Arable Fields Research Articles

Using the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy to improve the habitat for farmland birds in landscapes with excessively large arable fields: Buffer strips in Slovakia

Using the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy to improve the habitat for farmland birds in landscapes with excessively large arable fields: Buffer strips in Slovakia

Soil cropping selects for nutrient efficient but more costly indigenous mycorrhizal fungal communities

Abstract Conventional agriculture has been suggested to promote less mutualistic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The main aim of this study was to test this assumption by a detailed functional analysis of the plant mycorrhizal benefits and costs. A cross-inoculation experiment was established with Plantago lanceolata as a host plant and inocula of AMF sourced from four pairs of conventionally managed arable fields and neighbouring grasslands. Mycorrhizal effects were determined for a range of plant parameters including fluxes of isotopically labelled phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C), and related to root colonization and composition of the different AMF communities. The association of P. lanceolata with arable-field inocula was less beneficial in terms of plant growth promotion and it also led to more pronounced P accumulation in plant biomass, as compared to grassland inocula. Furthermore, arable-field AMF increased 15N depletion in soil and 15N transfer to shoots, and induced higher 13C drain to soil. These differential functional parameters were related to consistent compositional differences between arable-soil and grassland AMF communities in the roots. Differential effects of the AMF inocula on N and C partitioning in the soil–plant system suggest faster foraging for nutrients by arable-soil AMF and higher demand for C, which are characteristics associated with ruderal AMF. This implies that arable-soil AMF may be less beneficial in conditions of plant growth limitation by C than the grassland AMF.

Environmental DNA is more effective than hand sorting in evaluating earthworm biodiversity recovery under regenerative agriculture.

Environmental DNA is more effective than hand sorting in evaluating earthworm biodiversity recovery under regenerative agriculture.

Variations in Morphological and Tuber Attributes of Sweet Potato (<i>Ipomoea batatas</i>) Varieties in Response to NPK in Ogbomoso, Nigeria

Sweet potato (<i>Ipomoea batatas </i>(L.) Lam) is an essential resource for rural people due to its nutritional value, drought tolerance, and ability to adapt to various soil and climatic conditions. Despite the importance of sweet potato as a food crop, the low yield of this crop is caused by many factors such as low soil fertility of most arable fields, lack of improved varieties resistant to diseases, and good genetic traits. Therefore, as a result of low soil fertility in Nigeria, the soil must be supplemented with adequate macro-nutrients to improve and sustain the growth and yield of sweet potato varieties. This study examined the influence of NPK fertilizer application on the morphological characteristics and tuber yield of selected sweet potato varieties cultivated in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. Carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso. It involved six sweet potato varieties (Ex-Igborian, Mother Delight, Butter, Tis 82/0087, King Jane, and Shaba) and two NPK rates (0 which is control, and NPK rate of 50 kgN, 11 kg P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> and 20 kg K<sub>2</sub>O ha<sup>-1</sup>) arranged in a 2X6 factorial experiment fitted into a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Data were collected on growth parameters and yield attributes, and they were subjected to analysis of variance and means separated using the Least Significant Difference at a 5% probability level. Results showed that NPK fertilizer significantly (p=0.05) influenced the growth parameters such as vine length (84.60cm), number of leaves (54.70), and number of branches (11.70) obtained from plants under NPK application while control gave the least values. Fertilizer application had a significant effect (p=0.05) on the yield and yield attributes of sweet potatoes. Therefore, Mother Delight and Ex-Igborian with the application of 50 kgN, 11 kg P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> and 20 kg K<sub>2</sub>O ha<sup>-1</sup>can be recommended for optimum performance of sweet potato in the study area.

Drought Impacts on Plant-Soil Carbon Allocation-Integrating Future Mean Climatic Conditions.

