Soil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwide
Abstract Initiatives to restore soil fertility and mitigate global warming rely on rebuilding soil organic carbon (SOC). Nitrogen (N) fertilization is crucial for crop yields but affects SOC unpredictably due to varying responses of particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic car...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57981-6 |
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| author | Jun Ling Jennifer A. J. Dungait Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo Zhenling Cui Ranran Zhou Wushuai Zhang Qiang Gao Yuanxue Chen Shanchao Yue Yakov Kuzyakov Fusuo Zhang Xinping Chen Jing Tian |
| author_facet | Jun Ling Jennifer A. J. Dungait Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo Zhenling Cui Ranran Zhou Wushuai Zhang Qiang Gao Yuanxue Chen Shanchao Yue Yakov Kuzyakov Fusuo Zhang Xinping Chen Jing Tian |
| author_sort | Jun Ling |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Initiatives to restore soil fertility and mitigate global warming rely on rebuilding soil organic carbon (SOC). Nitrogen (N) fertilization is crucial for crop yields but affects SOC unpredictably due to varying responses of particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) pools to initial SOC levels. To clarify these effects, here, by combining a global meta-analysis with continental-scale field experiments, we determine that an initial SOC threshold of 15 g C kg−1 controls the effect of N fertilization on POC and MAOC. In SOC-poor soils (< 15 g C kg−1), N fertilizer increases plant-derived C inputs and promotes soil aggregation, favouring POC accumulation. Conversely, in SOC-rich soils, N fertilizer stimulates microbial metabolic efficiency, leading to larger necromass production and stabilization by mineral protection, observed as more pronounced MAOC accrual. Our findings reveal how SOC thresholds shape the response of active and stable carbon pools to N fertilization, with consequences for SOC accrual in cropland soils globally. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d7a1fa82f88747cf87854832cffda73b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-d7a1fa82f88747cf87854832cffda73b2025-08-20T02:33:25ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-03-0116111310.1038/s41467-025-57981-6Soil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwideJun Ling0Jennifer A. J. Dungait1Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo2Zhenling Cui3Ranran Zhou4Wushuai Zhang5Qiang Gao6Yuanxue Chen7Shanchao Yue8Yakov Kuzyakov9Fusuo Zhang10Xinping Chen11Jing Tian12State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityGeography, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of ExeterLaboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSICState Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Resources and Environment, Academy of Agricultural Science, Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, Southwest UniversityCollege of Resources and Environment, Jilin Agricultural UniversityCollege of Resources and Environment, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityInstitute of Eco-Environment and Industrial Technology, Shanxi Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Soil Science of Temperate Ecosystems, University of GöttingenState Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityAbstract Initiatives to restore soil fertility and mitigate global warming rely on rebuilding soil organic carbon (SOC). Nitrogen (N) fertilization is crucial for crop yields but affects SOC unpredictably due to varying responses of particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) pools to initial SOC levels. To clarify these effects, here, by combining a global meta-analysis with continental-scale field experiments, we determine that an initial SOC threshold of 15 g C kg−1 controls the effect of N fertilization on POC and MAOC. In SOC-poor soils (< 15 g C kg−1), N fertilizer increases plant-derived C inputs and promotes soil aggregation, favouring POC accumulation. Conversely, in SOC-rich soils, N fertilizer stimulates microbial metabolic efficiency, leading to larger necromass production and stabilization by mineral protection, observed as more pronounced MAOC accrual. Our findings reveal how SOC thresholds shape the response of active and stable carbon pools to N fertilization, with consequences for SOC accrual in cropland soils globally.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57981-6 |
| spellingShingle | Jun Ling Jennifer A. J. Dungait Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo Zhenling Cui Ranran Zhou Wushuai Zhang Qiang Gao Yuanxue Chen Shanchao Yue Yakov Kuzyakov Fusuo Zhang Xinping Chen Jing Tian Soil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwide Nature Communications |
| title | Soil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwide |
| title_full | Soil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwide |
| title_fullStr | Soil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwide |
| title_full_unstemmed | Soil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwide |
| title_short | Soil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwide |
| title_sort | soil organic carbon thresholds control fertilizer effects on carbon accrual in croplands worldwide |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57981-6 |
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