Riordan Carbon Project No2

Riordan Carbon Project No2 is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the Southern Grampians region of Victoria, approximately 25km north of the major agricultural centre of Hamilton. Registered in November 2021, the project covers a project area of 303 hectares. The surrounding Western District is a premier agricultural zone, renowned for its fertile volcanic plains which support intensive sheep and cattle grazing, as well as broadacre cropping.

The project operates under the 2018 Soil Carbon methodology, which rewards landholders for measurable increases in soil organic carbon (SOC). The specific activity listed for this project involves applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address material nutrient deficiencies in the soil. By optimizing nutrient availability, the project aims to boost plant growth and root biomass, which in turn drives the sequestration of carbon into the soil profile. As an Agriprove-managed project, it likely utilizes their "soil carbon as a service" model, which streamlines the baseline sampling and reporting processes required to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

Environmentally, the site is situated in a temperate zone with reliable rainfall, averaging between 600mm and 650mm annually, with a distinct wet season in winter and spring. The region’s soils are typically derived from the Newer Volcanics province, characterized by heavy grey-brown basalt clays and clay loams (often classified as Chromosols or Sodosols). These soils are generally fertile and hold moisture well, making them highly responsive to the nutrient management strategies employed by this project.