Soil Carbon

What is Soil Carbon and Why is it Important?

Soil carbon is the carbon stored in soils, primarily in the form of soil organic matter (SOM), which comes from decomposed plant and microbial biomass. It plays a crucial role in maintaining soil health, enhancing fertility, and supporting biodiversity. Soils are the largest terrestrial carbon pool, containing more than twice the amount of carbon found in the atmosphere and nearly three times that stored in living plants. This makes soil an essential component of the global carbon cycle.

Grassland soils in Ireland store significant amounts of carbon, approximately 440 t CO₂/ha or an estimated 1,800 Mt CO₂ across all mineral soils (Paul et al., 2018). Managing soil carbon effectively can significantly reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations and improve agricultural productivity.

Healthy soils with high carbon content contribute to improved agricultural productivity, better water retention, and greater resilience against erosion. However, when soil carbon levels decrease due to land use changes, deforestation, or poor agricultural practices, more carbon is released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

Read more about Soil Carbon Sequestration