The second ICL (OWB BER) included paddocks of deficit irrigated bermudagrass
[bermuda; Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] and bluestem and the third ICL (FRG RC) included paddocks of irrigated
bluestem and row crop production. Soil samples (0–5 and 5–20 cm) were collected in July 2010. In
general, ICLs increased water stable macroaggregates providing a physical protective shell for SOC and
increasing C sequestration potential. A strong correlation between SOC and mean weight diameter identified
a critical SOC level of 5.5 Mg ha−1 for the greatest increases in mean weight diameter. Of the five
agroecosystems evaluated, FRG RC and OWB BER ranked the highest in terms of mean weight diameter
(130% larger), whole SOC (up to 45% more), and intra-aggregate microaggregate SOC (157% greater) relative
to CTN production.