Management → Properties › Chemistry › Carbon compounds

Cover crops → Soil organic carbon

A clear tendency, not consistent

57 %

of 56 studies with a clear result report a significant increase

+11 %

typical change (39 studies with numbers)

studies · 96 findings

Count each study by

66 studies · 96 findings

What the studies show

32 of 56 studies report a significant increase (57 %, 95 % confidence interval 44–69 %).

By the direction of each study’s results, significant or not: 48 of 55 studies with a direction point up (87 %, 95 % confidence interval 76–94 %; sign test p < 0.001).

↑ 32 increase
↓ 3 decrease
⇅ 2 both
= 19 no effect
? 10 unclear

How large: typically +11 % (middle half +7 % to +19 %), from 39 studies with numbers
Basis: 66 studies, 96 findings; 5 entered by hand, 61 read by the library

11 findings on relative measures (shares, stratification ratios, values per unit) or on fractions and other compartments are not counted in this answer.

Every study counts once, however many findings it reports: one with 40 sampling dates does not outvote ten others. A study with a significant increase and decrease (say at different depths) counts as "both". A first synthesis for orientation, not a substitute for a systematic review.

Where the studies are

goes up
stays the same
goes down
both ways

Through the soil profile

Each layer on its own: a study that reports the topsoil and the subsoil counts in both. Choose a layer to see what goes with it.

goes up
stays the same
goes down
both ways

In the top 10 cm, soil organic carbon goes up in 65 % of the studies under cover crops, stays the same in 26 % and goes down in 4 %.

What makes a difference

The conditions whose levels differ most clearly, each with the outcome that differs most between its levels of at least 10 study layers. Choose a layer in the profile to see them for that layer alone, or a level here to filter by it.

Testing every condition on every study layer…

Along the conditions

Testing every condition on every study layer…