Droughts affect soil microbial abundance and functions-key parameters of plant-soil carbon (C) allocation dynamics. However, the impact of drought may be modified by the mean climatic conditions to which the soil microbiome has previously been exposed. In a future warmer and drier world, effects of drought may therefore differ from those observed in studies that simulate drought under current climatic conditions. To investigate this, we used the field experiment 'Hohenheim Climate Change,' an arable field where predicted drier and warmer mean climatic conditions had been simulated for 12 years. In April 2021, we exposed this agroecosystem to 8 weeks of drought with subsequent rewetting. Before drought, at peak drought, and after rewetting, we pulse-labelled winter wheat insitu with 13CO2 to trace recently assimilated C from plants to soil microorganisms and back to the atmosphere. Severe drought decreased soil respiration (-35%) and abundance of gram-positive bacteria (-15%) but had no effect on gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and total microbial biomass C. This pattern was not affected by the mean precipitation regime to which the microbes had been pre-exposed. Reduced mean precipitation had, however, a legacy effect by decreasing the proportion of recently assimilated C allocated to the microbial biomass C pool (-50%). Apart from that, continuous soil warming was an important driver of C fluxes throughout our experiment, increasing plant biomass, root sugar concentration, labile C, and respiration. Warming also shifted microorganisms toward utilizing soil organic matter as a C source instead of recently assimilated compounds. Our study found that moderate shifts in mean precipitation patterns can impose a legacy on how plant-derived C is allocated in the microbial biomass of a temperate agroecosystem during drought. The overarching effect of soil warming, however, suggests that how temperate agroecosystems respond to drought will mainly be affected by future temperature increases.

Land use intensity differently influences soil communities across a range of arable fields and grasslands

Land use intensity differently influences soil communities across a range of arable fields and grasslands

Effects of Sensor-Based, Site-Specific Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on Crop Yield, Nitrogen Balance, and Nitrogen Efficiency.

This study investigates the effects of sensor-based, variable-rate mineral nitrogen (N) application (VRA) in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on the spatial variability of grain yield, protein content, N uptake, N balance, and N efficiency compared with uniform N application (UA). To analyze the effects of VRA and UA on yield and N balance parameters, on-farm strip trials were conducted on heterogeneous arable fields covering an area of 49 hectares. The trials were carried out over a four-year period, from 2020 to 2023, with crops under both application methods placed in strips side-by-side. The N fertilizer requirements for growth stages (GSs) 32 and 39 were determined using an online map-overlay VRA method. This method integrated the site-specific yield potential and current plant development derived from spectral reflectance measurements using a tractor-mounted sensor system. The results show that the application of N fertilizer can be reduced by up to 38 kg ha-1 yr-1. The N efficiency can be increased by 15% and a significant reduction in variability of N balances can be achieved. However, the effects on yield and N efficiency are highly dependent on the specific application conditions (weather conditions, disease occurrence, and crop development). Not every field trial showed advantages of VRA over UA fertilization. Overall, the VRA system demonstrated encouraging potential, functioning as intended. However, further adjustment and optimization are required to ensure that the VRA fertilization system works robustly and reliably under on-farm conditions.

Compost Application Enhances Soil Health and Maintains Crop Yield: Insights From 56 Farmer‐Managed Arable Fields

ABSTRACTIntroductionImproving soil health while maintaining crop yield is a key challenge for farmers. So far, only a few studies assessed the effects of compost and solid digestate application on soil health and plant yield under practical on‐farm conditions across both organic and conventional cropping systems.Materials and MethodsThis study examined 56 arable fields in Switzerland, managed either conventionally (n = 39) or organically (n = 17) by individual farmers. Fields were categorised based on their fertilisation history: standard fertilisation (n = 21), including livestock manure, slurry, and mineral fertilisers (reference), or with additional compost (n = 26) or solid digestate (n = 9) amendments. Soil health was assessed based on eight chemical, biological, and physical soil health indicators.ResultsCompost use, but not solid digestate use, was associated with enhanced average soil health ( + 31% over reference fields), driven by increases in basal respiration ( + 45%), cation exchange capacity ( + 42%), fungal richness ( + 18%), and marginally higher soil organic carbon stocks ( + 28%). These differences were consistent across management systems, despite site variability. Clay content and extended periods of crop cover also positively influenced soil health. Wheat yields were 21% lower under organic management but unaffected by compost or digestate use.ConclusionThese findings suggest that using compost alongside practices like extended periods of crop cover can effectively promote soil health while maintaining yields in practical farming scenarios, offering a means to balance multiple sustainability goals simultaneously.

