• Learn About Soil
    • What’s New
    • Blog
    • Gold Nuggets
    • Farm Tours PRO
    • Webinar Replay PRO
    • Mastermind Replays PRO
    • Recommended Books
    • 7 Steps to Healthy Soils
  • Buy Courses
    • All Courses
    • Featured Courses
    • Animal Health
    • Biodynamics
    • Compost and Compost Teas
    • Farming Systems
    • Human Health
    • Soil Health
    • View all Categories
  • My Courses
  • Community PRO
    • Members Perks PRO
    • Regenerative Soil Mastermind CallPRO
    • Members Directory PRO
    • Member’s Map
  • Soil Blog

    Shopping Cart

    No products in the cart.

    Sign in Sign up

    Shopping Cart

    No products in the cart.

    • Log In
    • Register
    • Get Started
    • Learn About Soil
      • What’s New
      • Blog
      • Farm Tours
      • Podcast
      • Webinar Replay
    • Buy Courses
      • All Courses
      • Featured Courses
      • Short Courses

    Soil CARBON means WATER to me!! Do you want more SOIL or less? More CARBON or less? More WATER or less? Part 2

    Factors which reduce soil organic carbon levels and therefore reduce the ability of soil to store water, include

    • Loss of perennial groundcover
    • Intensive cultivation
    • Bare fallows
    • Stubble burning and pasture burning
    • Continuous grazing

    Most conventional agricultural practices include one or more – or all – of the above. Over the last 50 to 100 years, soil organic carbon levels in many areas have fallen by about 3%. This represents the LOSS of the ability to store around 504,000 litres of water per hectare.

    A 3% reduction in soil organic carbon also represents almost 500 t/ha extra carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted to the atmosphere, contributing to increased levels of greenhouse gases and the possibility of climate change. With global warming, rainfall levels could fall even further …. while evaporation rates increase … and degraded soils continue to lose their capacity to hold water.

    What are we going to do??

    Charman and Roper (2000), note that in order to increase soil organic matter levels and develop optimum physical and biological conditions for crop production, the soil needs to be managed in a similar way to a perennial pasture ley.

    Landholders now have the opportunity to combine crops and perennial pastures in the revolutionary ‘one-stop-shop’ land management technique known as Pasture Cropping (Cluff and Seis 1997).

    What will be YOUR first step to learning about this?

     

    With thanks to Christine Jones, PhD Founder, Amazing Carbon www.amazingcarbon.com

    References

    Charman, P.E.V, Roper, M.M. (2000). Soil Organic Matter. In: Soils: Their Properties and Management. (Eds. P.E.V. Charman and B.W. Murphy) pp. 260-270. 2nd Ed. Oxford University Press.
    Cluff, D. and Seis, C. (1997). Should farmers and graziers be garmers and fraziers? pp. 22-23 in ‘Landcare Best Practice’ released at the Landcare Changing Australia National Conference, Adelaide, September 1997.
    Jones, C.E. (2006). Carbon and catchments. National ‘managing the Carbon Cycle’ Forum, Queanbeyan, NSW, 22-23 November 2006. www.amazingcarbon.com
    Morris G. D. (2004). ‘Sustaining national water supplies by understanding the dynamic capacity that humus has to increase soil water-holding capacity.’ Thesis submitted for Master of Sustainable Agriculture, University of Sydney, July 2004. Contact [email protected]

    Soil Lovers at Soil Learning Center Say:

    Learning how to build soil carbon is paramount

    Download PDF

    🔒 PRO Access Only

    Some content on this page is locked to members only!

    Dig Deeper and unearth your connection to the soil. Soil PRO membership is a revolutionary community that connects you with all things soil-related, from global challenges right down to the soil in your own backyard.

    Unlock the years of video archives, search the vault for "soil-utions", connect with mentors who can help you fast track and join an online community of soil loving enthusiasts on our Mastermind Calls.

    It's non-stop soil learning goodness!
    UPGRADE TO PRO NOW
    Locked

    We acknowledge First Nations owners of Country and their continuing connection to the land, waters and culture across Australia and from all over the world. As Soil Lovers we respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of all the lands on which we work and pay our respects to the Elders past present and emerging. When caring for your land take a moment in stillness to respect the wisdom your land is sharing with us.

    Facebook-f Youtube Microphone-alt

    Latest Soil Blogs

    Worms Are The Answer!

    Super nutrition for revitalised soils

    Support local while you FindGoodFood with tasty new app

    How Brix Meters work!

    Is the food that you are growing or eating bursting with nutrients?

    Why Soil Organic Matter actually matters

    Soil Matters Monthly Newsletter!

    Dig into the most up-to-date news on soil health and regenerative trends – with community tips from top experts and mentors! Sign Up Now!

    Your information is 100% secure. We will NEVER share your information with anyone.

    ©2006 - 2022 All rights reserved​.

    Made with 🤎 Created by Soil Lovers at Farming Secrets.

    Clear Clear All

    Omg... this sale is crazy!

    Days
    Hours
    Minutes
    Seconds

    hurry up and grab these deals:

    • 50% Courses
    • 30% Digital Downloads
    • 30% Memberships
    View all the deals