Carbon storage in agricultural topsoils and subsoils is promoted by including temporary grasslands into the crop rotation

Atmospheric C sequestration in agricultural soils is viewed as one of the most promising negative emission technologies currently available. Nonetheless, it remains unclear how strongly soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks respond to practices, especially for subsoil. Here, we assess SOC storage potential croplands and presence temporary grasslands (TG) crop rotation affects stocks. We developed a new approach correct bias bulk density (BD) induced by sampling conditions land-use effects with data-driven model predict BD fine (<2 mm) reference condition. Using 54 permanent grassland cropland sites various proportions TG from monitoring network Switzerland, showed that stock differences down 50-cm depth between (maximum: 3.0 ± 0.8 kg m−2) depend on proportion rotation, regardless clay content pH. An increase 10% would induce gain 0.40 0.13 m−2. The responses topsoil (0–20 cm) subsoil (20–50 were linear equivalent. effect have been underestimated 58% without accounting response 16% corrections. conversion all study region potentially store quantity equivalent anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions generated same during year. Although technology relatively modest compared former expectations, findings demonstrate manage its associated ecosystem services at large scales deep layers.