CARBON CAPTURE AND SEQUESTRATION

Capturing and storing carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is the most common of the Greenhouse Gasses (GHGs) in the atmosphere. Plants such as soybeans take carbon dioxide out of the air through photosynthesis and convert it to plant biomass. This carbon is then stored in the soil after the growing season.

Carbon dioxide helps soybeans grow

Through the process of photosynthesis, soybeans take carbon dioxide from the air and use it to produce oxygen and glucose, which later become energy released when soybeans are crushed for animal feed, human food or industrial use such as biofuel.

Selling carbon credits

Farmers who use soil management practices that promote carbon sequestration can sell their carbon credits to other industries to offset their emissions.

Capturing carbon dioxide

Capturing carbon from the atmosphere and putting it back into the soil through best management practices helps to reduce GHGs.

Implementing best practices

Using conservation tillage systems, planting cover crops and rotating crops are ways soybean farmers improve the health of the soil and increase its ability to store carbon.

Soil management improves carbon sequestration

Healthy soil stores more carbon.

Rows of soybean plants in front of buildings

Capture

Through photosynthesis soybean plants pull carbon dioxide out of the air. The carbon in the plant, both above and especially below ground, can add carbon back into the soil where it is held in a more stable form.

Store

Carbon is stored in soil and mostly remains in a stable form unless the soil is disturbed.

Carbon sequestration benefits soybean production and soil health

Agricultural practices, such as conservation tillage systems and cover crops, are the best way to encourage healthy soil that can store carbon.

growing soybean plants

Improved soil health

Putting more carbon into the soil enhances and restores soil health. Carbon sequestration and the practices that promote it improve soil productivity.

Increased soil resilience

Healthy soil is more resilient to changes due to increased torrential rainfall. Soil that is well cared for can store more water because it’s more stable. Implementing practices that provide cover for the top layer help protect the soil and make it less susceptible to drought and heavy rainfall.

More biodiversity

Healthy soil has more biodiversity of microbes and organic matter and contributes to plant growth.

Reduced input use

Crop inputs such as fertilizers are expensive. Soil that is well managed and healthy needs fewer inputs.

Explore other regenerative soybean production practices

Water quality management

Water is critical regardless of the crop. Implementing environmental practices to keep water safe for using in the community, watering animals and irrigating fields is important to soybean farmers.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WATER QUALITY

Nitrogen fixing

While all plants need nitrogen to grow, soybeans can fix nitrogen with the aid of nitrogen fixing soil bacteria. Through a symbiotic relationship with soil microbes, soybeans convert nitrogen to a usable form.

LEARN MORE ABOUT NITROGEN AND SOYBEANS

Greenhouse gas emissions

Conservation tillage systems help soybean farmers reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and improve air quality by reducing trips across the field.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

Tillage

Soybeans are well suited for conservation tillage systems including no-till, reduced-till and vertical tillage that help to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and improve soil health.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TILLAGE SYSTEMS

Crop residue

Leaving crop residue in the field after harvest contributes to soil health and protects fields from erosion. Over several months, the stubble breaks down and turns into organic matter. With microorganisms nutrients are returned back to the soil.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CROP RESIDUE AND SOIL HEALTH