Scott Carbon Project 4

Scott Carbon Project 4 is a soil carbon sequestration project located approximately 20km northwest of Naracoorte in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia. Registered on March 25, 2022, the project covers 246.30 hectares of agricultural land. The region is well-regarded for its productive mixed farming, including sheep and cattle grazing as well as cropping, supported by the area's reliable groundwater and fertile plains.

The project operates under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models (2021) methodology. This method credits landholders for increasing Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) stocks through changes in land management. In this specific instance, the project notes indicate the application of synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address material nutrient deficiencies. By correcting these deficiencies, the project aims to boost plant growth and root biomass, which in turn draws more carbon from the atmosphere and stores it in the soil profile.

Environmentally, the Naracoorte region experiences a dry temperate Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Average annual rainfall in the area typically ranges between 480mm and 550mm. The local landscape is part of the Naracoorte Coastal Plain, characterized by a mix of sandy rises, loamy plains, and the region's famous Terra Rossa soils, which are generally well-drained and highly suitable for pasture improvement activities.

An interesting aspect of this project is its designation as "Number 4," which implies the proponents, the Scott family (partnered with Agriprove), may have registered multiple distinct project areas or stages across their holdings. Agriprove is Australia's largest soil carbon project developer and typically utilizes a model that involves baseline soil core sampling followed by the implementation of new management activities, such as the fertilizer application noted here, to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) upon measured increases in soil carbon.