These books highlight what is currently known about soils and the carbon cycle. They also list areas where we need to expand our knowledge base so that we can develop recommended management practices to increase the sequestration of carbon in soils. It should be noted that there is a strong linkage of the carbon cycle to the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles and that all three need to be considered together. Many of the problems we have with animal wastes are related to phosphorus and nitrogen, yet the organic matter in the wastes is needed for building soil carbon. In addition, both nitrogen and phosphorus are required for the photosynthesis process.
Photosynthesis fixes atmospheric carbon dioxide in living plants.
As plants decompose some of the plant material is converted into soil organic matter. Therefore, an understanding of the three cycles and their interactions is required. We also need to consider the emissions of methane and where this fits in the overall carbon cycle in agriculture. Methane is produced by ruminant livestock during feed digestion, and in wetlands, rice paddies, and animal waste storage facilities. We know that soils can sequester carbon.