Local humus stocks (¼ contents of soil organic matter, SOM in kg Á m 72 ) of arable soils were investigated in several regions of the seemingly uniform ground moraine-landscape. Depending on relief position, quantifiable effects of humus removal or enrichment are evident, caused by denudation or colluviation. The depth (thickness) of the investigated humus-bearing topsoil horizons varies between 15 and 150 cm overall and amounts on average to 67 cm. Extreme values of SOM (resp. C org ) stocks are 2.73 (1.58) and 137.41 (79.70) kg Á m 72 . The average values of all found SOM (resp. C org ) stocks in the investigated arable soils amount to 10.78 (6.25) kg Á m 72 . Humus stocks are not only of importance for the agricultural yield potential but also because of their function as a sink for, or a source of, atmospheric CO 2 , which is of special current interest due to its influence on menacing climate change. The total carbon content of the corresponding column of atmosphere, 1.60 kg Á m 72 , amounts to only one quarter of the average in our arable soils.
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