Soil carbon sequestration

An interesting possibility for locking up large amounts of atmospheric carbon in currently-depleted soils. Highly applicable in australia but arguably other arid/semi-arid soils, and maybe worthwhile even in climates such as UK's? Carbon Coalition is a group of concerned Australians who believe that one of the most effective strategies for locking up atmospheric carbon is to be found in fostering deep-rooted plant species on land used for agriculture. If it can be paid for by carbon credits then this offers a great economic incentive for rolling out these methods very widely.

Changing farming practices, for example so that pasture is not grazed right down but livestock are moved on earlier and thus allow plants to grow more continuously, can help soils take up more carbon. Encouraging results are reported and prime minister Kevin Rudd is initiating a federal investigation into such approaches.

They maintain the following:

* The terrestrial biosphere currently sequesters 2 billion metric tons of carbon annually. (US Department of Agriculture)

* Soils contain 82% of terrestrial carbon.

* "Enhancing the natural processes that remove CO2 from the atmosphere is thought to be the most cost-effective means of reducing atmospheric levels of CO2." (US Department of Energy)

* "Soil organic carbon is the largest reservoir in interaction with the atmosphere." (United Nations Food & Agriculture Organisation) - Vegetation 650 gigatons, atmosphere 750 gigatons, soil 1500 gigatons

* The carbon sink capacity of the world's agricultural and degraded soils is 50% to 66% of the historic carbon loss of 42 to 78 gigatons of carbon.

* Grazing land comprises more than half the total land surface

* An acre of pasture can sequester more carbon than an acre of forest.

* “Soil represents the largest carbon sink over which we have control. Improvements in soil carbon levels could be made in all rural areas, whereas the regions suited to carbon sequestration in plantation timber are limited.” (Dr Christine Jones)

more info:

http://www.carboncoalition.com.au/#soils_save_world