The structural role of carbon

Apart from being involved in energy transfer and the building blocks of life, carbon is also involved in structural processes. By structural role, I mean the way any landscape will function better, by having plants physically present.

Standing grass and surface litter will determine how much the soil surface structure is damaged by raindrops.

A structural role of carbon, when present in both living and dead plants, is lifting wind off the soil surface to reduce evaporation.

Ground cover of litter and standing plants reduce soil surface temperature through shading it. This reduces evaporation.

Carbon has a structural role as part of plant roots which act as "wicks" to allow water to enter the soil around plants. This is achieved by the water travelling down beside the roots.

Another structural role of carbon is collecting dew in some environments. This relies on the surface area of grass being adequate.

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