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Long-term, amplified responses of soil organic carbon to nitrogen addition worldwide.
- Source :
-
Global change biology [Glob Chang Biol] 2021 Mar; Vol. 27 (6), pp. 1170-1180. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jan 05. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the largest carbon sink in terrestrial ecosystems and plays a critical role in mitigating climate change. Increasing reactive nitrogen (N) in ecosystems caused by anthropogenic N input substantially affects SOC dynamics. However, uncertainties remain concerning the effects of N addition on SOC in both organic and mineral soil layers over time at the global scale. Here, we analysed a large empirical data set spanning 60 years across 369 sites worldwide to explore the temporal dynamics of SOC to N addition. We found that N addition significantly increased SOC across the globe by 4.2% (2.7%-5.8%). SOC increases were amplified from short- to long-term N addition durations in both organic and mineral soil layers. The positive effects of N addition on SOC were independent of ecosystem types, mean annual temperature and precipitation. Our findings suggest that SOC increases largely resulted from the enhanced plant C input to soils coupled with reduced C loss from decomposition and amplification was associated with reduced microbial biomass and respiration under long-term N addition. Our study suggests that N addition will enhance SOC sequestration over time and contribute to future climate change mitigation.<br /> (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
- Subjects :
- Carbon Sequestration
Ecosystem
Nitrogen analysis
Carbon
Soil
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1365-2486
- Volume :
- 27
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Global change biology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33336457
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15489