1. How much carbon is captured?
The total amount of soil organic carbon is presented in kg per ha and in ton per ha. These figures are converted to how this equals to pure CO2. You can find out more about this calculation in our FAQs.
Soil Carbon Check enables all parties in the agri-food chain to claim and prove carbon capture for sustainable food and feed production. Contact your local lab for more information on how to take a sample. You will receive a report by mail approximately one week after sampling.
The report answers four questions in clear graphs and figures. Here is a brief explanation of the various components of the Soil Carbon Check report. You can also find a report example here.
The total amount of soil organic carbon is presented in kg per ha and in ton per ha. These figures are converted to how this equals to pure CO2. You can find out more about this calculation in our FAQs.
The carbon percentage in soil organic matter (SOC/SOM ratio) is a measure of the stability of soil carbon. The more carbon in the soil organic matter, the slower the decomposition is by the soil life and the better the soil is able to capture CO2. The report also presents data on C/N ratio, C/S ratio, clay% and clay/SOC ratio.
Furthermore, active carbon, also known as permanganate-oxidizable carbon or POXC, is measured and reported. POXC reflects practices that promote organic matter accumulation or stabilization and it can therefore be a useful indicator of long-term soil carbon sequestration.
The challenge is to increase the soil organic capture. This report presents the current carbon status and the expected breakdown of soil organic material by mineralization.
Two crucial figures on carbon capture are calculated: the input needed to maintain the soil organic status (light bleu) and the additional input needed to improve by 4 per 1000 (dark blue part).
Based on an annual carbon check, the development of carbon capture over time is presented in a graph. In this example, you can see a significant increase in the soil organic %. The increase has been 2.4 ton CO2 per hectare per year, so you have earned 2 carbon credits per hectare per year.
The intensity of soil sampling needed to find a significant increase in SOC includes, but is not limited to:
Soil Carbon Check is a soil test that provides unique insight into the actual amount of CO2 stored in the soil, and the development of CO2 capture over time. Soil Carbon Check is based on an organic matter determination with NIRS. Soil Carbon Check adds depth to the existing C-determination on Fertilizer Manager.
The report of Soil Carbon Check is supported by the Carbon Calculator. This handy calculator makes it possible to determine the effect on carbon capture of a crop, green manure crop or animal manure or compost. The advice that follows makes possible to optimize the carbon management for the own situation.
Eurofins Agro does not produce carbon credits; we provide reliable tests that can be used by certifying parties.
The build-up of organic matter in soil takes time and requires the continuous attention of the farmer/grower. Soil management and mineralization by soil life have a great effect on carbon capture. Climatic conditions, temperature and precipitation are also very influential. Annual monitoring provides insight into the actual state of the soil; measuring and re-measuring the soil carbon status should lead to a significant increase in CO2 storage. When a Soil Carbon Check is performed yearly, improvement can be proved much sooner. Moreover, chain partners in the agri-food sector require up-to-date figures on the condition of the soil. Only with up-to-date data is it possible to claim and prove sustainable land use.
Carbon enters the soil via degrading organic matter from root exudates (substances in the rhizosphere that are secreted by the roots of living plants and microbially modified products of these substances). It is therefore best to sample the soil layer in which most roots are located, or the plough layer (as this is mixed with organic matter). We advise a depth of 30 cm, if possible.
Yes, this is possible. However, it is hard to see an increase when organic matter is already high.
Grasslands are very apt for storing soil organic carbon; permanent grasslands sequester carbon particularly easily. However, arable land is also suitable for storing carbon and although in arable farming systems sequestering carbon can be challenging, there is very high potential.
CO2 is captured in the soil organic material as carbon. Plants capture CO2 from the air through photosynthesis into organic matter; therefore, leaves, wood and roots form an endless storage vessel for CO2. Micro-organisms are also a major source of soil organic material; however, soil life (fungi, bacteria, small insects etc.) also breaks down organic material. This causes CO2 to be released again. This is known as the carbon cycle.
