Summary
This modelling study assessed whether regenerative agriculture practices could increase national soil carbon stocks in Great Britain by simulating country-scale adoption of reduced tillage, cover cropping, and ley-arable integration using the RothC model. Ley-arable integration showed meaningful carbon sequestration potential varying with ley-phase length, whilst reduced tillage produced little change in soil carbon stocks. The authors conclude that regenerative practices could contribute meaningfully to UK agriculture achieving net zero emissions, though practical uptake constraints remain.
UK applicability
This study directly models Great Britain conditions and provides evidence-based estimates of soil carbon sequestration potential under different regenerative practice scenarios. The findings are directly applicable to UK agricultural policy and net zero pathway planning, though the authors note practical constraints to adoption merit further investigation.
Key measures
Soil carbon stocks (tonnes per hectare); carbon sequestration over 30 years; ley-phase duration effects (1 and 4 years); net zero greenhouse gas emissions contribution
Outcomes reported
The study modelled soil carbon stock changes over 30 years under adoption of three regenerative agriculture practices (reduced tillage, cover cropping, and ley-arable integration) at country scale using RothC soil carbon model. It quantified potential greenhouse gas mitigation contribution to net zero targets and identified practical constraints to uptake.
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