Nitrogen content of herbarium specimens from arable fields and mesic meadows reflect the intensifying agricultural management during the 20th century

Abstract Arable fields and mesic meadows have been affected by intensifying agricultural management and nutrient input during the 20th century, but direct evidence for the long‐term impact of intensification on plant nutrient contents remains scarce. Non‐destructive novel spectroscopic methods can produce such data from herbarium specimens, making it possible to investigate how contents of leaf nutrient traits, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, changed over the last century, and what role habitat type and management practices play. We carried out a resurvey study of functional traits in arable field and mesic meadow communities. We used specimens from two German herbaria with a high coverage of their local floras: the herbaria Senckenberg Görlitz and Senckenberg Haussknecht in Jena. Following specimen information, the same plant species were resampled in the field in 2022 at the same locations. We employed near‐infrared spectroscopy to predict leaf nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon content of herbarium and field specimens. Nutrient content changes over time were compared with public records of regional P and N fertilization. Overall, 1270 specimens of 76 species from both herbarium and field were studied, the oldest from the 19th century. Leaf nitrogen and the leaf nitrogen:phosphorus ratio increased significantly through time, while leaf phosphorus and carbon content decreased significantly over time. Arable field species showed a stronger response in leaf phosphorus content and leaf nitrogen:phosphorus ratio than mesic meadow species. The total amount of nitrogen or phosphorus fertilizer applied per year on a regional scale was found to be significantly correlated with the respective leaf nutrient content levels. Synthesis: Our study shows a long‐term increase of leaf nitrogen in the studied habitats, paralleling increased chemical fertilizer applications in Germany. Our data indicate a shift from predominantly N‐limited towards more P‐limited growth conditions. The stronger response of species from arable fields compared to species from mesic meadows could indicate a faster adjustment to environmental pressures. This study thus also serves to showcase the potential of the combination of herbarium collections and NIR spectroscopy.

Strong benefits of hedgerows to bats in three European winegrowing regions

AbstractBats provide important ecosystem services as natural predators of, for example, lepidopteran pests. Thus, it is crucial to identify ways to enhance bat populations in agricultural landscapes. It has been shown that high landscape heterogeneity can benefit bat communities in arable fields. However, to date, the relationship between bats and the surrounding landscape within a viticultural matrix has received little attention, despite moths being major pests in viticulture. Here, we investigated how bats respond to different landscape elements in three European regions: Rhineland‐Palatinate (Germany), Burgenland (Austria), and Andalusia (Spain). We recorded bat activity using passive acoustic monitoring for four nights in 94 vineyards in total. Additionally, in Germany, we recorded bat activity along transects from hedgerows up to 120 m into the vineyards to describe the change in activity with hedgerow distance. We found that bat activity decreased with distance from the hedgerow, and the strength of the response was guild‐specific. Bat species adapted to foraging in the open space decreased their activity by half at a distance of 120 m from the hedgerow into the center of the vineyard, while bats adapted to foraging along vegetation (edge‐space bats) and those adapted to feeding within and close to vegetation (narrow‐space bats) decreased their mean flight activity by more than 80% at the same distance. Moreover, the presence of hedgerows between vineyards was positively related to a higher bat activity and feeding rate in all three countries, although this effect varied by functional guild and country. For edge‐space foraging bats, hedgerows had a positive impact in all three countries, while open‐space bats only showed a significant response in Spain. Hedgerows had consistent positive effects on bat activity in vineyards across the three study regions. Our study suggests that hedgerows should be conserved and restored as key elements to support a higher bat activity. This would also benefit other important groups of animals such as bees and birds along with the ecosystem services they provide.

