What’s the big deal with carbon, anyway?

We hear about it in the context of climate change, emissions, and greenhouse gases, it is also a powerful solution beneath our feet. In the form of organic matter in soil, carbon plays a vital role in agriculture, ecosystem health, and even climate resilience. The more carbon we can store in the ground—instead of the atmosphere—the better it is for our crops, our planet, and our future.

Carbon-rich soils retain water better, resist erosion, and support vibrant microbial life.

Why Increasing Soil Carbon Matters

Healthier soil isn't just good for crops—it’s a win-win for the planet. These are the criteria we feel are important to look at:

• Productivity & resilience: Carbon-rich soils retain water better, resist erosion, and support vibrant microbial life. That means higher yields and less irrigation, even during droughts or heat spells.

• Ecosystem recovery: Native grasses, wildflowers, and forested areas thrive in soils with abundant organic carbon—restoring biodiversity and improving habitat quality.

• Climate change: Soil acts like a carbon vault, storing CO₂ that would otherwise heat the atmosphere. More organic carbon in soils = more carbon safely kept underground.

Cutting-Edge Tech for Measuring Soil Carbon on the Spot

Traditionally, farmers send soil samples to labs—a slow process that can take weeks and cost hundreds per site. Now innovative tools are changing the game. I wanted to showcase some cool tech that is out to help. Please keep in mind this is no endorsement as we have no relationship with these companies. We just think knowing what is available helps everyone. So let's go!

The more carbon we can store in the ground the better it is for our crops, our planet, and our future.

Yard Stick’s handheld spectrometer

Yard Stick PBC has developed a hand‑held probe that uses near‑infrared (NIR) and bulk‑density sensing, paired with GPS and AI, to estimate soil organic carbon (SOC) instantly in the field—no lab involved.

• Measures down to 1 m depth

• Provides real‑time readings, spatial planning, and cloud analytics

• Cuts measurement costs by up to 90% compared to traditional labs

This makes SOC monitoring scalable, economically accessible to farmers and ranchers, and compatible with major carbon‑credit standards .

SEED’s Radicle™ CO₂ respiration sensor

Another handheld option, the Radicle™ sensor from SEED, measures CO₂ emitted by soil microbes—a proxy for carbon cycling and biological activity.

• Insert and read CO₂ levels in ~15 min, with an onboard display and mobile app

• Helps small‑plot growers, home gardeners, and underserved farmers access carbon insights

• Uses machine learning to translate readings into soil health actionable data.

  
  

Veris CoreScan™ optical & vehicle-mounted probe

For larger fields, CoreScan™ by Veris uses dual‑wavelength Vis‑NIR sensors on tractors or handheld rigs to map organic matter and carbon content up to 1 m depth in real‑time.

• Scans 50 acres/hour at 1 cm depth intervals.

• Integrates compaction, moisture, texture, and carbon data for precision ag.

• Ideal for carbon‑credit baseline mapping and continuous soil health tracking.

  
  

Other notable innovations

• UTAS “QUOLL” electronic‑nose: Sniffs soil gases hourly to track biological activity and carbon cycling—useful for rapid soil testing.

• Fieldstone Bio: Deploys microbial biosensors visible via drone/satellite imagery to monitor soil chemistry in real time.

What It All Means for Farmers & Nature

Thanks to these tools, farmers and land managers can:

1. Measure intelligently – Get rapid, accurate carbon data on-site without lab delays

2. Adapt practices fast – Track how cover cropping, composting, or reduced tilling affects soil carbon and tweak strategies accordingly

3. Unlock carbon markets – Accurately verify carbon gains to participate in credits, boosting farm income and sustainability

At the same time, native ecosystems heal—more carbon translates into richer soils that support diverse plant & animal communities.

Bottom Line

Boosting soil carbon via regenerative practices:

• Improves production (resilience, yield, fertility)

• Supports ecosystem restoration (native species, biodiversity)

• Contributes to climate action (soil as carbon sink)

And with innovative tools like Yard Stick’s handheld probe, SEED’s Radicle™, Veris CoreScan™, QUOLL, Fieldstone Bio, and others, on-site soil carbon measurement is becoming fast, affordable, and actionable.