Patent ID: 8092118

Claim:
A method to enhance sequestration of carbon in soil by raising soil bacteria and microbes comprising: a. introducing sulfur dioxide into waters diverted from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, deep wells, agricultural drainage, recycled water from wastewater treatment facilities, blow down water from cooling towers, food processing, production water accumulated as a result of mineral, crude oil, and coal bed natural gas mining operations, or other water sources to form sulfurous acid; and b. applying the sulfurous acid to soil as a means to open up soil pores at deeper depths to: i. allow atmospheric gases, water and soluble nutrients to penetrate and exchange throughout the soil, and ii. artificially stimulate the creation and/or recreation of the necessary soil conditions to feed and stimulate the growth and raising of water and soil bacteria and microbes, and to reduce total alkalinity and provide sufficient acid to break down soil carbonate/bicarbonates to release carbonic acid, carbonates, bicarbonates, or carbon dioxide in the aqueous phase along with sulfites, bisulfites, sulfur dioxide or sulfates and increase soil porosity at greater depths to improve water, air, and nutrient penetration for growing crops with roots containing soil bacteria and microbes or for growing soil microbes and bacteria at soil sodium adsorption ratios (SAR) less than 15, electrical conductivity (EC) less than 2 dS m −1 (m mho cm −1 ), cation exchange capacity (CEC) less than 57.5 centimoles/kg, and pH less than 8 at a range favorable for agronomic and soil microbial and bacterial activity to sequester carbon dioxide into the soil providing a net increase of soil organic carbon (SOC).