Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1038/s41467-023-42340-0
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) The positive effect of plant diversity on soil carbon depends on climate
Author Spohn, M.; Bagchi, S.; Biederman, L.A.; Borer, E.T.; BrĂ¥then, K.A.; Bugalho, M.N.; Caldeira, M.C.; Catford, J.A.; Collins, S.L.; Eisenhauer, N.; Hagenah, N.; Haider, S.; Hautier, Y.; Knops, J.M.H.; Koerner, S.E.; Laanisto, L.; Lekberg, Y.; Martina, J.P.; Martinson, H.; McCulley, R.L.; Peri, P.L.; Macek, P.; Power, S.A.; Risch, A.C.; Roscher, C.; Seabloom, E.W.; Stevens, C.; Veen, G.F.C.; Virtanen, R.; Yahdjian, L.
Source Titel Nature Communications
Year 2023
Department iDiv; PHYDIV
Volume 14
Page From art. 6624
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Data and Software links https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8308135
Supplements https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41467-023-42340-0/MediaObjects/41467_2023_42340_MOESM1_ESM.pdf
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.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=28439
Spohn, M., Bagchi, S., Biederman, L.A., Borer, E.T., BrĂ¥then, K.A., Bugalho, M.N., Caldeira, M.C., Catford, J.A., Collins, S.L., Eisenhauer, N., Hagenah, N., Haider, S., Hautier, Y., Knops, J.M.H., Koerner, S.E., Laanisto, L., Lekberg, Y., Martina, J.P., Martinson, H., McCulley, R.L., Peri, P.L., Macek, P., Power, S.A., Risch, A.C., Roscher, C., Seabloom, E.W., Stevens, C., Veen, G.F.C., Virtanen, R., Yahdjian, L. (2023):
The positive effect of plant diversity on soil carbon depends on climate
Nat. Commun. 14 , art. 6624 10.1038/s41467-023-42340-0