Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Loss of soil organic carbon in Swiss long-term agricultural experiments over a wide range of management practices

Sonja G. Keel, Thomas Anken, Lucie Büchi, Andreas Chervet, Andreas Fließbach, René Flisch, Olivier Huguenin‐Elie, Paul Mäder, Jochen Mayer, Sokrat Sinaj, Wolfgang G. Sturny, Chloé Wüst‐Galley, U. Zihlmann, Jens Leifeld

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment · 2019

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Summary

This 2019 analysis synthesises data from multiple long-term Swiss agricultural experiments to quantify soil organic carbon (SOC) losses across diverse farming systems and management practices. The paper uses established experimental sites to characterise how different agricultural management approaches have affected SOC dynamics over extended periods. The findings contribute to understanding of SOC trends under real-world agricultural conditions and inform management decisions aimed at soil carbon conservation.

UK applicability

The results are likely relevant to UK temperate farming systems, particularly where soil types, climate, and management practices overlap with Swiss conditions. However, application would require consideration of differences in rainfall, soil texture, and regional agronomic practices between Switzerland and the UK.

Key measures

Soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration and/or stocks; management practice variables; temporal trends in SOC across long-term experiments

Outcomes reported

The study examined changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks over time across multiple long-term agricultural experiments in Switzerland, spanning a range of management practices. As suggested by the title, the research documented losses of SOC under various farming systems and management regimes.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Soil carbon & organic matter
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Switzerland
System type
Mixed farming
DOI
10.1016/j.agee.2019.106654
Catalogue ID
BFmou2mcwq-qifar4

Topic tags

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