Long-term seed survival of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) after burial

Ambrosia artemisiifolia is a serious threat to human health and agricultural yield. Due to its annual growth form management should focus on the prevention of seed production in the long run. The long-term survival of ragweed seeds depends on the implementation of viable seeds to the persistent soil seed bank. In a field study, we tried to find out how long this species must be surveyed/managed to reach the goal of complete eradication after burial of seeds into mineral soil. We tested for the influence of different seed sources (origin), different soil depths of burial, different experimental sites in Middle Europe (labs), and duration of burial on the viability of seeds by germination test plus TTC-test. In our study, seed origin had a highly significant influence on the seed survival. In all the 10 years of the experiment, seeds sampled from a rural stand in Austria showed significantly lower viability rates than seeds from Hungary. The Hungarian seeds from arable fields had viability rates of up to 90% even after 10 years’ burial. Burial depth (7 cm/25 cm) had no significant influence on the viability rates but we detected a serious influence of the experimental sites which can be caused either by the burial site conditions (differences in soil and climate) or by different implementation of the manuals for germination tests and colouration test using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride. The decline of viability within the 10-year period differed by seed origin, but was generally faster in the first few years but relatively low in the following years. Due to the fact that we found 30 to 90% viable seeds after 10 years burial there is substantial evidence that soil perturbation (digging animals, ploughing) should be avoided for even more than ten years in habitats that are highly infested with ragweed.

Evaluation of the efficacy and residual activity of Chlorantraniliprole 600 g/L SC against fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith,1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Corn (Zea mays Linnaus, 1753)

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith,1797), (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous pest that has a worldwide distribution. It is an invasive species and can cause significant damage to corn. In this study, the effectiveness of four doses (2, 3, 4, and 5 ml/da) of Chlorantraniliprole 600 g/l against S. frugiperda was first investigated. Then, the residue amount of 5ml/da dose of Chlorantraniliprole 600 g/l was determined. Efficacy trials were conducted in arable fields in Adana and Şanlıurfa provinces from August to September 2023 according to the randomized block design with five characters (four doses of the trial insecticide and control) and four replications. Residue experiments were carried out in Adana and Şanlıurfa provinces. When the seventh day counts were evaluated, mortality from the 2 ml/da dose was between 39.67 and 38.84%; mortality from the 3 ml/da dose was between 56.68 and 57.53%; mortality from the 4 ml/da dose was between 75.05 and 77.22%; and mortality from the 5 ml/da dose was between 93.96 and 93.86%. As a result of the sampling, the residue amount of Chlorantraniliprole in corn was found to be below the residue limit determined in Türkiye and Europe. It was concluded that a dose of 5 ml/da of Chlorantraniliprole 600 g/l can be used as an effective dose against S. frugiperda.

The potential of weeds in arable fields to support pollinator assemblages

AbstractTo what extent are weeds on arable land useful to pollinators in an arable‐dominated landscape? We sampled the weed flora in fields under conventional or organic farming in SE Sweden. More specifically, we noted the frequency of flowering among weeds that scored high on a pollinator index, henceforth ‘pollinator‐friendly weeds’. Furthermore, we sampled pollinating insects within cereal crops using transect walks and colour pan traps. As expected, weeds were ubiquitous and occurred in most sampling plots (0.25 m2). In the pan traps, more than 100 species of pollinators were caught, including 26 Syrphidae, 19 social bees, 37 solitary bees and 22 other Hymenoptera. In the transects walks, the probability of encountering bees increased with flowering of pollinator‐friendly weeds, and there was a similar but weaker pattern among hoverflies. Organically grown fields differed from conventional ones by having more pollinator‐friendly weeds, more flowering of such weeds, and more bees. There was also a tendency for hoverflies and other Hymenoptera to be more abundant in organic fields. Three conclusions emerged. First, pollinator‐friendly weeds made up one third to almost half of the weed occurrences recorded. Second, substantial numbers of pollinators searched for flowers within arable fields, and some increased with the abundance of flowering of pollinator‐friendly weeds. Third, flowering pollinator‐friendly weeds and some pollinators were more abundant in organic fields than in conventional ones. Overall, we showed that weeds on arable land are a potential and sought after resource among pollinators, and that even conventionally grown crops should be considered a potential habitat for bees.

