Soil carbon stocks and changes in the Republic of Ireland

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’.