Soil Carbon | Science Societies

Soil Carbon

June 25, 2025
Soil carbon special collection
Soil carbon special collection

Soil carbon is essential for soil health as it enhances soil structure, fuels microbial activity, improves fertility by providing nutrients, and increases resilience to environmental stresses. Carbon sequestration, the process of capturing and storing atmospheric CO₂ in the soil, helps minimize net CO₂ emissions from agriculture that contribute to climate change. 

 

This special collection brings together recent articles in CSA News that focus on soil carbon, highlighting the underlying science and beneficial management practices. 

Table of contents

AI-generated image courtesy of Adobe Stock/by Gro.
June 23, 2025

Understanding soil carbon: Key ingredient to build healthy soils

  • Soil carbon is essential for soil health as it enhances soil structure, fuels microbial activity, improves fertility by providing nutrients, and increases resilience to environmental stresses.

 

  • Low soil carbon can lead to increased erosion, reduced microbial diversity, and a significant loss of crop productivity.

 

  • Strategies to improve soil carbon involve a combination of practices, such as adding organic soil amendments, reducing tillage, planting cover crops, diversifying cropping systems, and integrating livestock.