Regenerative Practices Successful at Long-Term Carbon Storage, Study Finds

A meta-analysis conducted by Colorado State University researchers found that regenerative agricultural practices are successful as long-term carbon storage solutions. The research considered two different types of soil carbon, particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC). Because POC cycles faster in soil, different management for the two types of carbon may help provide better outcomes. This study showed that impacts from implementing regenerative practices may not be discernible for about six years, which may not match well with incentive programs and studies with a five-year horizon. This study also revealed that stacking practices, such as polyculture farming, cover cropping, integrated crop-livestock systems, and even tillage, has great potential to increase the soil carbon pool even more than utilizing individual practices, through synergistic interactions.
Related ATTRA blog: Carbon Farm Planning