Soil carbon science

Start here for the fundamentals of soil carbon: how photosynthesis and respiration trade carbon between plants, soil and atmosphere, and how a small proportion becomes locked away in soil for decades or longer. Diagrams walk through the carbon cycle and how it connects to climate change.

New Zealand's soils already hold unusually high carbon stocks compared with other countries, thanks to our climate, young soils and mostly perennial, lightly tilled pastures, and that high starting point makes further gains difficult to achieve here. The explainer summarises current evidence on flat land, peat and hill country soils, and why national reporting does not yet account for changes within a land use. Read it before looking at research on specific farm practices or how soil carbon is measured.