Landscape dependent changes in soil properties due to long-term cultivation and subsequent conversion to native grass agriculture

Contrary to expectations, sites of soil deposition did not accumulate soil carbon after restoration. Accretion of soil C during restoration differed according to the severity of historic erosion (p < 0.001), with severely eroded soils gaining soil C at the fastest rate. Historic loss of clay at the shoulder and backslope and subsoil compaction in the wetlands may prevent these landscape positions from full restoration of soil C stocks, net primary productivity, and historic vegetation.