Dataset supporting the analysis of soil organic carbon stock changes under long-term agricultural management

Abstract

This dataset contains soil profile data from a long-term resampling study designed to quantify changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks under contrasting land uses in temperate agroecosystems of Argentina. The dataset integrates measurements originally collected in 2007 and revisited in 2023 at the same sites. For each site and land use (annual cropland and perennial pasture), soil samples were collected at 0–25 cm and 25–50 cm depths. The dataset includes bulk density, organic carbon concentration, soil mass, and SOC stocks calculated at layer and 0–50 cm profile scale. Site-level descriptors such as mean annual temperature, mean annual precipitation, pH, electrical conductivity, and particle size distribution (clay, silt, sand) are also provided. The dataset was generated to enable direct quantification of SOC stock changes over time using equivalent soil mass and depth harmonization approaches, minimizing biases associated with bulk density variation and legacy data comparison. It supports analyses of SOC dynamics, land-use effects, and methodological evaluation of long-term soil carbon monitoring. All site identifiers are coded and no precise geolocation or landowner information is included.