Soil plays a significant role in the cycling of three major greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Land management practices that increase the amount of carbon (organic matter) stored in soil are reducing the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. Microorganisms in poorly aerated soils, such as in rice paddies or wetlands, produce methane as they decompose organic matter. Nitrous oxide is a product of denitrification in soil. As well as being a greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide (N2O) depletes stratospheric ozone.
Value of Soil:
- Water quality
- Air quality
- Greenhouse gases
- Biodiversity
- Water flow and flood control
- Sustainability
- Aesthetics