Soil organic content

Calculation

Map created through a consultative and participatory process involving 110 countries.

Definition

Average soil organic carbon. Organic carbon is a major component of the organic material present in soils. It stabilizes soil structure and reduces erosion, improves soil fertility, and enhances its water-holding capacity.

Relevance

Soil organic carbon is a good indicator of soil/land quality and contributes to Sustainable Development Goal Indicator 15.3.1.

Additional Information

Recommended citation: FAO. 2019. GLoSIS: Global Soil Organic Carbon Map v1.5 (GSOC). [Accessed June 2024]. http://54.229.242.119/GSOCmap/. Licence: CC-BY-4.0.