which share a common point of carbon. What are the pathways for plants to absorb carbon? Can humans help achieve the goal of “carbon peaking and carbon neutralization” through crops and agricultural operations? To gain a deeper understanding of the interrelationships among them, and to contribute to the sustainable development of agriculture and the achievement of the “carbon peaking and carbon neutralization” target, this article started from the above two issues and the perspective of the carbon element ecosystem cycle. By reading a large amount of literature, tracking academic frontiers, summarizing the pathways of plant carbon absorption and the application research of carbon rich organic fertilizers, the representative results of carbon absorption and utilization by plants were found as followed. (1) Plant nutrients included organic matter and minerals. (2) The carbon cycle pathway of the ecosystem had been improved: increasing the way for plants to directly absorb and utilize small molecule carbohydrates through their roots. That is, in the carbon cycle of the ecosystem, carbon could be transferred from soil to plants. (3) Carbon rich fertilizers mainly included humus, organic fertilizer, microbial organic fertilizer, organic carbon fertilizer, etc. According to the pathway that plants absorb carbon elements, plants could absorb small molecule carbohydrates through their roots. Farmers could increase organic matter in cultivated soil through farming operations, improve soil and promote crop growth, while helping to achieve the goal of “carbon peaking and carbon neutralization”.

Key words: carbon element, agriculture, soil, plant, carbon peaking and carbon neutralization, sustainable development