Carbon testing, monitoring and reporting

Soil carbon is regulated through biological function in unison with the type of farming practiced. Grazing animals tend to help increase carbon and cultivation tends to decrease carbon through oxidation.

Carbon can be measured accurately to 300mm when appropriate soil samples are taken and the GPS coordinates of each sample site is recorded so that the same site can be tested for comparison in the following seasons.

The percentage of organic carbon is analyzed from the soil samples and multiplied by the bulk density of the soil (dry weight) times the depth which equals the organic carbon per hectare. This is multiplied by the area, calculated using aerial mapping programmes which gives accurate totals for any property surveyed.

When the soil is functioning to its optimum carbon appears to keep increasing as the soils keep getting deeper. These levels vary due to soil type, climate, farming practice, biological function, historical farming practices etc. 

We recommend getting your soils tested using our carbon protocols as soon as possible. This provides a baseline of the carbon in your soils. Any increases, as a consequence of the fertiliser and management programmes that are implemented are documented, and are available to the owner for uses that include carbon compliance and any future carbon sales opportunities. We are seeing that the levels of soil carbon can and do increase substantially when the right soil programs are put in place.

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