Leys and soil organic matter

Abstract

1. The increase in soil carbon has been assessed in arable land sown to different leys variously managed.2. Under swards cut for herbage conservation, carbon in the top 15 cm. of soil increased by about 0-05 % each year. Although an increase of 0-3 % was found immediately under drills of cocksfoot grown for seed production, there was no increase midway between the drills and, for a given area of land, the carbon increment under such row-crops is probably similar to that under cut swards.