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The positive effect of plant diversity on soil carbon depends on climate

Author

Listed:
  • Marie Spohn

    (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU))

  • Sumanta Bagchi

    (Indian Institute of Science)

  • Lori A. Biederman

    (Iowa State University)

  • Elizabeth T. Borer

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Kari Anne Bråthen

    (UiT – Arctic University of Norway)

  • Miguel N. Bugalho

    (School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon)

  • Maria C. Caldeira

    (University of Lisbon)

  • Jane A. Catford

    (King’s College London
    University of Melbourne)

  • Scott L. Collins

    (University of New Mexico)

  • Nico Eisenhauer

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    Institute of Biology)

  • Nicole Hagenah

    (University of Pretoria)

  • Sylvia Haider

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    Institute of Ecology
    Institute of Biology and Geobotany and Botanical Garden)

  • Yann Hautier

    (Utrecht University)

  • Johannes M. H. Knops

    (Xián Jiaotong-Liverpool University)

  • Sally E. Koerner

    (University of North Carolina Greensboro)

  • Lauri Laanisto

    (Estonian University of Life Sciences)

  • Ylva Lekberg

    (MPG Ranch and University of Montana)

  • Jason P. Martina

    (Texas State University)

  • Holly Martinson

    (McDaniel College)

  • Rebecca L. McCulley

    (University of Kentucky)

  • Pablo L. Peri

    (Rio Gallegos)

  • Petr Macek

    (Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences)

  • Sally A. Power

    (Haweksbury Institute for the Environment)

  • Anita C. Risch

    (Snow and Landscape Research WSL)

  • Christiane Roscher

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    UFZ, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department Physiological Diversity)

  • Eric W. Seabloom

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Carly Stevens

    (Lancaster University)

  • G. F. (Ciska) Veen

    (Netherlands Institute of Ecology)

  • Risto Virtanen

    (University of Oulu)

  • Laura Yahdjian

    (CONICET, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires)

Abstract

Little is currently known about how climate modulates the relationship between plant diversity and soil organic carbon and the mechanisms involved. Yet, this knowledge is of crucial importance in times of climate change and biodiversity loss. Here, we show that plant diversity is positively correlated with soil carbon content and soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratio across 84 grasslands on six continents that span wide climate gradients. The relationships between plant diversity and soil carbon as well as plant diversity and soil organic matter quality (carbon-to-nitrogen ratio) are particularly strong in warm and arid climates. While plant biomass is positively correlated with soil carbon, plant biomass is not significantly correlated with plant diversity. Our results indicate that plant diversity influences soil carbon storage not via the quantity of organic matter (plant biomass) inputs to soil, but through the quality of organic matter. The study implies that ecosystem management that restores plant diversity likely enhances soil carbon sequestration, particularly in warm and arid climates.

Suggested Citation

  • Marie Spohn & Sumanta Bagchi & Lori A. Biederman & Elizabeth T. Borer & Kari Anne Bråthen & Miguel N. Bugalho & Maria C. Caldeira & Jane A. Catford & Scott L. Collins & Nico Eisenhauer & Nicole Hagena, 2023. "The positive effect of plant diversity on soil carbon depends on climate," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-42340-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42340-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Xinli Chen & Peter B. Reich & Anthony R. Taylor & Zhengfeng An & Scott X. Chang, 2024. "Resource availability enhances positive tree functional diversity effects on carbon and nitrogen accrual in natural forests," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

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