HomePublicationsCrops & SoilsSoil carbon in the Carolinas June 26, 2026 Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock/William This series of articles describes how soil carbon functions as a foundation of soil health, influencing water holding, structure, nutrient cycling, and biological activity. Readers will gain practical insight into how management—especially forage systems and pasture practices—can build or degrade soil carbon across different soils and landscapes. They will also be equipped with a clearer framework for evaluating soil carbon measurements, interpreting variability, and connecting management decisions to productivity, resilience, and potential carbon-market opportunities. While regional soils, climate, and farm data from North and South Carolina are used as primary examples, readers outside the Carolinas will still find it highly useful, especially for understanding soil health, interpreting soil carbon data, and advising on management practices that build resilience.Table of contents June 30, 2026 Storage of soil carbon in the CarolinasThis article is the first in a new series titled, “Soil Carbon in the Carolinas.” It is adapted from a series that originally was published in The Carolina Cattle Connection. While regional soils, climate, and farm data from North and South Carolina are used as primary examples, readers outside the Carolinas will still find it highly useful, especially for understanding soil health, interpreting soil carbon data, and advising on management practices that build resilience.This first article in the series highlights how soil carbon improves physical structure, nutrient retention, water availability, and biological activity, making soils more resilient and fertile. It also shows that soil carbon varies with depth, texture, and region, and that good forage and grazing management can significantly increase soil carbon storage and help address climate challenges.Earn 0.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading this article and taking the quiz. July 29, 2026 Soil carbon calculationsHow much carbon is really stored beneath your feet? This article explains how soil scientists measure and calculate soil carbon stocks, revealing why factors like soil depth, texture, and land use can dramatically influence carbon storage—and why perennial pastures often hold an advantage over cropland.This article is part of the series titled, “Soil Carbon in the Carolinas.” It is adapted from a series that originally was published in The Carolina Cattle Connection. While regional soils, climate, and farm data from North and South Carolina are used as primary examples, readers outside the Carolinas will still find it highly useful, especially for understanding soil health, interpreting soil carbon data, and advising on management practices that build resilience.Earn 0.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading this article and taking the quiz. September 3, 2026 Soil organic carbon on North Carolina farmsHow much carbon is stored beneath North Carolina's pastures and grazing lands? A statewide survey of more than 200 farms reveals striking differences among the Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain regions, offering new insights into soil health and carbon storage.This article is part of the series titled, “Soil Carbon in the Carolinas.” It is adapted from a series that originally was published in The Carolina Cattle Connection. While regional soils, climate, and farm data from North and South Carolina are used as primary examples, readers outside the Carolinas will still find it highly useful, especially for understanding soil health, interpreting soil carbon data, and advising on management practices that build resilience. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading this article and taking the quiz. October 2, 2026 Soil carbon distinguished from pedogenesis and managementSoil carbon measurements can be misleading if inherent soil differences aren't considered. Learn how deep-profile sampling and a "root-zone enrichment" approach help separate management effects from natural soil characteristics, providing a clearer picture of carbon gains under grassland management.This article is part of the series titled, “Soil Carbon in the Carolinas.” It is adapted from a series that originally was published in The Carolina Cattle Connection. While regional soils, climate, and farm data from North and South Carolina are used as primary examples, readers outside the Carolinas will still find it highly useful, especially for understanding soil health, interpreting soil carbon data, and advising on management practices that build resilience. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading this article and taking the quiz (coming soon).Share this:
June 30, 2026 Storage of soil carbon in the CarolinasThis article is the first in a new series titled, “Soil Carbon in the Carolinas.” It is adapted from a series that originally was published in The Carolina Cattle Connection. While regional soils, climate, and farm data from North and South Carolina are used as primary examples, readers outside the Carolinas will still find it highly useful, especially for understanding soil health, interpreting soil carbon data, and advising on management practices that build resilience.This first article in the series highlights how soil carbon improves physical structure, nutrient retention, water availability, and biological activity, making soils more resilient and fertile. It also shows that soil carbon varies with depth, texture, and region, and that good forage and grazing management can significantly increase soil carbon storage and help address climate challenges.Earn 0.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading this article and taking the quiz.
July 29, 2026 Soil carbon calculationsHow much carbon is really stored beneath your feet? This article explains how soil scientists measure and calculate soil carbon stocks, revealing why factors like soil depth, texture, and land use can dramatically influence carbon storage—and why perennial pastures often hold an advantage over cropland.This article is part of the series titled, “Soil Carbon in the Carolinas.” It is adapted from a series that originally was published in The Carolina Cattle Connection. While regional soils, climate, and farm data from North and South Carolina are used as primary examples, readers outside the Carolinas will still find it highly useful, especially for understanding soil health, interpreting soil carbon data, and advising on management practices that build resilience.Earn 0.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading this article and taking the quiz.
September 3, 2026 Soil organic carbon on North Carolina farmsHow much carbon is stored beneath North Carolina's pastures and grazing lands? A statewide survey of more than 200 farms reveals striking differences among the Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain regions, offering new insights into soil health and carbon storage.This article is part of the series titled, “Soil Carbon in the Carolinas.” It is adapted from a series that originally was published in The Carolina Cattle Connection. While regional soils, climate, and farm data from North and South Carolina are used as primary examples, readers outside the Carolinas will still find it highly useful, especially for understanding soil health, interpreting soil carbon data, and advising on management practices that build resilience. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading this article and taking the quiz.
October 2, 2026 Soil carbon distinguished from pedogenesis and managementSoil carbon measurements can be misleading if inherent soil differences aren't considered. Learn how deep-profile sampling and a "root-zone enrichment" approach help separate management effects from natural soil characteristics, providing a clearer picture of carbon gains under grassland management.This article is part of the series titled, “Soil Carbon in the Carolinas.” It is adapted from a series that originally was published in The Carolina Cattle Connection. While regional soils, climate, and farm data from North and South Carolina are used as primary examples, readers outside the Carolinas will still find it highly useful, especially for understanding soil health, interpreting soil carbon data, and advising on management practices that build resilience. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading this article and taking the quiz (coming soon).