The use of soil to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere

Rattan Lal:
· Claims that 13% of CO2 in the atmosphere could be absorbed by agricultural soils
· Erosion is more likely in soil that is
· Lal found soil in Africa that was very
· It was suggested that carbon from soil was entering the atmosphere

Soil and carbon:
· plants turn CO2 from the air into carbon-based substances such a
· some CO2 moves from the of plants to microbes in the soil
· carbon was lost from the soil when agriculture was invented

Regenerative agriculture:
· uses established practices to make sure soil remains fertile and
· e.g. through year-round planting and increasing the of plants that are grown.

California study:
· taking place on a big farm
· use compost made from waste from agriculture and

Australia study:
· aims to increase soil carbon by using

Future developments may include:
· reducing the amount of fertilizer used in farming
· giving farmers for carbon storage, as well as their produce