Abstract
The soil carbon (C) stock of the Republic of Ireland is estimated to have been 2048 Mt in 1990 and 2021 Mt in 2000. Peat holds around 53% of the soil C stock, but on 17% of the land area. The C density of soils (t C ha-1) is mapped at 2 km*2 km resolution. The greatest soil C densities occur where deep raised bogs are the dominant soil; in these grid squares C density can reach 3000 t C ha-1. Most of the loss of soil C between 1990 and 2000-up to 23 Mt C (1% of 1990 soil C stock)-was through industrial peat extraction. The average annual change in soil C stocks from 1990 to 2000 due to land use change was estimated at around 0.02% of the 1990 stock. Considering uncertainties in the data used to calculate soil C stocks and changes, the small average annual 'loss' could be regarded as 'no change'.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 77-93 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | Journal of Environmental Management |
| Volume | 76(1) |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2005 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Environmental Science
- Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
