Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Peer-reviewed

First Signs That National Cropland Organic Carbon Loss Is Reversing in British Topsoils

Laura Bentley, Amy Thomas, A. Garbutt, B. Williams, Sabine Reinsch, Inma Lebron, Michele Brentegani, Patrick Keenan, Claire M. Wood, Simon M. Smart, Peter A. Henrys, B. J. Cosby, Bridget A. Emmett, David A. Robinson

European Journal of Soil Science · 2025

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Summary

ABSTRACT High rates of soil organic carbon (SOC) loss from cropland soils are well known, contributing to climate change and compromising soil and ecosystem health. Stabilising and reversing the loss of organic matter from cropland soils is a challenge for all nations to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainable land management (SLM) has been promoted as a mechanism of achieving this, but to date, there is no evidence of positive impacts at scale. Here we show the first signs of the reversal of soil carbon loss in cultivated topsoils in Great Britain, following a period of reported SLM uptake, using 40+ years of national soil monitoring from the UKCEH Countryside Survey. Following a prolonged historic decline at rates of −0.16 t ha −1 year −1 , there was a signific

Subject
Soil carbon & organic matter
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
System type
Other
DOI
10.1111/ejss.70131
Catalogue ID
SNmoppcb43-oy8x5a
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