The largest decreases in SOC stocks (11 to more than
45 Mg ha−1) occurred in poorly drained grassland soils as a result of improved
drainage upon land consolidation since 1960. Large increases in
well-drained grasslands (12 Mg ha−1) could be explained by historical
conversion of cropland soils. Apart from the areas where intensive livestock
breeding became the dominant land use, cropland soils generally
lost around 14 Mg ha−1 over the fifty year period.