The End Use:
A Tool In Agricultural Soil Amendment
AltRoot’s compost helps local farmers reinvigorate their land and store carbon in the ground
AltRoot provides its compost to local farmers, many of whom operate farms using “regenerative agriculture.” That term describes farming and grazing practices that, among other benefits, reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity – resulting in both carbon drawdown and an improved water cycle.
Our compost is one tool in the regenerative agriculture toolbox. It leverages the power of photosynthesis in plants to close the carbon cycle and build soil health, crop resilience and nutrient density. “Regenerative agriculture improves soil health, primarily through the practices that increase soil organic matter,” writes Regeneration International. “This not only aids in increasing soil biota diversity and health, but increases biodiversity both above and below the soil surface, while increasing both water holding capacity and sequestering carbon at greater depths.”
Practices include
1
No-till/minimum tillage. Tillage breaks up (pulverizes) soil aggregation and fungal communities while adding excess O2 to the soil for increased respiration and CO2 emission. It can be one of the most degrading agricultural practices, greatly increasing soil erosion and carbon loss.
2
The application of cover crops, crop rotations, compost, and animal manures, which restore the plant/soil microbiome to promote liberation, transfer, and cycling of essential soil nutrients.
3
Building biological ecosystem diversity begins with inoculation of soils with composts or compost extracts to restore soil microbial community population, structure and functionality.
4
Well-managed grazing practices to stimulate improved plant growth, increased soil carbon deposits, and overall pasture and grazing land productivity while greatly increasing soil fertility, insect and plant biodiversity, and soil carbon sequestration.