Study Shows Soil Carbon Sequestration and Crop Yields Increase Substantially in Organic Farming Systems
A study published in Scientific Reports finds that organic farming significantly improves soil properties, boosts yields, enhances soil carbon sequestration, reduces water consumption and CO₂ emissions, and delivers the highest net profits over five years compared to conventional and biodynamic systems. Conducted on four crops—maize, tomato, faba bean, and potato—the research highlights how organic practices increase soil organic carbon, improve water-use efficiency, and lower bulk density, supporting healthier and more resilient soils. The findings reinforce the role of organic agriculture in promoting food security, environmental sustainability, and climate mitigation while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers and petrochemical inputs.
Woody perennial polycultures and their influence on soil organic carbon
Woody perennial polycultures (WPPs) can enhance soil organic carbon (SOC), with our study showing SOC stocks increased in 3- and 4-species WPPs, double-density 3-Sp, and corn-soybean controls, with gains ranging from 0.6 to 3.5 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, though only differences between 3-Sp and 4-Sp were statistically significant. SOC changes in surface soils were driven by particulate organic matter (POM) in pastured inter-rows, while depth changes were influenced by erosion, deposition, and leaching, with surface SOC positively related to potentially mineralizable nitrogen and negatively to elevation. Combining plot- and grid-based sampling revealed that both vegetative inputs and landscape features determine SOC dynamics, highlighting the complex interplay of diversity, density, and spatial factors in carbon sequestration.
Source: https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/saj2.70178