Organic carbon in topsoils (OCTOP) in Europe, Jan. 2003

Soil organic carbon, the major component of soil organic matter, is extremely important in all soil processes. Organic material in the soil is essentially derived from residual plant and animal material, synthesized by microbes and decomposed under the influence of temperature, moisture and ambient soil conditions. The JRC has developed and makes available a map of Soil Organic Carbon content (%) in the surface horizon of soils in Europe. This metadata record is adapted from the orginal one received from JRC.