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What is soil organic matter worth?

G P Sparling1, D Wheeler, E-T Vesely

  • 1Landcare Research, Private Bag 3127, Hamilton, New Zealand. sparlingg@landscareresearch.co.nz

Journal of Environmental Quality
|March 3, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Restoring soil organic matter boosts pasture yields and milk production, with significant financial benefits. Its value for carbon and nitrogen sequestration far exceeds crop production gains.

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Journal of environmental quality·2018

Area of Science:

  • Soil Science
  • Agricultural Science
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Soil organic matter (SOM) is crucial for soil health, plant growth, and crop production.
  • SOM plays a vital role in terrestrial carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling and storage.
  • Quantifying the economic value of SOM for both agricultural productivity and environmental services is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the monetary value of soil organic matter in three New Zealand soil orders.
  • To assess SOM's contribution to crop production (pasture yield) and its function as a C and N sink.
  • To compare the economic returns from increased milk solids production versus C and N sequestration.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized soil chemical and physical data from matched pairs of soils with high and low organic matter content.
  • Employed a pasture (grass-clover) production model using real-life soil examples and three climate scenarios (wet, dry, average).
  • Calculated differences in dry matter yields, converted to milk solids value, and estimated C and N sequestration value based on credit trading.

Main Results:

  • Pasture dry matter yields were consistently lower in soils with reduced organic matter across all soil orders and climate scenarios.
  • Increased organic matter in high-carbon soils translated to an estimated NZ$27 to NZ$150 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ gain in milk solids production.
  • Accumulated losses in pastoral production due to decreased yields were estimated at NZ$518 to NZ$1239 ha⁻¹, persisting for decades.
  • The hypothetical value of SOM for C and N sequestration ranged from NZ$22,963 to NZ$90,849 ha⁻¹, significantly higher than its value for milk production.

Conclusions:

  • Soil organic matter significantly enhances pasture productivity and associated economic returns through milk production.
  • The long-term economic losses from depleted soil organic matter are substantial, highlighting the importance of conservation and restoration.
  • The value of soil organic matter as a carbon and nitrogen sequestration agent is considerably greater than its value for direct agricultural output, emphasizing its environmental significance.

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