Carbon Sequestration Potential on Agricultural Lands: A Review of Current Science and Available Practices

In association with: National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Breakthrough Strategies and Solutions, LLC

Carbon sequestration on agricultural lands is possible through a range of soil management strategies
and could be substantial with widespread implementation. Sequestration of historic carbon emissions is now essential as mitigation alone is unlikely to stabilize our atmosphere. There are numerous management strategies for drawing carbon out of the atmosphere and holding it in the soil. These strategies vary in effectiveness across different climates, soil types, and geographies.

There are still debates about the durability of sequestration in soil and about the precise conditions
that maximize drawdown of carbon emissions. This paper explores how soil carbon is sequestered, the state of soil carbon research, and the debate on the extent of its potential. It offers a set of recommendations for ongoing research and highlights the many co-benefits to increasing soil carbon.