What is Technosols
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What is Technosols?
🔺Technosols are artificial soils engineered from a combination of natural and human-made materials, such as construction debris, compost, and industrial byproducts. They are designed for specific purposes, including land reclamation, urban greening, and pollution remediation.
🔺Why It Matters: Technosols play a crucial role in addressing environmental challenges. They can transform degraded lands, such as mining sites or abandoned urban areas, into productive ecosystems. In cities, Technosols support urban greening efforts by creating green spaces on polluted or barren land, helping to combat air pollution, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate urban heat islands. Moreover, the materials used in Technosols, such as biochar and recycled organic matter, further amplify their carbon storage potential by improving soil structure, water retention, and microbial activity.
🔺Example: In Paris, Technosols have been used to convert abandoned, contaminated sites into thriving urban parks. By immobilizing heavy metals and other pollutants, these engineered soils make the land safe for public use and ecological restoration.
🔺Did You Know?: A meta-analysis published in the European Journal of Soil Science highlights the significant potential of Technosols in contributing to global soil carbon stocks and storage. The study reveals that Technosols can store up to 30–50 tons of carbon per hectare annually under optimal conditions, depending on their composition and the local climate, making them a valuable tool in the fight against climate change, as they provide a practical solution for capturing and retaining atmospheric carbon dioxide.
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