A novel on-line dual sensing system for soil property measurement and mapping

Real-time assessment of within-field soil fertility variation is crucial for making informed and sustainable decisions, like crop nitrogen (N) fertilization. Two commonly used soil sensors i.e., visible-near-infrared (vis-NIR) spectroscopy and ion-selective electrodes (ISE) have been reported to successfully estimate various soil macronutrients and nitrate-N, respectively, however, their integrated use for mapping a full-scale soil fertility variation has not been taken into consideration to date. The aim of this study is to use an integrated on-line dual-sensor system of vis-NIRS and ISE to estimate and map within-field variation in multiple soil fertility parameters including pH, organic carbon (OC), extractable- phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and moisture content (MC) and nitrate-N. The sensing system was mounted to the three-point linkage of a tractor and surveyed two arable fields in Belgium. Partial least squares regression models for vis-NIRS sensor were calibrated and validated, while a linear regression model was established for validation of the ISE sensor. Geostatistical surface maps for on-line measured soil attributes were generated using the inverse distance weighting and ordinary kriging methods for ISE data and vis NIR, respectively. The linear correlation confirms a very high similarity between ISE-measured nitrate-N and laboratory-analyzed nitrate-N (coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.93). Besides, the vis-NIRS demonstrates very good prediction accuracies for all the fertility attributes with R2 = 0.70-0.78, root mean square error (RMSE) =0.52-2.46 %, residual of prediction deviation (RPD) = 1.89 – 2.13 and the ratio of the performance to interquartile distance (RPIQ) = 1.72 – 6.56. Validation between laboratory and on-line measured soil maps also shows quite comparable spatial distribution patterns. Therefore, the proposed dual on-line sensor system has a high potential to estimate and map within-field spatial fertility distributions including nitrate-N, offering a basis for sustainable management decisions for precision soil and crop production.

Soil mesofauna diversity in agricultural systems of Slovenia using the QBS index and its modifications

Soil mesofauna plays a key role in maintaining soil health by supporting the decomposition of organic matter, nutrient cycling and the maintenance of soil structure. In this study of Slovenian agricultural ecosystems, we used four modifications of the QBS index, a soil biological quality index based on soil mesofauna. We compared diversity in arable fields under different tillage intensities, a strawberry field and an orchard, managed with either organic or integrated pest management methods (IPM). The results show significant differences in the mesofaunal communities in the soil. Minimum tillage promoted higher biodiversity, especially of Collembola, compared to conventional tillage. In fruit production systems, the ratio of Collembola to Acarina differed from that of arable fields, skewing in favour of Collembola, possibly related to the use of copper-containing pesticides in organic orchards and systemic herbicides in IPM systems. The QBS index values for soil health varied considerably between systems. Only QBS modifications considering the abundances of organisms (QBS-ab and QBS-a) were able to distinguish between different system-management groups. This study provides insights into the limitations of the originally proposed QBS-ar index to discern the effects of farming intensity on the soil mesofaunal community. Results suggest that minimum tillage and organic management practices can promote healthier soil ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of sustainable soil management for the promotion of soil biodiversity. Future research should aim to incorporate a broader range of agricultural practices and assign fauna to a higher taxonomic rank to further explain the effects on soil mesofauna diversity.

Evaluating coupled influences of slope class and land use change on water quality using single and composite indices in an agricultural basin

Evaluating coupled influences of slope class and land use change on water quality using single and composite indices in an agricultural basin

Can Current Grazing Practices Preserve Biodiversity in Semi-natural Pastures? A Study of the Historical Ecology of Swedish Infield Pastures

In order to preserve the biodiversity and cultural heritage in semi-natural pastures, it is important to manage each type of pasture in a way that resembles the historical land use that has shaped the ecosystem. We monitored the grazing regime in 28 pastures in Sweden from 1987 to 2012, and compared their management with the historical grazing regimes. The studied pastures, as well as a majority of the remaining high nature value pastures in Sweden, are located in historical infield areas, where grazing was determined by the system of fencing and use of meadows and arable fields, the so-called cultivation system. Using various sources, we compiled information about the major Swedish cultivation systems and interpreted their significance for the grazing regime. Historical grazing regimes are characterized by frequent late grazing and interannual variations in grazing period and grazing pressure. In contrast, the current grazing is rather intense through the entire summer and with little between-year variation. Also, the grazing in the 1980’s and 1990’s was considerably more varied and less intense than it is today. A pronounced shift in pasture management took place in the late 1990’s, and interviews with the farmers show that the shift was mainly caused by the criteria for agri-environment subsidies. Interviews also show that the subsidies have been important for continued use of the semi-natural pastures. We claim that the differences between current and historical grazing regimes constitute a severe threat to pasture biodiversity, and that it is urgent to adjust the eligibility criteria for agri-environment payments.

