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Soil carbon refers to the carbon stored in soil organic matter (SOM) and in inorganic forms, such as carbonates. It is a vital component of soil health and a cornerstone of the global carbon cycle. In agriculture, soil organic carbon (SOC) is most important and includes plant and animal residues at different stages of decomposition, root exudates, and microbial biomass.
A carbon sink absorbs more carbon than it releases. When managed well, soils act as powerful carbon sinks. Through photosynthesis, plants capture atmospheric CO₂ and transfer it to the soil via roots and decomposing biomass.
Over time, sustainable land management turns soils into lasting reservoirs of carbon, helping stabilize ecosystems.
Centuries of land-use change — converting grasslands and forests into cropland and grazing lands — have led to massive soil carbon depletion. Deforestation, intensive tillage, and poor land management disrupt carbon cycles, accelerating decomposition and releasing stored carbon back into the atmosphere.
There is tremendous potential to restore soil carbon stocks through improved practices such as:
According to FAO, improved agricultural practices could sequester up to 20 petagrams of carbon over 25 years, equal to more than 10% of global CO₂ emissions.
Agricultural soils are among the planet's largest carbon reservoirs. Improved soil management not only increases sequestration but also reduces emissions like nitrous oxide from fertilizers.Benefits highlighted by FAO include:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) actively promotes soil carbon as a tool for sustainable development. Their initiatives focus on:
Investing in soil carbon provides more than climate benefits. It also:
Increases crop yields
Higher soil carbon content leads to improved soil structure and nutrient availability, resulting in better crop performance.
Builds resilience to climate variability
Carbon-rich soils retain more water, helping crops survive drought conditions and extreme weather events.
Lowers input costs over time
Improved soil health reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers and other agricultural inputs, saving farmers money.
Strengthens ecosystem services
Healthy soils support biodiversity, water filtration, and other valuable ecosystem functions beyond carbon storage.
FAO (2021). Soil Organic Carbon: The Hidden Potential.Lal, R. (2004). Soil carbon sequestration impacts on global climate change and food security. Science, 304(5677), 1623-1627.IPCC (2019). Climate Change and Land: An IPCC Special Report.Smith, P. et al. (2008). Greenhouse gas mitigation in agriculture. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B, 363(1492), 789-813.
Soil carbon sequestration is a practical, scalable solution to mitigate climate change, restore soil health, and increase agricultural productivity. By investing in soil carbon, growers and land managers are investing in the future of sustainable agriculture and resilient ecosystems.
Join the growing community of land stewards who are achieving exceptional results with BioGenate's sustainable solutions.
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