Soil carbon change in intensive agriculture after 25 years of conservation management

Changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (SON) are strongly affected by land management, but few long-term comparative studies have surveyed changes throughout the whole soil profile. We quantified 25-year SOC and SON changes to 1 m in 10 replicate ecosystems at an Upper Midwest, USA site. We compared four annual cropping systems in maize (Zea mays)-soybean (Glycine max)-winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) rotations, each managed differently (Conventional, No-till, Reduced input, and Biologically based); in three managed perennial systems (hybrid Poplar (Populus Ã— euramericana), Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and Conifer (Pinus spp.); and in three successional systems (Early, Mid- and Late succession undergoing a gradual change in species composition and structure over time). Both Reduced input and Biologically based systems included winter cover crops. Neither SOC nor SON changed significantly in the Conventional or Late successional systems over 25 years. All oth..., , , # Data from: Soil carbon change in intensive agriculture after 25years of conservation management

**Authors**

Córdova, S.C., Kravchenko A. N., Miesel, J., Robertson, G. P.

**Article Information**

Published in Geoderma (2025)

DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2024.117133](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2024.117133)

**Dataset Description**

This dataset contains soil carbon measurements and related properties from annual cropping systems, managed perennials, and successional systems in Southwestern Michigan. The data includes soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (SON) content and stocks, soil bulk density, pyrogenic carbon, and other soil characteristics at various depths up to 100 cm deep.

**Methods**

Soil samples were taken at various depths using a hydraulic sampling probe. Detailed methodology can be found in the associated publication.

**Usage Notes**

* Missing data is represented by a period (.)
* Depths are cumulative: \"0-10cm\", \"10-25 cm\", \"25-50 cm\", and \"5...