Plant impact on CO₂ consumption by silicate weathering: The role of bamboo

CO₂ consumption by silicate weathering has exerted a major control on atmospheric CO₂ over geologic time. In order to assess plant impact on this process, the study compared water geochemistry and CO₂ consumption rates by silicate weathering in watersheds covered by bamboos and other forests. Our study showed that SiO₂ concentrations (80 ~ 150 μmol/L, average 105 μmol/L) in water from pure bamboo forest watersheds were higher than that (15 ~ 85 μmol/L, average 60 μmol/L) from other watersheds. Si/(Na_silicate + K_silicate) ratios in water draining from bamboo watersheds (2.0 ~ 4.0, average 2.9) were higher than that from other watersheds ?>(0.7 ~ 2.7, average 2.2). CO₂ consumption rates by silicate weathering in bamboo watersheds (1.8 ~ 3.4 10⁵ mol/km²/yr, average 2.5 10⁵ mol/km²/yr) were higher than that in other watersheds (1.5 ~ 2.6 10⁵ mol/km²/yr, average 2.0 10⁵ mol/km²/yr). Therefore, bamboo-enhanced silicate weathering is a potential biogeochemical remediation approach for atmospheric CO₂. Copyright © 2011 The New York Botanical Garden.