This carbon comes in two forms: organic - mainly resulting from the decay of organic sources like plants, animals and microbe’s inorganic - like that contained in calcium carbonate. These differing types of soil organic carbon has varying degrees of resistance to breakdown. SOC levels are largely determined by three factors:  the quantity of biomass grown – rainfall, soil fertility and crop type determines the quantity of plant biomass and hence the amount of organic material which will be potentially returned to the soils  management – tillage of the soil reduces SOC by exposing it to organisms breaking down organic materials. Grazing or burning of residues also reduces the quantity of organic material returned to the soils. Typically, pasture systems tend to possess higher SOC levels than cropping systems. soil texture – clay provides protection from decomposition by microbes. The higher the clay content, the upper the potential for soils to store organic carbon. SOC is actually during a constant state of flux, responding to changes in organic material inputs and loss through microbial decomposition which ends up in organic carbon being generalized and lost as carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. The speed of decomposition depends on the character of organic material, soil factors and climate factors. There are many production and environmental benefits related to increasing SOC. After carbon enters the soil within the sort of organic material from soil fauna and flora, it can continue the soil for many years, centuries or maybe millennia. Eventually, SOC are often lost as CO2 or CH4 emitted back to the atmosphere, eroded soil material, or dissolved organic carbon washed into rivers and oceans. The dynamics of those processes highlight the importance of quantifying global carbon fluxes to make sure maximum benefits of SOC to human well-being, food production, and water and climate regulation. SOC is that the main component of soil organic matter.