Changes in soil and vegetation management can impact strongly on the rates of carbon (C) accummulation and loss in soil, even over short periods of time. Detecting the effects of such changes in accumulation and loss rates on the amount of C stored in soil presents many challenges. Consideration of the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of soil properties, general environmental conditions, and management history is essential when designing methods for monitoring and projecting changes in soil C at scales ranging from the individual experimental plot to whole regional and national inventories. In this paper we present an overview of soil properties and processes that must be considered. We classify the methods for determining soil C changes as direct or indirect.
Revised: December 31, 2003 |
Published: October 1, 2001
Citation
Post W.M., R.C. Izaurralde, L.K. Mann, and N. Bliss. 2001.Monitoring and Verifying Changes of Organic Carbon in Soil.Climatic Change 51, no. 1:73-99.PNNL-SA-37499.