A general framework for nitrogen deposition effects on soil respiration in global forests

TL;DR

Nitrogen pollution from human activities increases soil CO2 emissions in global forests, with a 5% overall rise despite regional differences.

Contribution

A new framework generalizes soil respiration responses to nitrogen deposition using global experimental and observational data.

Findings

Nitrogen deposition increased global forest soil respiration by ~5%.

Negative effects of N deposition on SR were observed in 2.9% of global forested areas.

Controlling N pollution could reduce terrestrial carbon emissions.

Abstract

Since the Industrial Revolution, human activities have altered atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition to global forests, affecting carbon dioxide emissions from soils (soil respiration or SR) – one of the largest land-atmosphere carbon fluxes. However, experimental studies have demonstrated both positive and negative effects of N deposition on SR in global forests, leading to debates on how N deposition increases or decreases SR. We developed a framework for generalizing SR responses to N deposition using synthesized data from 168 N addition experiments worldwide and observed SR across the global natural N deposition gradient. The findings indicate that N deposition decreased SR in 2.9% of global forested areas, particularly in eastern China, western Europe, and the eastern USA. However, the net effect of N deposition increased the global forest SR by ~5% (1.7 ± 0.1 PgC yr–1). If N pollution could be effectively controlled, global forest SR would decrease, potentially contributing to a reduction in the terrestrial carbon emissions.

Using synthesized experimental and observational data, Cen et al. revealed that anthropogenic nitrogen deposition has increased global forest soil CO2 emissions by ~5%, despite considerable spatial variation in the effects of nitrogen deposition.

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