Agronomy Fact Sheet Series Fact Sheet 91

The Carbon Cycle and Soil Organic Carbon

Carbon and the Carbon Cycle carbon level increases. Higher soil organic
Carbon (C) is one of the most common elements carbon promotes soil structure or tilth meaning
in the universe and found virtually everywhere there is greater physical stability. This improves
on earth: in the air, the oceans, soil, and rock. soil aeration (oxygen in the soil) and water
Carbon is part of geologic history in rock and drainage and retention, and reduces the risk of
especially the ancient deposits that formed coal, erosion and nutrient leaching. Soil organic
oil and other energy sources we use today. carbon is also important to chemical
Carbon is also an essential building block of life composition and biological productivity,
and a component of all plants and animals on including fertility and nutrient holding capacity
the planet. It has unique bonding properties of a field. As carbon stores in the soil increase,
that allow it to combine with many other carbon is “sequestered”, and the risk of loss of
elements. These properties enable the other nutrients through erosion and leaching is
formation of molecules that are useful and reduced. An increase in soil organic carbon
necessary to support life. The role of carbon in typically results in a more stable carbon cycle
living systems is so significant that a whole and enhanced overall agricultural productivity,
branch of study is devoted to it: organic while physical disturbances of the soil can lead
chemistry. Carbon that is not tied up in rock or to a net loss of carbon into the surrounding
deep in the oceans is constantly changing and environment due to formation of carbon dioxide
moving. This process is called the carbon cycle (CO2).
(Figure 1). Soil holds the largest portion of
active carbon on earth. Plants take carbon from Atmosphere
the air and convert it to plant tissue, some of
which returns to the soil as plant residue. Respiration
Food chain

Agriculture’s Role in the Carbon Cycle Photosynthesis

Carbon is critical to soil function and Atmospheric

CO2
productivity, and a main component of and
contributor to healthy soil conditions. Soil Plant biomass
Animal biomass
management plays a critical role in whether the
carbon remains in the soil or is released to the Carbon dioxide emission from soil
Wet organic material
atmosphere. Agricultural practices can impact
CaCO3 <-> H2CO3
both the amount and the composition of soil
organic carbon and hence also the soil’s
Root incorporation
CO2

physical, biological, and chemical condition, the Root respiration

Microbial biomass

combination of things that defines soil health. Mineralization

Farm practices that affect carbon therefore Humified substances
Soil
impact agricultural productivity and resilience
(the soil’s ability to deal with weather extremes) Figure 1. The carbon cycle and the interaction of plant, soil,
and the carbon cycle itself. and atmosphere. Adapted from Institute for Radiological
Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN).
Importance of Soil Organic Carbon
While the agricultural sector has the ability to Management Practices for C Sequestration
impact the carbon cycle on a large scale, often With agricultural productivity so dependent on
through the release of carbon, farmers have a soil organic carbon and carbon cycling, how can
vested interest in retaining and increasing soil we best manage fields to enhance soil organic
organic carbon for individual fields because soil carbon levels while also reducing carbon loss
and yield tend to improve when the soil organic into the atmosphere?

Field Crops Extension 1 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Table 1. Management practices that can increase soil organic carbon and reduce carbon loss into
the atmosphere.
Management practices Functions and explanation
Conservation tillage practices Conservation tillage practices including no-till management aid
in storing soil organic carbon, keeping the physical stability of
the soil intact. When reduced-till systems are combined with
residue management and manure management, soil organic
carbon can increase over time.
Crop residue management Returning crop residue to the soil adds carbon and helps to
maintain soil organic matter.
Cover crops Cover crops can increase soil carbon pools by adding both root
and above ground biomass. Covers also reduce the risk of soil
erosion and the resulting loss of carbon with soil particles.
Cover crops also enhance nutrient cycling and increase soil
health over time.
Manure and compost Adding organic amendments such as manure or compost can
directly increase soil carbon, and also result in increased soil
aggregate stability. This enhances the biological buffering
capacity of the soil, resulting in greater yields and yield
stability over time.
Crop selection Perennial crops eliminate the need for yearly planting and
increase soil organic carbon by root and litter decomposition
post-harvest. Crops with greater root mass in general add to
root decomposition and physically bond aggregates together.
Using high residue annual crops can also help reduce net
carbon loss from cropping systems.

The ability of agricultural fields to sequester Additional Resources

carbon (capture and storage of carbon that o United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
Agricultural sector emissions. Sources of greenhouse
would otherwise be lost to the environment)
gas emissions:
depends on several factors including climate, [Link]/climatechange/ghgemissions/sources/a
soil type, type of crop or vegetation cover, and gr [Link].
management practices. Employing farming o NASA Earth Observatory. The carbon cycle:
[Link]/Features/CarbonCycle/.
practices that reduce disturbance of the soil
o Cornell Nutrient Management Spear Program Agronomy
(less aeration from tillage helps protect carbon), Fact Sheet #41: Soil organic
combined with practices that bring additional matter:_nmsp.[Link]/publications/factsheets/f
carbon to the soil, will allow for carbon [Link].
sequestration over time. Such practices include
Disclaimer
implementation of conservation tillage (no-till, This fact sheet reflects the current (and past) authors’ best
zone-till, minimum-till, shallow mixing or effort to interpret a complex body of scientific research, and
injection for manure applications), retaining to translate this into practical management options.
crop residues, including cover crops in crop Following the guidance provided in this fact sheet does not
assure compliance with any applicable law, rule, regulation
rotations, adding organic nutrient sources such or standard, or the achievement of particular discharge
as manure and compost, and including levels from agricultural land.
perennial crops in crop rotations (Table 1). Their
implementation may slow or even reverse the For more information

loss of carbon from agricultural fields, improve

nutrient cycling and reduce nutrient loss.

Conclusion
Soil carbon management is an important Nutrient Management Spear Program
[Link]
strategy for improving soil quality, increasing
crop yields, and reducing soil loss. Capturing Eli Corning, Amir Sadeghpour,
carbon in the soil helps improve soil health and Quirine Ketterings, and Karl Czymmek.
productivity, and stabilize the global carbon
2016
cycle, benefiting agricultural production.

Field Crops Extension 2 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences