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Soil Carbon Baseline
Stock estimates prior to intervention.
Total Baseline Stock (Mineral Soil)
Understanding Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)
Before implementing a carbon scheme, the existing Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) must be calculated to establish a baseline. If you plant trees on soil with high SOC, the physical disturbance (ploughing, mounding) will release more carbon than the trees sequester.
| Soil Type | Carbon Stock (t C/ha) | Afforestation Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Arable (Mineral) | 50 - 70 | Excellent |
| Permanent Pasture | 60 - 90 | Good |
| Deep Peat | > 300 | Prohibited |
Common Mistakes
Failing to account for bulk density. A soil carbon test must measure carbon percentage AND soil bulk density to convert the metric into tonnes per hectare.
FAQ
How deep should soil cores be taken?
For rigorous baseline testing (e.g., UK Soil Carbon Code draft), cores should ideally be taken to 30cm, 50cm, and 1m depths to account for deep storage.
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