Soil sampling protocol to certify the changes of organic carbon stock in mineral soil of the European Union : version 2

This report updates the "Soil Sampling Protocol to Certify the Changes of Organic Carbon Stock in Mineral Soil of the European Union" published in 2005. The revision is based on the field testing of the Protocol and on the analysis of the users comments. The revised Protocol is illustrated by examples of the application of the methodology and computation routines. The study reveals that new Area-Frame Randomized Soil Sampling allows for measurable, transparent and cost-effective verification of the soil organic carbon changes in mineral soil. This makes soil implementation in land-based carbon management in the European Community feasible. The results show that uncertainty of the verification of the soil organic carbon changes in mineral soil is less for the soil richer in carbon after the carbon enhancement measurements have been applied.