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Quick summary: Soil Carbon is the carbon stored in soils that exists in organic and inorganic forms. Sequestering carbon in soil is a natural way of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere with a lesser impact on land and water with a lesser need for energy at reduced costs. Let us dive deeper into what soil carbon is and what are its benefits.
Soil carbon is the backbone of healthy, fertile farmland. As farmers increasingly face the challenges of depleted soil quality and rising input costs, enhancing soil carbon becomes crucial for long-term sustainability. The loss of carbon from soil not only reduces its fertility but also limits its capacity to sequester carbon, impacting both productivity and climate resilience.
Soil stores more than 4000 billion tonnes of carbon. Do you know that a third of the planet’s land is severely degraded and fertile soil is being lost at the rate of 24 billion tons a year, according to a UN backed study?
Unsustainable farming practices has driven the release of carbon from soils over a period, leading to the rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. There are claims that we have only 60 years of farming left if this soil degradation continues But how can you reverse this trend and boost farm fertility? By unlocking the power of soil carbon, you can regenerate soil health, increase yields, and create a more sustainable future for your land.
Key takeaways
Soil Carbon is the carbon stored in soils that exists in organic and inorganic forms. This includes plant roots, fungi and microbes and decomposed organic matter from plant litter or animal products like manure. Soil contains inorganic carbon in mineral form. The ability of the soil to store or sequester organic carbon is determined by the physical structure, aggregation of the organic and inorganic particles in the soil profile and the biotic factors. The physical and biotic factors change with depth as the upper layers are closer to the surface and are influence by environment and also due to land use activities.
Soil is composed of layers called the Soil horizons. The organic layer is found on top of the soils made of decomposed organic matter. The topsoil is the mineral soil with high concentration of carbon and microbial activity. The subsoil is a result of soil accumulated from leaching of the above layers and the final layer is made of decomposed rock. Most of the soil carbon is found in the organic and topsoil horizons. Improper management can lead to soil erosion that strips the carbon from the soil making it difficult to accumulate additional carbon. This also has an impact on plant growth and the soil microbes leading to low carbon sequestration.
Let us understand the Soil Carbon cycle in order to know how important soil carbon is. Plants during photosynthesis, absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and transform the carbon into biomass and release the organic content into the soils through roots. This stimulates the microbial growth and facilitate absorption of nutrients from the soil. During decomposition of organic matter, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. The soil can act as a carbon sink or source, depending on the balance between soil carbon accumulation and soil carbon losses.
Organic matter decomposition is a microbial process and hence the environmental and biological factors influence the time carbon remains locked in the soil. Any practices that degrade the soil will decrease the soil carbon.
Practices that disturb soil like tillage can expose carbon to the oxygen in air which increases microbial activity that leads to breakdown of soil and reduction in microbial population. Whereas increasing the woody biomass in soils can increase the carbon sequestration as woody structures are rich in organic components.
Do you know that the expansion of agriculture lands has resulted in carbon losses of 40 to 90 Gt of CO2?
Croplands and grazing lands are of great significance in global carbon cycles because of their extent, the carbon stocks and environmental pressures due to degradation and unsustainable farming practices. These practices can affect the soil moisture, erosion levels, microbial activity and organic matter that impacts sequestration. This is a very crucial aspect with regards to both climate change and food security as low soil carbon can reduce crop productivity in croplands and grasslands. Agriculture practices like tilling, planting mono crops, excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides and removing crop residue expose the carbon in the soil to oxygen allowing it to burn off into the atmosphere.
The unsustainable management practices like excessive irrigation, over-grazing, excessive tillage, deforestation and draining of peatlands all cause soil carbon losses. The decomposition of micro-organisms and plant harvesting processes also cause soil carbon depletion. The amount of soil organic carbon is dependent on factors like the hydrology, climate, land use and vegetation. The reduction in soil carbon reduces the ability of soil to supply nutrients to plants thereby affecting crop yields. The global warming reduces the organic matter in the soil.
Soil regeneration is the process of restoring degraded soil to a healthy, productive state. It involves practices like crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage, and adding organic matter, which improve soil structure, boost nutrient content, and increase biodiversity. Healthy soil is rich in organic matter, retains moisture, supports diverse microbial life, and can sequester carbon, all of which enhance crop yields and resilience against climate change.
Carbon rich soils can contribute to greater yields and long-term sustainability.
The nutrient from decaying matter becomes a source of nutrition for crops.
Soil organic matter helps to maintain the air passages that protect the air from compaction. Soils that are less compact and less dense promotes root development and penetration.
Organic carbon in soil increases water holding capacity helping in water absorption and retention of soil moisture. The water absorbed during excessive rainfall can be stored and used as a reservoir during drought.
The microbial life in the soil feeds on carbon and organic matter for energy to convert them into plant nutrients.
