Maximizing Carbon Sequestration in Trees through Environmental and Hormonal Optimization: A Modeling Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.3026Keywords:
carbon capture, auxin, cytokinin, plant hormones, synthetic biology, London Plane, Fast Plant, climate change mitigation, biomass growth, environmental optimization, kelp, carbon sequestration strategies, regulation, climate science, computer scienceAbstract
In the ongoing battle to prevent a climate disaster, biological carbon capture seems to offer a sustainable and scalable solution to mitigating/slowing down the damage. This study explores how synthetic hormone applications (specifically auxin and cytokinin) and environmental variables (sunlight and water levels) influence plant biomass and CO₂ absorption. Enhanced plant growth and carbon uptake efficiency could allow biological solutions to remove atmospheric CO₂ quickly enough to meaningfully aid in meeting urgent climate targets. Using computer models of Fast Plants and London Plane trees as reference models, we simulate growth and carbon capture across multiple scenarios. A dynamic model is constructed to determine optimal conditions and the limit in which plant viability begins to decline. Results show a significant increase in carbon capture through carefully balanced hormone treatments, with potential for real-world deployment in urban and reforestation settings. The aim of this paper is to establish a theoretical foundation, then build on it using simulations through a series of physical experiments.
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