ABSTRACT
The interpretation of soil organic-C (SOC) dynamics in ecosystem functioning, sustainable agriculture, forestry management and global change requires knowledge of the size and fluxes of the SOC pools involved. Accurate assessment of these pools requires analysis of well-taken, representative soil samples of known bulk density to the depth of soil formation. Samples must reflect an understanding of microscale patterns that control SOC dynamics and associated reactions in the field (Robertson and Gross, 1994). Much of the information for global change calculations is interpreted on a regional or global basis. The sites studied must be representative of all areas in the extrapolation. Some soils such as sands have only a limited SOC accumulation capacity; others such as clays have a much higher sequestration capacity.