Sequestering carbon in soil is a natural way of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere with a lesser impact on land and water with a lesser need for energy at reduced costs.
Earth’s soils contain 2500 gigatons of carbon which is three times more than the amount of carbon in the atmosphere and four times the amount stored in plants and animals.
Sustainable farm management and agriculture practices are a must to increase soil carbon storage to combat climate change
Soil carbon storage is a vital ecosystem. There are different sustainable agriculture practices to promote carbon storage in soils. Increased carbon sequestration in farms can be achieved by adopting carbon farming practices which increases soil productivity and enhances soil health.
Soil carbon plays a crucial role in making farms more resilient to climate change, and it starts with how it sequesters carbon. Think of soil like a sponge—it can absorb and hold onto carbon that would otherwise be floating around in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. When plants grow, they pull carbon dioxide from the air and send some of that carbon down into the soil through their roots. Healthy soils, rich in organic matter, can store this carbon for years, even decades, acting as a natural carbon sink. The more carbon stored in the soil, the less there is in the atmosphere fuelling climate change.
But that’s not all. When you have healthy, carbon-rich soil, it improves the overall structure of the land. This means the soil can retain more water, making it less prone to erosion and drought—a big win for farmers dealing with unpredictable weather patterns caused by climate change. Healthier soils also foster a diverse ecosystem of microbes and organisms that help break down organic matter, naturally releasing nutrients for plants to use.
And here’s the kicker: when soil is in good health, farmers can cut back on synthetic fertilizers. These fertilizers are often expensive and have their own environmental downsides, like contributing to greenhouse gas emissions when they break down. By boosting soil carbon, farmers rely more on nature’s built-in fertility system. This reduces the farm’s carbon footprint and creates a self-sustaining cycle of soil fertility.
In short, increasing soil carbon not only helps mitigate climate change but also builds a farm’s resilience to it. It’s a win-win—healthier soil means healthier crops, fewer inputs, and a more sustainable, climate-friendly farm.
Technology is becoming a game-changer when it comes to managing soil carbon, and some of the most exciting innovations revolve around Digital MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification) systems. These tools help farmers, land managers, and policymakers keep a close eye on soil health, track carbon levels, and report progress in real-time. Digital MRV systems collect data from the field, including information on soil carbon content, crop types, and land use practices. This data is then analyzed to provide insights on how much carbon is being stored in the soil, which is critical for measuring the impact of sustainable farming practices. Essentially, it gives a clear picture of the soil’s carbon “bank account.”
But what’s even more exciting is the role of blockchain and satellite monitoring in taking soil carbon management to the next level. Blockchain is all about transparency and traceability—it creates a digital ledger that tracks every step of the process, from how the soil is treated to how much carbon is sequestered. This makes it easy for farmers and companies to prove they are adhering to sustainable practices, ensuring compliance with carbon markets or regulations like EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation). Imagine being able to verify, with irrefutable proof, that your farm is sequestering X amount of carbon, and getting rewarded for it!
Meanwhile, satellite monitoring provides a bird’s-eye view of entire landscapes. Satellites can capture data on soil moisture, vegetation cover, and land use changes, all of which impact soil carbon levels. With these images and data, farmers can track how their land is performing and spot areas where improvements can be made. This tech is especially helpful for large-scale operations, where monitoring soil carbon manually would be nearly impossible.
TraceX’s Digital MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification) platform enables real-time, accurate tracking of carbon emissions and sequestration in agricultural and forestry projects. By leveraging blockchain technology, the platform ensures transparent and tamper-proof data collection, offering reliable insights into carbon levels across the supply chain. Additionally, TraceX’s DMRV platform integrates satellite monitoring and IoT devices to capture field-level data, allowing for detailed reporting on carbon footprints. This helps farmers, agribusinesses, and carbon project developers streamline their sustainability efforts, meet regulatory requirements, and participate in carbon markets with verifiable data.
Incorporating soil carbon into your farming practices isn’t just about improving yields—it’s about ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of your land. By adopting regenerative practices that enhance soil carbon levels, you can improve soil fertility, increase resilience to climate change, and reduce reliance on synthetic inputs. Healthy, carbon-rich soil is the foundation of a thriving farm, supporting biodiversity, productivity, and sustainability for future generations.
Increasing soil carbon improves soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability, leading to healthier crops and higher yields. It also enhances biodiversity in the soil, reduces erosion, and makes farmland more resilient to climate change.
Farmers can increase soil carbon through practices like cover cropping, reduced tillage, composting, and using organic amendments. These methods add organic matter to the soil, which stores carbon and improves soil health over time.
Soil rich in carbon can act as a natural carbon sink, sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Healthy soils also improve resilience to extreme weather conditions, making farms more adaptable to climate change.
