Articles | Volume 11, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-957-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-957-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Original research article
| 
19 Nov 2025
Original research article |
| 19 Nov 2025
| 19 Nov 2025
Physical protection of soil carbon stocks under regenerative agriculture
Sam G. Keenor
School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
Rebekah Lee
School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
Brian J. Reid
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
Related authors
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Zhe H. Weng, Ram C. Dalal, Brian J. Reid, Yong-Guan Zhu, Timothy I. McLaren, Brigid A. McKenna, Meghan Barnard, Casey L. Doolette, Enzo Lombi, Johannes Friedl, and Peter M. Kopittke
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-100, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-100, 2025
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
Long-term cropping reduced total stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC). This study examined the microscale processes which regulates the preservation of SOC under long-term cropping, with an understanding of this being essential for predicting SOC persistence and to identify approaches to re-building SOC stocks in agroecosystems.
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Short summary
Regenerative soil management reduced bulk density, increased carbon stocks, and influenced aggregate stability with time. Soils were observed to become proportionally more enriched in stable aggregates and store more carbon with time. Stable aggregates provided physical protection (occlusion) to labile carbon stocks. When considered alongside recalcitrant carbon, these carbon stabilisation mechanisms may provide further opportunities to deliver robust long term carbon sequestration outcomes.
Regenerative soil management reduced bulk density, increased carbon stocks, and influenced...
