Temperate Regenerative Agriculture; a win-win for soil carbon and crop yield?

Abstract Regenerative Agriculture proposes to contribute to climate change mitigation and increased food production through improved yields by building soil organic carbon (SOC). We examine three Regenerative practices: reducing tillage intensity, cover cropping and including a grass-based phase in arable rotations (ley-arable systems). Our Bayesian meta-analysis of 195 paired SOC and crop yield observations from published studies finds statistically significant increases in SOC concentration for reduced tillage intensity (0.06 g C.100g-1) and ley-arable systems (0.05 g C.100-1g per year of ley) compared to conventional practice over an average study duration of 15 years, but no effect of cover crops. None of these practices come at a cost to yield during cropping years. However, we find no evidence of a win-win between soil carbon sequestration and enhanced agricultural productivity. Further, the small magnitude of SOC increases suggests a limited role for these Regenerative practices in climate change mitigation strategies in temperate regions.