Exploring Soil As a Carbon Sink: Supercharging the Soil Through Innovative Solutions

Plants are carbon-stashing champs, turning soil into a “carbon vault”! Soil is one of earth’s greatest carbon sinks, thanks to photosynthesis and microbes. With proper care, soil can draw down 100s of millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide–equivalent greenhouse gasses yearly—and that’s just in the United States.

According to the Department of Energy, plants help soil store carbon, creating something called soil organic carbon. The key is to make sure CO2 doesn't escapes back into the atmosphere, and keep it locked away. Cold climates (like the Arctic) and waterlogged places (like wetlands and bogs) slow down decomposition, helping the soil store more carbon. Even oceans join in the fun, storing carbon in water and on the seafloor. So, nature’s got some serious carbon-soil stashing skills!