CarbonBuilder

There are a number of pools of carbon within soils, each with unique characteristics and differing timescales for the release of carbon back to the atmosphere.

Particulate organic carbon (POC) derived primarily from plant material but also from insects, and detritus generated through fragmentation and decomposition of litter and the breakup of pre-existing soil aggregates. POC is considered the least stable carbon pool.

Aggregate carbon (AggC) tends to be more stable as particle size decreases and as layers of protection increase (Tisdall and Oades 1982; Dexter 1988). Carbon in aggregates can be protected from decomposition when the pore network limits diffusion of gases or nutrients. AggC is a crucial medium-stability carbon pool, bolstering the soil’s capacity to sequester carbon effectively while also improving soil condition. 

Mineral associated organic carbon (MAOC) is the largest and most stable pool of carbon in soil. Understanding and correctly modelling MAOM dynamics supports management practices that can sequester soil carbon for climate change mitigation, as well as increase soil organic matter (SOM) stocks to support soil health, in the long-term. MAOC is considered a reservoir of long-term SOC. 
CarbonBuilder increases carbon levels in both the aggregate carbon (AggC) and the mineral associated organic carbon (MAOC) pools, which are the more stable forms of carbon in our soils. 

By establishing symbiotic relationships with plant roots, CarbonBuilder creates fungal networks in the soil around the plant’s root system. As the fungi’s dense hyphal networks grow through the soil, they efficiently pull carbon from plants and the soil and incorporate it into stable soil aggregates through the secretion of compounds such as glomalin, and other secondary metabolites that bind soil particles together. These fungal hyphae will also promote the binding of carbon onto mineral surfaces, increasing the residence time of carbon in soil.

Through these mechanisms, we are able to observe significant increases in both the aggregate carbon (AggC) and the mineral associated organic carbon (MAOC) pools, increasing both the volume and stability of the carbon.

Traditional soil assessments measure total organic carbon (TOC), but it is important to recognise that not all soil carbon is equally stable. Carbon is stored in different forms in our soils and the way we manage soil can determine soil carbon stability.

TOC can be separated into different fractions, such as plant-derived fast-cycling carbon (POC), carbon physically entrapped in aggregates (Agg-C), and slow-cycling mineral-associated carbon (MAOC).

CarbonBuilder increases carbon levels in the more stable fractions, as aggregate carbon and mineral associated carbon, which are less likely to have large seasonal variations expected for particular organic carbon pools. 

Our products have been tested in standard fertiliser regimes.

We do not recommend that you apply more nitrogen in your system to support your carbon sequestration. Our agronomists can support your nutrition program to ensure that your soil nutrition is balanced to give you the best carbon sequestration outcomes.

The fungi in our products are beneficial endophytes that support plant growth, particularly in times of stress.

In a review of 18 papers, negative effects of dark septate endophytic fungi on plant performance had not been observed while positive effects were identified on total, shoot and root biomass, and on nitrogen and phosphorus contents (Newsham, K. 2011). The fungi in our products have gone through a rigorous laboratory, greenhouse and field testing prior to being launched. This process has taken years to complete.

It is accepted that increasing soil carbon improves soil structure and thus the water holding capacity of soils. Throughout Loam’s field trialling, we have observed occasional increases in soil carbon and plant available water in treated areas compared to untreated areas. We continue to collect data on this in our R&D program.