Forest conversion effect on soil nitrogen transformation and nitrous oxide emissions worldwide
Understanding soil nitrogen (N) storage and loss following forest conversion is crucial to evaluate land resource utilization and environmental impacts. However, forest conversion altering soil N dynamics and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and their driving factors remain largely unknown. Here, we co...
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Geoderma |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706125002113 |
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| author | Zhenggao Xiao Shuting Yang Xie Wang Lei Meng Tongbin Zhu Christoph Müller Ahmed S. Elrys |
| author_facet | Zhenggao Xiao Shuting Yang Xie Wang Lei Meng Tongbin Zhu Christoph Müller Ahmed S. Elrys |
| author_sort | Zhenggao Xiao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding soil nitrogen (N) storage and loss following forest conversion is crucial to evaluate land resource utilization and environmental impacts. However, forest conversion altering soil N dynamics and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and their driving factors remain largely unknown. Here, we conducted a global meta-analysis of 97 published papers to evaluate the effect of forest conversion (e.g., conversion of primary forests to secondary forests, managed plantations, grasslands, or croplands) on soil N transformations and N2O emissions. We found that forest conversion decreased gross N mineralization and ammonium concentration due to reduced soil microbial biomass, total carbon, and total N. Conversely, forest conversion overall increased autotrophic nitrification and N2O emissions due to the increased ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea abundances. Primary forest converting to croplands and plantations notably increased soil N2O emissions in temperate and tropical zones. Structural equation model showed that increased ammonium and nitrate levels, and decreased total carbon were the main factors inducing soil N2O emissions in unfertilized ecosystems, while the increased nitrate was a key factor inducing soil N2O emissions in fertilized ecosystems. Altogether, our results suggest that forest conversion overall limits soil N storage while stimulating N2O emissions, highlighting the importance of conserving primary forests to reduce N losses and the negative impacts on the environment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0627cd9b3261465a8a40db50dbc5df5f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1872-6259 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geoderma |
| spelling | doaj-art-0627cd9b3261465a8a40db50dbc5df5f2025-08-20T02:10:01ZengElsevierGeoderma1872-62592025-07-0145911737310.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117373Forest conversion effect on soil nitrogen transformation and nitrous oxide emissions worldwideZhenggao Xiao0Shuting Yang1Xie Wang2Lei Meng3Tongbin Zhu4Christoph Müller5Ahmed S. Elrys6Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Karst Dynamics Laboratory, MLR & GZAR, Guilin 541004, China; Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Pingguo Guangxi, Karst Ecosystem, National Observation and Research Station, Pingguo, Guangxi, ChinaInstitute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Karst Dynamics Laboratory, MLR & GZAR, Guilin 541004, ChinaInstitute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610066, ChinaCollege of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaInstitute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Karst Dynamics Laboratory, MLR & GZAR, Guilin 541004, China; Liebig Centre for Agroecology and Climate Impact Research, Justus Liebig University, Germany; Pingguo Guangxi, Karst Ecosystem, National Observation and Research Station, Pingguo, Guangxi, China; Corresponding author.Liebig Centre for Agroecology and Climate Impact Research, Justus Liebig University, Germany; Institute of Plant Ecology, Justus–Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich–Buff–Ring 26, 35392 Giessen, GermanyCollege of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, EgyptUnderstanding soil nitrogen (N) storage and loss following forest conversion is crucial to evaluate land resource utilization and environmental impacts. However, forest conversion altering soil N dynamics and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and their driving factors remain largely unknown. Here, we conducted a global meta-analysis of 97 published papers to evaluate the effect of forest conversion (e.g., conversion of primary forests to secondary forests, managed plantations, grasslands, or croplands) on soil N transformations and N2O emissions. We found that forest conversion decreased gross N mineralization and ammonium concentration due to reduced soil microbial biomass, total carbon, and total N. Conversely, forest conversion overall increased autotrophic nitrification and N2O emissions due to the increased ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea abundances. Primary forest converting to croplands and plantations notably increased soil N2O emissions in temperate and tropical zones. Structural equation model showed that increased ammonium and nitrate levels, and decreased total carbon were the main factors inducing soil N2O emissions in unfertilized ecosystems, while the increased nitrate was a key factor inducing soil N2O emissions in fertilized ecosystems. Altogether, our results suggest that forest conversion overall limits soil N storage while stimulating N2O emissions, highlighting the importance of conserving primary forests to reduce N losses and the negative impacts on the environment.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706125002113Forest managementNitrogen pollutionN2O emissionsSoil nitrogen transformationMeta-analysisMachine learning |
| spellingShingle | Zhenggao Xiao Shuting Yang Xie Wang Lei Meng Tongbin Zhu Christoph Müller Ahmed S. Elrys Forest conversion effect on soil nitrogen transformation and nitrous oxide emissions worldwide Geoderma Forest management Nitrogen pollution N2O emissions Soil nitrogen transformation Meta-analysis Machine learning |
| title | Forest conversion effect on soil nitrogen transformation and nitrous oxide emissions worldwide |
| title_full | Forest conversion effect on soil nitrogen transformation and nitrous oxide emissions worldwide |
| title_fullStr | Forest conversion effect on soil nitrogen transformation and nitrous oxide emissions worldwide |
| title_full_unstemmed | Forest conversion effect on soil nitrogen transformation and nitrous oxide emissions worldwide |
| title_short | Forest conversion effect on soil nitrogen transformation and nitrous oxide emissions worldwide |
| title_sort | forest conversion effect on soil nitrogen transformation and nitrous oxide emissions worldwide |
| topic | Forest management Nitrogen pollution N2O emissions Soil nitrogen transformation Meta-analysis Machine learning |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706125002113 |
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