Increasing soil carbon in dryland grazing systems

Project name: Increasing soil carbon sequestration in dryland grazing systems in Northern Victoria.

This project aims to increase soil carbon sequestration in grazing land and make graziers more resilient to climate change through improved grazing practices.

This ‘proof-of-concept’ project will test the effectiveness of the addition of recycled organic compost and rotational grazing on 5 farms in northern Victoria as a means to:

  • improve soil biology and soil structure;
  • increase stable soil organic carbon and soil carbon sequestration; and
  • enhance water infiltration and retention in the soil.

This has the potential to mitigate climate change through increasing carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (through reducing emissions associated with the manufacture, transportation and application of chemical inputs and diversion of organic waste from landfill).

It also has the potential to improve climate change adaptation by fostering greater resilience in farming systems to climate variability through improved soil health and moisture retention and reducing exposure to rising costs of inputs.

Project partners

  • Virtual Centre for Climate Change Innovation (DELWP)
  • Biomix
  • The Green Cocky
  • Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority
  • Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources