The world's soils could store an extra 8 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases, helping to limit the impacts of climate change, according to scientists at the Universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

The researchers said adopting the latest technologies and sustainable land use practices on a global scale could allow more emissions to be stored in farmland and more ‘natural’ wild spaces. The researchers estimate that growing crops with deeper root systems, using charcoal-based composts and applying sustainable agriculture practices could help soils retain the equivalent of around 80% of annual emissions released by burning fossils fuels.

They said soils’ potential role in mitigating climate change has been overlooked in the past, as there has been a lack of effective monitoring tools, however, government funded research, conducted in conjunction with three universities in the U.S. suggests technological improvements have changed this.

Professor Pete Smith, of the University of Aberdeen, explained, "Soils have probably been overlooked as you cannot see the large carbon stocks they contain, whereas you can see trees growing and getting bigger. It is also difficult to easily measure changes in soil carbon as changes are slow and we are trying to measure a small change against a large background.

"But after International Year of Soils in 2015, and the French Government's initiative to increase soil carbon stocks to tackle climate change agreed at the Paris climate summit last December, soils are now firmly on the climate change agenda.”

Previous research shows that soils currently lock away around 2.4 trillion tonnes of greenhouse gases, which are stored underground as stable organic matter.

The researchers from Aberdeen and Edinburgh said coordinated efforts involving scientists, policymakers and custodians of the land will be needed in order to achieve any meaningful increase in soil storage of greenhouse gases. They added that “Resources should be provided to help reduce the environmental impact of farms.”

They recommended setting up community-based initiatives to help overcome cultural barriers, funding issues and monitoring challenges to achieve a global increase in soil uptake. Schemes such as the Cool Farm Tool, a free online greenhouse gas calculator for crop growers, can help farmers measure, manage and reduce emissions from their land.

Professor Dave Reay, of the University of Edinburgh's School of GeoSciences, said "In the fight to avoid dangerous climate change in the 21st century we need heavyweight allies. One of the most powerful is right beneath our feet. Soils are already huge stores of carbon, and improved management can make them even bigger.

"Too long have they been overlooked as a means to tackle climate change. Too often have problems of accurate measurement and reporting stymied progress towards climate-smart soil management. With the surge in availability of 'big data' on soils around the world, alongside rapid improvements in understanding and modelling, the time has come for this big-hitter to enter the ring."