Lochiel Carbon Project 4

Lochiel Carbon Project 4 is a soil carbon sequestration project located near the rural locality of Lochiel, approximately 130km north of Adelaide in South Australia. Registered on January 2, 2026, the project covers a land area of 412 hectares. The surrounding Mid North region is predominantly utilized for dryland cropping and grazing operations, often characterized by cereal-pasture rotations designed to manage the area's variable climate risks.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models) Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology rewards landholders for increasing soil organic carbon stocks through changes in land management. Unlike earlier methods that relied solely on expensive physical sampling, the 2021 determination allows for a hybrid approach using both physical soil core measurements and modeled estimates (using tools like the FullCAM model) to calculate carbon abatement, reducing compliance costs for participants.

Environmentally, the Lochiel region experiences a semi-arid climate with an annual average rainfall of approximately 325mm to 350mm. The local soil profile typically consists of deep red loamy clays and red loams overlying shallow calcareous (limestone) subsoils. These soils are historically low in organic carbon, presenting a significant opportunity for sequestration. To achieve this, the project activities involve applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address nutrient deficiencies and incorporating legume species into cropping or pasture systems. These legumes help fix atmospheric nitrogen, thereby boosting plant growth and increasing the biomass available to be converted into soil carbon.

The project is managed by Agriprove Solutions Pty Ltd, a prominent developer in the Australian soil carbon market known for managing a vast portfolio of over 700 projects. The designation "Lochiel Carbon Project 4" suggests this is part of a larger aggregation of projects in the district, allowing for streamlined management and monitoring.