Various responses of global heterotrophic respiration to variations in soil moisture and temperature enhance the positive feedback on atmospheric warming

Abstract The ratio of soil heterotrophic respiration to total soil respiration (Rh/Rs) is critical for soil carbon pool stability and atmosphere-biosphere exchanges, yet its spatiotemporal dynamics and responses to environmental drivers remain poorly constrained. Here, we estimate global soil and he...

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Main Authors: Jingyu Zeng, Tao Zhou, Li Cao, Ying Yu, E. Tan, Yajie Zhang, Xuemei Wu, Jingzhou Zhang, Qi Zhang, Yancheng Qu, Jian Liu, Peixia Liu, Xia Liu, Hui Luo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Communications Earth & Environment
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02423-w
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author Jingyu Zeng
Tao Zhou
Li Cao
Ying Yu
E. Tan
Yajie Zhang
Xuemei Wu
Jingzhou Zhang
Qi Zhang
Yancheng Qu
Jian Liu
Peixia Liu
Xia Liu
Hui Luo
author_facet Jingyu Zeng
Tao Zhou
Li Cao
Ying Yu
E. Tan
Yajie Zhang
Xuemei Wu
Jingzhou Zhang
Qi Zhang
Yancheng Qu
Jian Liu
Peixia Liu
Xia Liu
Hui Luo
author_sort Jingyu Zeng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The ratio of soil heterotrophic respiration to total soil respiration (Rh/Rs) is critical for soil carbon pool stability and atmosphere-biosphere exchanges, yet its spatiotemporal dynamics and responses to environmental drivers remain poorly constrained. Here, we estimate global soil and heterotrophic respiration by integrating ground observations with machine learning models. From 1980 to 2022, annual increases reached 0.76 and 0.54 g C m⁻² yr⁻² for soil and heterotrophic respiration, respectively. Globally, Rh/Rs averaged 61.30 ± 0.54% with a decadal rise of 0.13%. Rising soil temperature enhances Rh/Rs, while soil moisture suppresses it, exhibiting stronger global-scale influence. Temperature dominates Rh/Rs regulation in forests and shrublands, whereas moisture controls this ratio in grasslands and croplands. These findings elucidate ecosystem-specific mechanisms governing Rh/Rs dynamics, advancing predictions of soil carbon-climate feedbacks essential for carbon neutrality strategies.
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id doaj-art-3ebcee8937ea496c9afc5b0b8e5185ae
institution Kabale University
issn 2662-4435
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Communications Earth & Environment
spelling doaj-art-3ebcee8937ea496c9afc5b0b8e5185ae2025-08-20T03:47:16ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-06-016111210.1038/s43247-025-02423-wVarious responses of global heterotrophic respiration to variations in soil moisture and temperature enhance the positive feedback on atmospheric warmingJingyu Zeng0Tao Zhou1Li Cao2Ying Yu3E. Tan4Yajie Zhang5Xuemei Wu6Jingzhou Zhang7Qi Zhang8Yancheng Qu9Jian Liu10Peixia Liu11Xia Liu12Hui Luo13Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal UniversityKey Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal UniversityKey Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal UniversityKey Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal UniversityKey Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal UniversityKey Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal UniversityKey Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal UniversityKey Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal UniversityKey Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal UniversityKey Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal UniversityKey Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal UniversityKey Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal UniversityKey Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal UniversityKey Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural Disaster of Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal UniversityAbstract The ratio of soil heterotrophic respiration to total soil respiration (Rh/Rs) is critical for soil carbon pool stability and atmosphere-biosphere exchanges, yet its spatiotemporal dynamics and responses to environmental drivers remain poorly constrained. Here, we estimate global soil and heterotrophic respiration by integrating ground observations with machine learning models. From 1980 to 2022, annual increases reached 0.76 and 0.54 g C m⁻² yr⁻² for soil and heterotrophic respiration, respectively. Globally, Rh/Rs averaged 61.30 ± 0.54% with a decadal rise of 0.13%. Rising soil temperature enhances Rh/Rs, while soil moisture suppresses it, exhibiting stronger global-scale influence. Temperature dominates Rh/Rs regulation in forests and shrublands, whereas moisture controls this ratio in grasslands and croplands. These findings elucidate ecosystem-specific mechanisms governing Rh/Rs dynamics, advancing predictions of soil carbon-climate feedbacks essential for carbon neutrality strategies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02423-w
spellingShingle Jingyu Zeng
Tao Zhou
Li Cao
Ying Yu
E. Tan
Yajie Zhang
Xuemei Wu
Jingzhou Zhang
Qi Zhang
Yancheng Qu
Jian Liu
Peixia Liu
Xia Liu
Hui Luo
Various responses of global heterotrophic respiration to variations in soil moisture and temperature enhance the positive feedback on atmospheric warming
Communications Earth & Environment
title Various responses of global heterotrophic respiration to variations in soil moisture and temperature enhance the positive feedback on atmospheric warming
title_full Various responses of global heterotrophic respiration to variations in soil moisture and temperature enhance the positive feedback on atmospheric warming
title_fullStr Various responses of global heterotrophic respiration to variations in soil moisture and temperature enhance the positive feedback on atmospheric warming
title_full_unstemmed Various responses of global heterotrophic respiration to variations in soil moisture and temperature enhance the positive feedback on atmospheric warming
title_short Various responses of global heterotrophic respiration to variations in soil moisture and temperature enhance the positive feedback on atmospheric warming
title_sort various responses of global heterotrophic respiration to variations in soil moisture and temperature enhance the positive feedback on atmospheric warming
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02423-w
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