Soil organic carbon change in arable farming under organic and conventional management

Summary

Soil organic carbon (SOC) in arable organic farming depends on inputs in crop residues, green manure, catch crops and animal manure. Changes in SOC of different organic and conventional farming systems were compared in a long-term experiment and related to estimated carbon inputs. About 10-20% of the estimated C inputs were retained in topsoil SOC over the experimental period.