German Agricultural Soil Inventory (BZE-LW)

These greenhouse gas emissions include carbon dioxide (CO₂), which is produced by the microbial decomposition of organic carbon in the soil. Worldwide, more carbon is stored in soils than in the atmosphere and vegetation combined, which is why even relatively small increases in the stock of soil organic carbon can make an important contribution to reducing CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere. In Germany, agricultural soils are the largest carbon store among terrestrial ecosystems, holding 2.5 billion tons of carbon. The change in SOC stocks must therefore be recorded, analyzed and reported as accurately and representatively as possible. Climate change, current management as well as land use and management history contribute to possible changes in these stocks.

At the end of 2018, the final report of the initial BZE-LW was handed over to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Berlin. The report can be downloaded as "Thünen Report No. 64" (only German version). "Kurzfassung des Abschlussberichts der BZE-LW" is a shortened version of the final report in which selected results are summarized in an easily understandable way (only German version). The results of the German Agricultural Soil Inventory will continue to be published in English in peer-reviewed articles (see Results & Publications).

The Thünen Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture was commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture to resample the points of the BZE-LW in the years 2023 - 2027 in order to determine possible changes in SOC stocks. In addition to site-specific and climatic factors, management data is collected via a questionnaire and provided information on possible changes. Among other applications, the knowledge gained from the 8 x 8 km grid will help to validate the area-wide modelling of SOC stocks within the framework of the national greenhouse gas reporting. A minimum interval of 10 years between samplings will be maintained at all points. The BZE-LW will be carried out again by the Thünen-Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture and will continue to focus on SOC stocks. There are, however, some methodological and analytical adjustments being made (see Methodology).