Before regenerative farming: prepare a farm baseline file

1. Define the question and land boundary

Clarify whether the objective is soil improvement, irrigation efficiency or a carbon project. Assemble field boundaries, areas, land-use rights, crops, management history and the proposed intervention date. Preserve original evidence and assign a record owner.

2. Design soil measurement before sampling

Define units reflecting soil, management and irrigation differences; commission a specialist sampling plan. Link samples to location, depth, date and analytical method. In calcareous soils, distinguish SOC and SIC: total carbon is not organic carbon.

• Record texture, bulk density, coarse fragments and layer depth alongside SOC when estimating stocks.
• Record pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and extraction methods; salinity results from different methods are not interchangeable.
• Retain sample custody records, laboratory results, quality controls and uncertainty information.

3. Connect soil with water and operating inputs

Keep dated records of water (cubic metres), electricity (kilowatt-hours), fuel (litres), fertiliser and actual nitrogen content, and compost quantities and sources. Include irrigation-water type and salinity, crops and production. State periods and units. Distinguish measured, estimated and missing information; missing observations are not zero.

4. Produce a reviewable next step

Produce an evidence-and-gap map and measurement plan, not a promised carbon quantity or return. Compare periods consistently for season, depth and method. Assess programme methodology, version, updates, eligibility, additionality, documentation and verification requirements before proposing a credit project.