Publication: methods to measure soil organic carbon pools

We used three different methods to measure soil organic carbon pools in various land use change sites: separating soil particles by size, thermal fractionation, and using infrared spectroscopy. The study showed that smaller soil particles contain most of the soil organic carbon and are more affected by land use changes than previously thought, making them highly dynamic. The thermal analysis method showed that some soil organic carbon is more stable and less affected by changes. The infrared method helped to predict how soil organic carbon might change over time and soil organic carbon composition aligned well with the thermal stability. Although each method has its strengths and limitations, they can give a comprehensive understanding of soil organic carbon dynamics and its biogeochemical role.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2024.117154