A new study from Cornell University has found that many regenerative farming practices aimed at building soil organic carbon can reduce crop yields in certain situations. Funded in part by the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, the study used computer model analysis to examine the effects of practices such as planting cover crops, leaving crop residues on the field, and reducing tillage.

The analysis showed that while these practices can improve soil health and sequester carbon, their global adoption tends to benefit either greenhouse gas mitigation or crop yields but not both simultaneously. The study suggests that the effectiveness of these practices varies by location. In particular, benefits for both climate mitigation and crop yields were most likely when grains are planted in soils with high clay content or soils that have limited nutrients.

The findings provide contextualized information that can help farmers, policymakers, and sustainability professionals choose management plans that balance the need for crop yield with the goal of reducing greenhouse gases. Dominic Woolf, senior research associate in the School of Integrative Plant Science and Soil and Crop Sciences Section in Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, noted that the research presents the first detailed guidance on optimizing farming practices to address both crop production and climate change mitigation.

Source: Cornell University

Source Type: College

Source Location: Ithaca

Ithaca, NY

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