Occurrence of common frog (Rana temporaria) and common toad (Bufo bufo) adults and metamorphs in agricultural fields in Germany: Potential for exposure to plant protection products.

To characterize the potential for exposure of amphibian terrestrial life stages to plant protection products (PPP), we studied the occurrence and habitat use of adult and metamorph common frogs (Rana temporaria) and common toads (Bufo bufo) in an agricultural landscape in Germany. The four selected study sites were breeding ponds with approximately 80% agricultural land within a 1-km radius. Adults were monitored by radio tracking for two years, and metamorph numbers were assessed for one summer using pitfall traps alongside drift fences. The results demonstrate that adults were rarely present in arable fields at any of the sites (overall 0.5% and 4% of total observations for frogs and toads, respectively). Metamorph captures in arable fields were more variable, ranging from 1.2% to 38.8% (frogs) and from 0.0% to 26.1% (toads) across study sites. Unsurprisingly, most captures in arable fields for both toad and frog metamorphs occurred at the site where the pond was completely surrounded by arable fields. Overall, the presence of adult amphibians in arable fields was limited and, for the metamorphs, occurred primarily when crops were denser and PPP spray interception higher. Diurnal hiding behavior was observed with the highest activity recorded at night, further reducing the risk of dermal exposure from direct PPP overspraying. In addition, it appeared that alternative habitats, such as woody structures or water bodies in the broader surrounding area, were preferred by the animals over the arable areas. The use of buffer zones around water bodies in agricultural areas would be an effective risk mitigation measure to protect terrestrial adults and metamorphs residing there and would reduce spray drift entry into water bodies during PPP application. It is hoped that these results will contribute to the discussion of risk assessment and mitigation options for amphibians. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:2218-2230. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Plant Species Diversity and Composition Differ Significantly Between the Boundaries of Kettle Holes and Field Borders.

The boundaries around habitat islands in agricultural fields are rather unexamined, although they may be an important part of agroecosystems in some regions. In this study, we surveyed field boundaries in northeastern Brandenburg both at outer field borders and around kettle holes, which are typical habitat islands in the region. We examined, described, and compared the plant species diversity and composition at both the inner and outer field boundaries in the arable fields (crop edge) as well as in permanent vegetation (field margins). Diversity was assessed and compared with Hill diversity values, using the iNext framework. Non-metric multidimensional scaling and permutational analysis of variance were used to compare species composition at different field boundaries and to search for variables that drive species composition at the local scale. The results revealed that both species diversity and composition differed significantly between the inner and outer boundary along the crop edges and at the field margins. Local site conditions, namely a moisture gradient, influenced the species composition of the field margins, resulting in differences between the inner and outer field margins. Mitigated through crop growth and cover, the moisture gradient influenced also the species composition of the inner and outer crop edges, despite the management practices on the fields were the same.

How Can Land Use Management in Traditional Cultural Landscapes Become a Policy Instrument for Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation? A Transylvanian Case Study

Changes in land use from high-nature-value grasslands to arable fields reduce the organic carbon stock in soil, increasing atmospheric carbon concentrations. Maintaining grasslands through traditional agricultural techniques can mitigate climate change by transferring atmospheric carbon to the soil. Benefits of soil organic carbon sequestration include improved soil properties and enhanced ecosystem services and biodiversity. With Romania’s ratification of the Paris Agreement, it is crucial to review climate-related agricultural policies and incentivize carbon sequestration practices in organic soils. This paper presents a soil carbon study in Transylvania’s Târnava Mare region, Romania, known for its preserved cultural landscapes. Soil samples were taken at a depth of 60 cm to assess organic carbon pools under grassland and arable land management across three soil classes: Cernisoils, Hidrisoils, and Luvisoils. Several statistical tests were applied to evaluate the most significant drivers of soil organic carbon sequestration including land use, soil class, and soil depth. The results indicate that land management has the largest impact, with grasslands storing 45% more carbon than arable land on average. This finding should be integrated into national climate action plans, prioritizing the preservation of grasslands and sustainable agricultural practices to support soil organic carbon sequestration.