Cradle Coast Organic Carbon Monitoring Trial

Product Information

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a key soil component because it influences biological, physical, and chemical properties that define soil productivity and quality (Studdert & Echeverria 2000). It includes all the organic components of the soil and is directly derived from plants and animals. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the driving force behind most microbially mediated processes (Fontaine et al. 2003) and equals about 58% of SOM (Garcia 2004).

Although the project focused on the Cradle Coast in north-western Tasmania, sampling was undertaken across a number of diverse Tasmanian landscapes to ensure a wide selection of soil type/land use combinations. This trial established benchmark data for future determinations if soil organic carbon levels are sustained across all sampled soil type/land use combinations. It also investigated the use of Mid Infra-Red Spectroscopy as a high-speed, low-cost alternative to conventional testing for organic carbon.