A new study shows that increasing plant diversity in agriculture can be used to improve the carbon sequestration potential of agricultural soils.
A new study shows that increasing plant diversity in agriculture can be used to improve the carbon sequestration potential of agricultural soils. As the agricultural sector strives to reduce its carbon footprint, promoting biodiversity in agricultural practices could be the key to more sustainable and climate-friendly food production systems.
As agricultural expansion and intensive farming practices continues to degrade soils and release carbon into the atmosphere, finding ways to enhance soil carbon storage is critical. Given that over 40% of the planet’s land is used for farming, agroecosystems need to play a major role in climate mitigation strategies.
However, the limited understanding of plant-microbe interactions has so far hindered efforts to maximize soil carbon storage. A team of researchers led by Luiz Domeignoz-Horta from the University of Zurich has uncovered new insights into how increasing plant diversity in agriculture can significantly improve soil carbon retention.
Read more at University of Zurich
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