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Figure 1.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a dynamic and complex admixture. Here, three contrasting ecosystems reveal differing SOC richness and dynamics: (A) agricultural, (B) grassland/shrubland, and (C) forested. Conventional agriculture (A) often leads to lower carbon stocks, and overall, less carbon input to the soil carbon pool. Grasslands (B) can harbor plants with deeper and more extensive root systems, medium to high amounts of SOC stock, and greater carbon inputs to the SOC pool. Forests (C) can have the deepest rooting system, a high amount of soil C stock, greatest density of mineral-associated C, and high rate of input of C to soils. Overall, organo-mineral association(s) and SOC pool is a function of the “balance” of C inputs and outputs in the soil organic carbon “bank account.”

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