Differential soil sampling by depth within surface layer 0–30 cm for monitorig of content and storage of soil organic carbon

Differential soil sampling by depth in thin layers is suggested for monitoring of organic carbon (C_org) content and storage in soils of agroecosystems. Its goal is to obtain acceptable values of minimal detectable difference of C_org content and storage comparing two observation periods and statistically based idea of C_org vertical distribution in surface soil layers in one observation period. Vertical distribution of C_org within layer 0–30 cm can serve as an indirect criterion of C_org sequestration ability in soil in the initial base period of monitoring before direct measuring of C_org in the next observation periods at the same dynamic plot. Graphs of distribution of C_org content, soil density and C_org storage along the soil profile in natural soils are submitted. Three principal variants of C_org content distribution along soil profile and different variants of bulk density vertical distribution in soils of agroecosystems are discussed. Tendencies of increasing variability in C_org content due to increasing depth of soil sampling within layer 0–40 cm in soddy-podzolic (Albic Retisols), light-chestnut (Haplic Kastanozems) soils and chernozems were noted. Spatial variability of C_org storage in thin layers and in generalized layers of different thickness is discussed.

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