October 23, 2019 – Research shows that building soil health through sustainable organic management practices can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and lessen the impacts of climate change on production. OFRF’s series of guidebooks and webinars for building soil health help farmers and ranchers select the best management practices for their particular circumstances, while leading the way to more sustainable agricultural systems.
In the guidebook titled, “Organic Practices for Climate Mitigation, Adaptation, and Carbon Sequestration,” lead author Mark Schonbeck offers ten tips to enhance carbon sequestration.
- Implement conservation practices such as diversified crop rotations and reduced tillage.
- Consider regenerative cropping systems that integrate multiple conservation practices with judicious use of compost or other organic amendments.
- Incorporate agroforestry practices such as silvopasture, alley cropping, and hedgerows.
- Implement management-intensive rotational grazing systems.
- Plant marginal cropland to perennial sod or trees.
- Plant deep-rooted cover crops, such as forage radish or cereal rye, to enhance root biomass.
- Diversify crop rotations by adding deep-rooted and perennial crops.
- Use diverse organic inputs that vary in their C:N ratio.
- Combine the use of compost and cover crops.
- Divert food and yard waste from landfills to amend cropland.
The entire Soil Health and Organic Farming series is available to download for free at ofrf.org. Printed copies are available upon request for a suggested donation.