Carbon pools in an arid shrubland in Chile under natural and afforested conditions

► R: Root:shoot ratio ranged from 0.22 to 0.55 in the sampled species. ► Soil was the largest pool, followed by aboveground and belowground biomass and litter. ► Total ecosystem C in the afforested condition was 36% lower compared to the natural. ► Site preparation prior to plantation was likely the responsible for the C loss.