Soil Biology and Biochemistry of Forests

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Soil".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2023) | Viewed by 15942

Special Issue Editors

College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Interests: spatial modeling; soil process; machine learning; soil carbon
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Interests: earthworm ecological function and distribution pattern; carbon and nutrient cycling; soil food web; plant-soil feedback; global change
Genetics and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute of Tabarestan, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran
Interests: ecophysiological modeling; environmental stress; microbial biofertilizers; microbial communities; plant physiology; plant stress responses; plant-soil-microbial interactions; water relations
Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, P.O. Box: 47416-95447, Mazandaran, Iran
Interests: plant-soil interactions; plant community responses to the soil; environmental stress; plant ecology; plant stress responses

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forest soil is a habitat of numerous Earth organisms, including microfauna, mesofauna, and megafauna. Soil organisms have a crucial influence on soil processes, soil health, water and air flows, and energy fluxes. Moreover, soil organisms fulfill key processes in the soil, such as decomposition and nutrient mineralization.

Despite the recent progress in soil biology and biochemistry over the last few decades, various important questions remain unanswered so far—for instance, what the environment-controlling factors of the spatial distribution of the Earth organisms in forest soil in plot or stand level to regional and continental scales are, how forest types define the organism community and diversity in various climate conditions, how Earth organisms contribute to soil quality and soil health and how they can increase soil fertility, how soil fauna helps forest sustainability, and how biotic and abiotic drivers control soil fauna populations.

Therefore, in this Special Issue, we are aiming to build a collection of recent research findings and review and meta-analysis articles on soil biology and biochemistry. Moreover, we welcome papers dealing with the importance of soil biodiversity, machine learning in soil biochemistry, spatial modeling of soil fauna, soil and soil food web, and the interaction between soil biology with soil physicochemical properties and processes to regulate belowground functions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Mojtaba Zeraatpisheh
Prof. Dr. Weixin Zhang
Dr. Esmaeil Bakhshandeh
Prof. Dr. Alireza Naqinezhad
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • natural and planted forests
  • forest soil quality
  • soil fauna and flora
  • soil biodiversity
  • soil process
  • spatial distribution
  • biological processes
  • plant–microbe interactions
  • microbial communities
  • ecophysiological modeling
  • environmental stress

