Figure 5.4, Key- ha = hectare; Mg = megagram; SOC = soil organic carbon

Figure 5.4 Results from a hypothetical field trial comparing conventional and improved management practices initiated at three different times (A, B and C) after converting a natural ecosystem to agricultural production in year 0

All three points show the same relative gain of 5 megagrams of soil organic carbon (SOC) per hectare over a five-year period from improved management practice; however, the actual rate of change for the improved management ranges from –1.9 to +1.0 megagrams of SOC per year.