Australian project shows rotational grazing boosts soil carbon
A Meat and Livestock Australia-funded project has shown a combination of rotational grazing and growing alfalfa can lift soil carbon levels above those found under adjoining heritage scrub.
Jo Williams, whose family owns two farms in South Australia , said: “The results show than human interference isn’t always negative – in fact, managing productive pastures can be good for soil carbon.
"Soil carbon is such a buzzword in agriculture and we were really interested in what was happening with soil carbon in our business.”
She said the higher level of soil carbon in her paddocks was pleasantly surprising.
“We all thought the scrub – which is part of an area which was never cleared – would have had higher soil organic carbon levels, given that it is in its natural state and has never been disturbed,” she said.
“However, the use of fertiliser on the alfalfa and the rotational grazing means there is more plant growth, greater nutrient cycling and increased soil organic matter in the soil which is creating higher soil organic carbon levels.
“It was a real highlight to find that our management had improved the highly infertile sands to a level that was better than what was probably initially there.”
Image: Jo Williams in a paddock at her family’s property at Field in South Australia’s upper southeast. Credit: MLA
