Soils and Carbon Cycle

Soils play a crucial role in the carbon cycle by storing carbon that plants absorb during photosynthesis. When plants die or organic matter decomposes, carbon is transferred into the soil, creating a reservoir of stored carbon. This stored soil carbon helps regulate atmospheric CO₂ levels, impacting climate change. human activities like farming, deforestation, and land use change can disturb this balance—either releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere or enhancing soil's capacity to sequester it. Maintaining healthy soils is vital for capturing carbon and mitigating global warming while supporting ecosystems and agriculture.