Research from the University of Western Australia indicates that carbon stored below the top 30 centimeters of soil represents a massive, overlooked reservoir for climate mitigation. This deep soil carbon is often more stable than surface carbon due to organo-mineral bonds, though it remains vulnerable to temperature shifts and land-use changes. To improve carbon accounting and sequestration, the study suggests shifting toward deep-rooted perennial crops and the use of biochar. These methods can move carbon into deeper layers, creating more permanent sinks and challenging current policy frameworks that only measure surface-level soil.
