Measuring soil carbon stocks with greater simplicity, accuracy, and repeatability

Authors: Wuest, Stewart

Submitted to: Soil Science Society of America Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/16/2024
Publication Date: 1/13/2025
Citation: Wuest, S.B. 2025. Measuring soil carbon stocks with greater simplicity, accuracy, and repeatability. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 89(1). Article e70012. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70012.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70012

Interpretive Summary: It is becoming increasingly clear that comparisons of soil constituents are confounded with soil bulk density if samples are collected using the traditional, depth-based method. Recent interest in quantifying soil C stocks requires improved soil sampling protocols. The dry mass per unit area method eliminates soil bulk density as a factor, and therefore allows unbiased comparisons between sampling dates, soil conditions, soil types, sampling techniques, and treatments that affect soil bulk density. This note explains how this simple change in how we quantify soil depth eliminates soil bulk density as a factor and improves the quantification of soil C stocks.

Technical Abstract: It is becoming increasingly clear that comparisons of soil constituents are confounded with soil bulk density if samples are collected using the traditional, depth-based method. Recent interest in quantifying soil C stocks requires improved soil sampling protocols. The dry mass per unit area method eliminates soil bulk density as a factor, and therefore allows unbiased comparisons between sampling dates, soil conditions, soil types, sampling techniques, and treatments that affect soil bulk density. This note explains how this simple change in how we quantify soil depth eliminates soil bulk density as a factor and improves the quantification of soil C stocks.