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The assessment of soil health and the determination of carbon stability in soils are current challenges that have gained momentum through initiatives at national as well as international scales. However, inferring universally valid soil health parameters that are directly linked to carbon permanence remains challenging. Our aim was to evaluate the potential of simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) for an improved monitoring of soil health advances in the context of carbon farming strategies. For this purpose, an on-farm comparison of soil health in ten conservation agricultural systems with adjacent conventional farms was performed based on STA and thermal measures were related to key biological and physical indicators for monitoring soil functions. Using an autocorrelation-based approach, we identified independent thermal indicators, revealing that carbon farming efforts predominantly increased labile soil organic matter fractions in the range of 300–400 ° C , while thermally more recalcitrant fractions did not respond to farming system transformation. Similarly, most soil health indicators revealed highest correlation with temperature ranges of mass loss of labile organic matter fractions. The relation of STA with commonly used soil health indicators was highest for soil organic carbon (SOC, r = 0. 971) and total nitrogen (TN, r = 0. 981). However, also inference on microbial activity parameters such as dimethylsulfoxid reduction, microbial biomass carbon and substrate-induced respiration could be demonstrated with r > 0. 663. The results thus highlight key temperature ranges of organic matter stability for future soil monitoring tasks of climate change mitigation potentials of carbon farming and related advances in soil health. • We tested simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) as a tool for soil health assessment. • We did so by an on-farm comparison of conventional and conservation farming systems. • Improvements by conservation farming were mainly detected for labile C fractions. • Specific STA mass loss ranges correlated well with several soil health indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hedgerows and adjacent croplands at 23 sites across Germany were sampled. • Under hedgerows, 36 ± 49 % more soil organic carbon (SOC) was stored compared to cropland. • 41 % of absolute SOC stock increase was found in subsoil below 30 cm soil depth. • SOC stocks were also increased along the transect from the hedgerow to the cropland. • Planting hedgerows on 3 % of German cropland could increase SOC stocks by 13 Tg C. Carbon dioxide removal strategies are becoming increasingly important as a fundamental component of comprehensive climate policies. One strategy to increase carbon (C) sinks is the integration of hedgerows into agricultural landscapes. Besides additional C storage in above-ground and below-ground hedgerow biomass, the establishment of hedgerows has the potential to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. However, empirical data regarding the magnitude of SOC accrual with hedgerow establishment are still limited. We sampled 23 sites across Germany in a paired-plot approach with the aim of estimating SOC stock change with hedgerow establishment on cropland. At 21 sites, SOC stocks were higher beneath hedgerows than in the reference cropland. On average, SOC stock accrual was 29 ± 22 Mg ha−1 (36 ± 49 %) in 0–100 cm soil depth. SOC stocks were significantly different in both topsoil and subsoil. Subsoils below 30 cm depth contributed 41 % (12 ± 17 Mg C ha−1) of the total SOC stock change, stressing the importance of subsoil SOC for the total SOC stocks of hedgerow systems. The positive effect of hedgerows on SOC stocks extended laterally beyond the hedgerow area itself. SOC stock in the grassy hedgerow edge also increased significantly by 22 ± 22 Mg C ha−1 (28 ± 30 %) and SOC stock in the cropland directly adjacent to the hedgerow were 9 ± 19 Mg C ha−1 (12 ± 25 %) higher than in the reference cropland. Particularly high C stock differences between hedgerows and reference cropland soils were found in old hedgerows (>200 years) planted on hedgebanks, which are typically found in northern Germany. Our study confirmed that SOC stocks increase with hedgerow establishment on cropland throughout the whole soil profile. If hedgerows were to be established on 3 % of Germany's cropland area, SOC stocks would increase by 13 Tg C equivalent 48 Mio. t CO 2 , highlighting that hedgerows are a promising and multi-functional climate change mitigation option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]