Cropping leads to loss of soil organic matter: How can we prevent it?

• Published in: Pedosphere Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 8 - 10
• Main Authors: CHAPLOT, Vincent, SMITH, Pete
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2023; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement(IRD),Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat,Expérimentations et Approches Numériques,UMR 7159,IRD-CNRS-UPMC-MNHN,Cedex 05,Paris 75252 France%Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences,School of Biological Sciences,University of Aberdeen,Aberdeen AB24 3UU UK; Elsevier
• Subjects: carbon; climate; ecosystems; Environmental Sciences; food production; forests; grasslands; soil; soil organic matter

Soil organic matter (SOM), which associates carbon (C) to key plant nutrients, has been stored in soil for thousands of years. Scientists have long recognised its positive impact on key environmental functions such as food production and climate regulation. As soon as a virgin land (forest or grassl...