Water follows carbon

Traditional thinking is that carbon follows water. This is because it is water that instigates photosynthesis. The logic is that where water turns up, something will grow and produce carbon compounds. Water is presented as the limiting factor for carbon production.

To overcome the debate of does carbon follow water, or does water follow carbon? Consider where water goes after it falls. If water does not end up around the roots of plants in sufficient quantities and for long enough, then carbon does not follow water.

To further appreciate the importance of carbon compounds for attracting water, consider the following statement a soil scientist made to me. "If organic matter is 20% of soil mass (not volume), then it will raise water holding capacity of soil by 50% to 60%". There will always be dispute in the scientific community on the exact figures, but there is general consensus on the principle that organic matter is critical for increasing the water holding capacity of soil.

Following drought, the areas low in carbon do not regenerate as quickly nor to the same extent as those areas higher in soil carbon. This is because the carbon cycle only follows the water cycle until it fails. It is lack of carbon that impacts on the water cycle.

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