Journal of Science Policy & Governance
Volume 26, Issue 01 | June 16, 2025

Policy Analysis 
Sowing Solutions: Analysis and Recommendations for Diversified Agricultural Systems and Their Impact on Soil Carbon, Soil Health, and Crop Yields

Aaron M. Prairie1, Helen D. Silver2, Megan B. Machmuller1,3, Tamara Jane Zelikova1,3
  1. Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
  2. Ground Up Consulting, Denver, CO, USA 
  3. Soil Carbon Solutions Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
​​
​Corresponding author:  [email protected] ​
Keywords: soil organic carbon; soil health; crop yields; diversified agricultural systems; climate resilience; conservation programs; agriculture policy
https://doi.org/10.38126/JSPG260108 ​

Executive Summary

A resilient agricultural sector is essential for food security, particularly in the face of increasing climate risks. Research demonstrates that improving soil health through sustainable agricultural practices can enhance soil organic carbon, boost crop yields, increase resilience to extreme weather events, and strengthen farm economics. However, limited research has explored the impacts of diversified agricultural systems—those that implement multiple soil health practices—on soil carbon, soil health, and productivity. This paper synthesizes findings from a comprehensive literature review evaluating the effects of diversified agricultural systems in the United States. Key trends include higher soil carbon levels in diversified systems, regionally variable effectiveness, and improvements in crop yields and soil health through enhanced drought resilience, nutrient cycling, and erosion control. Despite promising outcomes, significant knowledge gaps remain. Many studies lack baseline measurements, making it difficult to determine whether soil carbon differences are due to sequestration or reduced losses. Limited geographic and temporal data also constrain our ability to generalize findings or optimize practice combinations. To address these challenges, we propose policy recommendations which include extending participation in the CSP and the EQIP, funding regionally targeted research through USDA ARCS and NRCS, refining NRCS ranking criteria, and improving USDA data reporting. With long-term investment and policy support, diversified agricultural systems have the potential to enhance sustainability and climate resilience in U.S. agriculture.

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Background header image courtesy of NIFA
Aaron Prairie, PhD, is a postdoctoral researcher at Colorado State University, specializing in soil ecology and organic matter dynamics within agroecosystems. His research focuses on the role of soil fauna in shaping biogeochemical cycling and fostering healthy, diverse soil ecosystems. By combining meta-analytical approaches with field, greenhouse, and laboratory experiments, Aaron aims to uncover the mechanisms driving soil organic carbon stabilization and inform agricultural practices that promote resilience, food security, and climate change mitigation. 

Helen D. Silver, JD, ALM, is a Principal at Ground Up Consulting LLC and co-director of the Integrated Rocky Mountain-region Innovation Center for Healthy Soils at Colorado State University. With a master’s degree in Sustainability and more than 20 years of experience in environmental law and natural resources policy, Helen works to build resilient landscapes and communities through community engaged research to better inform policy actions. 
​
Megan Machmuller, PhD, is a research scientist in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences and co-director of the Integrated Rocky Mountain region Innovation Center for Healthy Soils (IN-RICHES) at Colorado State University. Her work focuses on how climate change and management practices affect plant-microbial interactions, soil health, and carbon sequestration, aiming to promote resilient and healthy ecosystems. Passionate about advancing regenerative agriculture, Megan collaborates with diverse stakeholders to develop holistic policies and programs. She earned a BS in Biology from Creighton University and a PhD in Ecology from the University of Georgia's Odum School of Ecology, and she was a USDA NIFA postdoctoral fellow before her current position at CSU. 

Jane Zelikova, PhD, is a climate change scientist, executive director of the Soil Carbon Solutions Center, and joint faculty in the Soil and Crop Sciences Department at Colorado State University. Her work focuses on advancing the science of carbon removal in natural and managed ecosystems and she works with leading scientists to build the tools and approaches needed to accelerate the deployment of credible soil-based climate solutions, measure their impacts, and bring them to scale. 

Acknowledgements 
We extend our gratitude to Tayin Wang for assisting with the compilation of literature, and to Elizabeth Finnigan and Tessa Birt for their invaluable contributions to paper selection and data extraction. This project was generously funded by Breakthrough Strategies & Solutions, the Regenerative Agriculture Foundation, and the Panta Rhea Foundation. We deeply appreciate the support that made this work possible.​

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