Blog

Soil Carbon update March 2019

Here is a snapshot of what has been happening recently in soil carbon in Australia and around the world:

  • Microbial aromas might save crops from drought: an overview of research on how soil microbes living near plant roots use volatiles to exchange information in the ‘rhizosphere’ or root space https://theconversation.com/microbial-aromas-might-save-crops-from-drought-103960
  • Pasture diversity is a winner over monocultures: a snapshot of New Zealand farmers who are using pasture diversity to improve productivity outputs and increase soil carbon https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/101559947/pasture-diversity-is-a-winner-over-monocultures
  • Soil becomes fertile ground for climate action: the role of soil as a giant ‘machine to suck out carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and a snap shot of who’s who in the US soils space https://www.greenbiz.com/article/soil-becomes-fertile-ground-climate-action
  • Emerging land use practices rapidly increase soil organic matter: conversion of cropland to intensively grazed pasture showed an increase of 8 tonnes of carbon per year over three years, accompanied by increases in waster holding capacity and cation exchange capacity https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms7995
  • Global meta-analysis of the relationship between soil organic matter and crop yields: a study examining the benefits of increasing soil carbon in global wheat and maize production steps, including yield and fertiliser use reduction https://www.soil-journal.net/5/15/2019/
  • New routes to decarbonise land use with Natural Infrastructure Schemes: the case for using a funding mechanism to lever private money for positive environmental land management, including facilitating uptake of soil carbon practices https://www.green-alliance.org.uk/new_routes_to_decarbonise_land_use.php

If you have any news or links to share, please send to matthew.warnken@agriprove.io in the first instance, so that the information can be shared with the wider membership.