Study reviewed the existing soil monitoring systems which focus or indirectly provide soil organic matter content (SOM) data. According to the accessible information and publications national systems of Austria, Germany, Poland, Great Britain and the USA were selected and described. Additionally the existing systems in Slovenia were reviewed and according to land use information and accessibility of data three were statistically compared within four test areas. EU guidelines and scientific publications on topic of organised soil monitoring were reviewed and results of several national and international projects acknowledged. Study also included personal experience and recommendations of the involved in the schemes in Poland, Great Britain and USA. Study concludes and confirms the hypothesis of large discrepancies in methodology of soil monitoring systems in Slovenia. In context best practice guidelines, study suggests that the existing soil monitoring systems in Slovenia are inappropriate for SOM monitoring and that Slovenia needs an organised national scheme for agricultural soils. Through the analysis of foreign systems, we highlighted good practice examples and their suitability for Slovenia. As a result study gives recommendations for the establishment of TOS monitoring in agricultural soils of Slovenia. It defines spatial design, distribution of sub-sampling points, sampling depths, site description and gives a strict sampling protocol and mandatory set of analysis and analytical standards.
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