Farm soil is more than just dirt—it’s a carbon storage powerhouse. 

To prevent erosion and build nutrients in the soil, farmers often plant cover-crops to shield their main crop. These cover crops can help the soil store more carbon, thereby reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Jason Manzon, an environmental science and technology master’s student at the University of Maryland (UMD), is studying the growth of cover crops in a greenhouse to trace the movement of a special carbon isotope that shows where carbon goes when it enters the soil.

He’s experimenting with different moisture levels to understand the organic matter structure and long-term stability of soil carbon. 

Manzon is collaborating on this project with Stephanie Yarwood, an associate professor of environmental science and technology and a member of the UMD Center of Excellence in Microbiome Sciences.

Their work has the potential to help mitigate climate change and improve farming practices by keeping carbon in the soil.

This video was produced by UMD’s College of Agriculture and National Resources.