Farms: Montado Farms Carbon Farming Trials: Marin Carbon Project Overview

Kevin Muno of Montado Farms, John Wick of Marin Carbon Project Montado Farms in San Diego County was selected as one of the 15 carbon farming trial sites by Natural Resources Conservation Service, an agency of USDA. A group of San Diego Food System Alliance members, friends and regenerative farming advocates visited the farm and met with the Marin Carbon Project's scientists on 10/13/16 for the kick-off of the field trials. The scientists tested the baseline levels of the soil on 10/13 and will be laying out organic compost on a 1/2 acre of land on 10/20 and 10/21. Results of the field trials will be available in a few years. A study conducted by UC Berkeley's Dr. Silver and Dr. Ryals of the Marin Carbon Project demonstrated that building healthier soil through a one-time application of a 1/2 inch layer of compost on grazed rangeland increased long-term carbon storage by 1 ton of carbon per hectare and increased forage production by 40-70%. The practice also led to increased water holding capacity to 26k liters per hectare. Soil's water retention capacity is important in this time of drought and San Diego's dry climate. The rigorous methods of this study will be replicated in San Diego County with scientists from Silver lab of UC Berkeley and Schimel lab of UC Santa Barbara.