1. Soil organic carbon, which makes up about
60% of the soil organic matter on average,
has beneficial effects on many physical,
chemical and biological functions of soil
quality. It helps support the productivity and
diversity of all living organisms in the soil. It
influences water-holding capacity, aeration,
soil aggregation, and other physical aspects.
It affects cation exchange capacity, the
supply and availability of other nutrient
elements, buffering capacity and other
chemical parameters of soil. Soil organic
matter, with soil carbon, holds vast amounts
of organic compounds, nutrients, trace
elements, and cations that are essential to
plant growth and biological activity.
IT services
2. Soil organic carbon is also important for another reason: it serves as a
repository for carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas The amount of
carbon in the soil has been estimated to be at least two times greater
than carbon in the atmosphere and in vegetation The problems
associated with climate change might be alleviated if more carbon
remains captured in the soil as organic carbon Plants get IT services
carbon mainly by absorbing CO2 from the air and they use it with water to
manufacture organic material Eventually, carbon may comprise at least
50% of plant structure
3. When plants and animals die, decomposition breaks down their organic
material and releases them into the soil Soil organic carbon is usually
divided into different fractions, determined by the ease of decomposition
Crop residues and the like are easily broken down and the organic
carbon is used in biological activity Particulate organic carbon breaks
down more slowly and plays a key role in soil structure; it also contributes
to energy and nutrients needed in biological activity Humus decomposes
much more slowly and is especially crucial in providing nutrient elements
4. Finally, there is the very stable fraction of recalcitrant organic carbon,
usually charcoal, which resists further decomposition and serves as a
carbon sink The manner in which land is used and managed affects the
soil's ability to retain organic carbon Soil organic carbon is reduced by
farm management practices that raise the decomposition rate of soil
organic materials and/or reduce carbon inputs Such practices include
fallowing, overgrazing, burning or removal of stubble, and excessive
cultivation (tillage)
5. Essentially, these practices increase the rate of decomposition and
expose the soil to erosion — processes that release carbon dioxide
into the air instead of allowing carbon to be assimilated into other organic
compounds in the soil Soil organic carbon is increased by farming
practices that increase carbon inputs and/or decrease losses of organic
material The practices involved include direct applications of living
organisms (earthworms) or dead organic materials, animal manure,
composts, reduced tillage and stubble retention for green manure
Theoretically, any practice that raises crop yields will increase soil organic
carbon storage because there is greater absorption of atmospheric
carbon
6. Thus, practices like crop rotation, crop intensification through multiple
cropping, and improved cultivars are useful, provided inorganic fertilisers
are not used to boost yields Many farmers have found that adopting farm
management practices that increase soil organic carbon helps them
achieve higher profitability and better sustainability The mitigating effects
on climate change provide an added bonus
