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Science 5 September 2008:
Vol. 321. no. 5894, p. 1295
DOI: 10.1126/science.1160750
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Technical Comments

Response to Comment on "Fire-Derived Charcoal Causes Loss of Forest Humus"

David A. Wardle,* Marie-Charlotte Nilsson, Olle Zackrisson

We find the suggestion that substantial charcoal loss occurred in the humus-charcoal mixtures implausible and discuss why complexing of soluble carbon released from the mixtures by underlying mineral soil should be minor. This exchange highlights our limited knowledge about charcoal effects on native soil carbon, indicating that strong advocacy for charcoal addition to offset CO2 emissions remains premature.

Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE901-83 Umeå, Sweden.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: david.wardle{at}svek.slu.se

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)