The study looked at how changing the way grasslands are managed on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau affects soil carbon levels. They found that when grasslands are managed by multiple households, more carbon is stored in the soil compared to when managed by a single household. The new management pattern led to a loss of soil organic carbon, which could have negative impacts on the environment. The researchers suggest that reverting back to the old management style could help reduce carbon losses and benefit the land.