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Afforestation neutralizes soil pH

Author

Listed:
  • Songbai Hong

    (Peking University)

  • Shilong Piao

    (Peking University
    Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Anping Chen

    (Purdue University)

  • Yongwen Liu

    (Peking University)

  • Lingli Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Shushi Peng

    (Peking University)

  • Jordi Sardans

    (CREAF
    Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra)

  • Yan Sun

    (Peking University)

  • Josep Peñuelas

    (CREAF
    Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra)

  • Hui Zeng

    (Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School)

Abstract

Soil pH regulates soil biogeochemical processes and has cascading effects on terrestrial ecosystem structure and functions. Afforestation has been widely adopted to increase terrestrial carbon sequestration and enhance water and soil preservation. However, the effect of afforestation on soil pH is still poorly understood and inconclusive. Here we investigate the afforestation-caused soil pH changes with pairwise samplings from 549 afforested and 148 control plots in northern China. We find significant soil pH neutralization by afforestation—afforestation lowers pH in relatively alkaline soil but raises pH in relatively acid soil. The soil pH thresholds (TpH), the point when afforestation changes from increasing to decreasing soil pH, are species-specific, ranging from 5.5 (Pinus koraiensis) to 7.3 (Populus spp.) with a mean of 6.3. These findings indicate that afforestation can modify soil pH if tree species and initial pH are properly matched, which may potentially improve soil fertility and promote ecosystem productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Songbai Hong & Shilong Piao & Anping Chen & Yongwen Liu & Lingli Liu & Shushi Peng & Jordi Sardans & Yan Sun & Josep Peñuelas & Hui Zeng, 2018. "Afforestation neutralizes soil pH," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-02970-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-02970-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Jiří Holátko & Ondřej Holubík & Tereza Hammerschmiedt & Jan Vopravil & Antonín Kintl & Martin Brtnický, 2022. "Afforestation of agricultural land affects soil structural stability and related preconditions to resist drought," Journal of Forest Science, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 68(12), pages 496-508.
    2. Xiaoyang Liu & Huading Shi & Zhongke Bai & Xiaocai Liu & Bing Yang & Dingxuan Yan, 2020. "Assessing Soil Acidification of Croplands in the Poyang Lake Basin of China from 2012 to 2018," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-12, April.
    3. Songbai Hong & Jinzhi Ding & Fei Kan & Hao Xu & Shaoyuan Chen & Yitong Yao & Shilong Piao, 2023. "Asymmetry of carbon sequestrations by plant and soil after forestation regulated by soil nitrogen," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Krzysztof M. Rostański, 2021. "Contaminated Areas as Recreational Places—Exploring the Validity of the Decisions Taken in the Development of Antonia Hill in Ruda Śląska, Poland," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-20, October.
    5. Yingying Xing & Xiaoli Niu & Ning Wang & Wenting Jiang & Yaguang Gao & Xiukang Wang, 2020. "The Correlation between Soil Nutrient and Potato Quality in Loess Plateau of China Based on PLSR," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-17, February.
    6. Katarzyna A. Koryś & Agnieszka E. Latawiec & Maiara S. Mendes & Jerônimo B. B. Sansevero & Aline F. Rodrigues & Alvaro S. Iribarrem & Viviane Dib & Catarina C. Jakovac & Adriana Allek & Ingrid A. B. P, 2021. "Early Response of Soil Properties under Different Restoration Strategies in Tropical Hotspot," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-14, July.

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