How does tillage affect soil carbon content?
Tilling the soil causes much of its carbon content in the topsoil layers to be lost to the atmosphere. As soils are tilled, organic matter previously protected from microbial action decomposes rapidly. U.S. Department of Agriculture research shows that carbon dioxide gas is lost directly from tilled soils. The soils also lose carbon through wind and water erosion. Research shows the deeper the tillage, the greater the carbon losses. Repeated tillage can result in loss of half of carbon storage.