Soil organic matter is the collective term for all the material found in the soil that comes from microorganisms, plants and animals. Organic matter consists largely of complex molecules of carbon (C), oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H). It also contains other organic substances (e.g. proteins and amino acids) which include nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S).
As a guideline, soil organic carbon makes up about 50% of the organic matter, however, this percentage varies widely (between 30 and 70%). The actual soil organic carbon content depends on factors such as the origin of the organic matter and the type of soil.
There are several ways to capture CO2 in soil. The best method is dependent on the type of farm. A few suggestions are:
Organic matter affects biological, chemical and physical soil fertility. Organic matter provides nitrogen (N), sulphur (S) and other nutrients to crops by being released during the decomposition of organic matter. Nutrients like potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) are loosely bound to organic molecules, which are weakly negatively electrically charged. They can thus hold positively charged ions such as ammonium (NH4+) or potassium (K+) to the CEC.
Organic matter retains moisture. Plots with higher organic matter content are therefore less susceptible to drought and can more effectively ‘capture’ water from rainfall. It is food for soil organisms, therefore not only important for mineralization, but also for the resilience of the soil. Finally, organic matter improves the workability of the soil.
Most organic matter is stable, however, organic matter can disappear through decomposition by soil life and it is re-supplemented by the input of manure, compost and crop residues for example. The difference between supply and degradation determines whether the content is in balance. If the decomposition is higher than the supply, the organic matter content decreases and vice versa.
Effective organic matter is the part of the organic matter that remains in the soil one year after application of crop residues, manure or compost. In the first year after application a large part of the organic matter disappears because it is easily degradable. The contribution of this fraction to the content in the soil is therefore quite small. The contribution of the more stable fraction is greater.
The report of Soil Carbon Check is supported by the Carbon Calculator. This handy calculator makes it possible to determine the effect that a crop, green manure/cover crop, animal manure or compost has on carbon capture. The advice that follows allows you to optimize carbon management in accordance with the specifics of an individual farm.
Use the link or QR-code on your report to open the Carbon Calculator. The Carbon Calculator will then take your latest personal soil carbon data. Use this data to optimize your choice of crop or which manure/green manure/compost to apply on your fields.
The Carbon Calculator also shows the amount of additional carbon you have stored, in tonnes per hectare, and therefore how many carbon credits you may be able to claim.
CO2 is captured in the soil organic material as carbon. Plants capture CO2 from the air through photosynthesis into organic matter, therefore, leaves, wood and roots form an endless storage vessel for CO2. Micro-organisms are also a major source of soil organic material, however, soil life (fungi, bacteria, small insects etc.) also breaks down organic material. This causes CO2 to be released again and this is known as the carbon cycle.
CO2 capture in organic matter therefore depends on the type of organic matter: stable organic matter contains more carbon than fresh organic matter. The activity of the soil life is important for the degree of degradation. Carbon Check provides insight into the amount of carbon captured.
At the COP21 (Paris) a 4 per 1000 increase was anticipated; so an annual increase of 0.4% per year. On average an increase of 2 ton CO2 can be expected (depending on among others weather conditions and management).
To calculate climate impact, soil carbon capture is converted to CO2. To do this, a factor of 44/12 = 3.67 is used (mole mass CO2/mole mass C). This means that 1 ton of soil carbon (as part of soil organic matter) matter corresponds to 3.67 tons of CO2 capture.
Organic matter has several important functions in the soil. It is one of the most important indicators of soil health. Organic matter is food for all soil organisms. Because no light penetrates into the soil, soil organisms cannot use sunlight for photosynthesis as an energy source. This means all soil organisms depend on organic matter for their energy and food supply. Organic matter contributes to nutrient delivery, moisture and air management and soil structure.
One crop is not the other when it comes to the contribution to effective organic matter. More about green manures.
As it gets warmer on earth, the breakdown of organic matter in the soil will increase. It is therefore important to keep a finger on the pulse and perform regular Soil Carbon Check.