Published Papers (10 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

13 pages, 3012 KiB  
Article
Response of Soil Microbial Communities and Functions to Long-Term Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) Planting in a Subtropical Region
by Xiangzhou Zheng, Yiqun Wu, Aiai Xu, Cheng Lin, Huangping Wang, Juhua Yu, Hong Ding and Yushu Zhang
Forests 2023, 14(7), 1288; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071288 - 22 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1090
Abstract
Soil microbes are the key to revealing the mechanisms driving variation in soil biogeochemical processes. In recent decades, forests in Southeast China have been widely transformed into tea plantations due to the drivers of economic benefits. However, the changes in the soil microbial [...] Read more.
Soil microbes are the key to revealing the mechanisms driving variation in soil biogeochemical processes. In recent decades, forests in Southeast China have been widely transformed into tea plantations due to the drivers of economic benefits. However, the changes in the soil microbial community and their potential function during the transition from a typical forest ecosystem to tea plantations remain poorly understood. This study investigated the soil microbial community in tea plantation soils with different planting ages, i.e., 6, 12, 23 and 35 years, and in an adjacent woodland control. We discovered that tea planting significantly increased soil bacterial richness (ACE and Chao1) and decreased fungal richness, the diversity of bacteria (Simpson and Shannon) show a trend of initially decreasing and then increasing while there was no significant effect on fungal diversity. After tea planting, the relative abundances of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria increased by 180.9%–386.6% and 62.3%–97.5%, respectively; the relative abundances of Acidobacteria decreased by 11.4%–66.8%. However, the fungal phyla were not significantly different among different aged tea plantations and woodlands. FAPROTAX and FUNGuild revealed that the transition of natural woodland to tea plantations significantly increased the relative abundances of aerobic_chemoheterotrophy (14.66%–22.69%), chemoheterotrophy (34.36%–37.04%), ureolysis (0.68%–1.35%) and pathogenic fungi (26.17%–37.02%). db-RDA proved that the bacterial community structure was more strongly related to soil pH and available nitrogen (AN), while the main determinants of the fungal community composition were soil pH and soil organic matter (SOM). These findings indicate that tea planting has a strong effect on the soil microbial community and potential function. The change in soil pH during tea planting was the most important factor affecting the soil microbial community, while soil bacteria were more sensitive to tea planting than fungi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Biology and Biochemistry of Forests)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 2030 KiB  
Article
Soil Macrofauna Disperse and Reconstruct Soil Nematode Communities: Takeaways from a Microcosm Study
by Tao Liu, Zixuan Wang, Huiling Guan, Buqing Zhong, Xinxing He, Yihan Wang, Yifei Qi, Wende Yan and Xiankai Lu
Forests 2023, 14(4), 748; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040748 - 06 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1179
Abstract
Soil macrofauna is an important component of soil biodiversity and plays a key role in soil ecosystem function. Little work, however, has explored how macrofauna may contribute, directly or indirectly, to soil microfauna communities. In this study, we explored the impact of two [...] Read more.
Soil macrofauna is an important component of soil biodiversity and plays a key role in soil ecosystem function. Little work, however, has explored how macrofauna may contribute, directly or indirectly, to soil microfauna communities. In this study, we explored the impact of two classes of common soil macrofauna, earthworms (Eisenia foetida) and millipedes (Spirobolus walkeri), on soil nematode community diversity and structure. We found that earthworms and millipedes play an important role in maintaining soil nematode communities and increasing soil nutrients. Both earthworms and millipedes act as hosts for soil nematodes, and play a valuable role in dispersing and distributing these important microfauna throughout the soil landscape. We tested the efficacy of this strategy on multiple soil layers and found that layer does not have a significant influence on soil nematode community. These results suggest that soil nematode abundance, diversity, and structure are tightly linked to the existence of soil macrofauna, which may contribute to the maintenance mechanism of forest soil biodiversity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Biology and Biochemistry of Forests)
Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 3532 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Soil Quality of Short Rotation Forest Operations Using Biochar and Manure
by Ruirui Zhao, Yong Liu, Deborah S. Page-Dumroese, R. Kasten Dumroese and Kai Wang
Forests 2022, 13(12), 2090; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13122090 - 08 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 993
Abstract
Biochar and manure may be used to enhance soil quality and productivity for sustainable agriculture and forestry operations. However, the response of surface and belowground wood decomposition (i.e., soil processes) and nutrient flux to soil amendments is unknown, and more site-specific information about [...] Read more.
Biochar and manure may be used to enhance soil quality and productivity for sustainable agriculture and forestry operations. However, the response of surface and belowground wood decomposition (i.e., soil processes) and nutrient flux to soil amendments is unknown, and more site-specific information about soil property responses is also essential. In a split-plot design, the soil was amended with three rates of manure (whole plot; 0, 3, and 9 Mg ha−1) and three rates of biochar (split-plot; 0, 2.5, and 10 Mg ha−1). Soil physical properties, nutrients, and enzyme activities were evaluated in two years. In addition, wood stakes of three species (poplar, triploid Populus tomentosa Carr.; aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx.; and pine, Pinus taeda L.) were installed both horizontally on the soil surface and vertically in the mineral soil to serve as an index of soil abiotic and biotic changes. Wood stake mass loss, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) flux were tested. The high rate of both manure and biochar increased soil water content by an average of 18%, but the increase in total soil P, K, organic carbon (C) content, and enzyme activities were restricted to single sample dates or soil depths. Wood stakes decomposed faster according to stake location (mineral > surface) and species (two Populus > pine). On average, soil amendments significantly increased the mass loss of surface and mineral stakes by 18% and 5%, respectively, and it also altered wood stake nutrient cycling. Overall, the decomposition of standard wood stakes can be a great indicator of soil quality changes, and 10 Mg ha−1 of biochar alone or combined with 9 Mg ha−1 of manure can be used for long-term carbon sequestration in plantations with similar soil conditions to the present study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Biology and Biochemistry of Forests)
Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 1636 KiB  
Article
Effects of Precious Tree Introduction into Moso Bamboo Forests on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Pools
by Jiancheng Zhao, Bo Wang and Zhenya Yang
Forests 2022, 13(11), 1927; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13111927 - 16 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1007
Abstract
Forest type conversion is an important factor affecting soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools. Planting precious trees in moso bamboo forest is an important measure taken to establish a mixed forest due to the vulnerable ecological functioning of moso bamboo forest. However, [...] Read more.
Forest type conversion is an important factor affecting soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools. Planting precious trees in moso bamboo forest is an important measure taken to establish a mixed forest due to the vulnerable ecological functioning of moso bamboo forest. However, the ways in which soil C and N pools in moso bamboo forest are affected by precious tree introduction are still unclear. A pure moso bamboo forest (BF), a bamboo forest interplanted with Phoebe chekiangensis (BPC), and a bamboo forest interplanted with Taxus wallichiana var. mairei (BTW) were selected. Soil organic C (SOC), total N, microbial biomass C (MBC), microbial biomass N (MBN), water-soluble organic C (WSOC), water-soluble organic N (WSON), and litter C and N concentrations were determined. Our results showed that the concentrations of SOC and N in BF were significantly lower than those in BPC and BTW. The total SOC and N concentrations decreased with increasing soil depth, and they were significantly higher at 0–20 cm than those at 20–40 cm and 40–60 cm. The biomasses of litters and their concentrations of C and N were increased after planting precious trees in moso bamboo forest, and they were significantly lower in BF than in BPC and BTW. In addition, precious tree introduction also improved the concentrations of soil MBC, MBN, WSOC, and WSON. To conclude, planting precious trees in moso bamboo forest significantly increased SOC and N concentrations at soil depths of 0–60 cm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Biology and Biochemistry of Forests)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1872 KiB  
Article
Effects of Exotic and Native Earthworms on Soil Micro-Decomposers in a Subtropical Forest: A Field Mesocosm Experiment
by Zhen Zhao, Xiaoling Wang, Weixin Zhang, Xiankai Lu and Tao Liu
Forests 2022, 13(11), 1924; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13111924 - 16 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1304
Abstract
Biological invasion is one of the most important factors affecting global biodiversity change, which can adversely affect ecosystem function. However, little is known about the effects of belowground biological invasions on soil ecosystems. In this study, we conducted a field-based mesocosm experiment to [...] Read more.
Biological invasion is one of the most important factors affecting global biodiversity change, which can adversely affect ecosystem function. However, little is known about the effects of belowground biological invasions on soil ecosystems. In this study, we conducted a field-based mesocosm experiment to observe the effects of exotic and native earthworms (Pontoscolex corethrurus and Amynthas corticis, respectively) on soil nutrients and micro-decomposers (i.e., soil microorganisms and nematodes) in a subtropical forest in southern China. We found that exotic and native earthworms had different effects on nutrient availability and nematode communities in the soil. Specifically, exotic earthworms significantly decreased the content of nitrates in the soil and tended to decrease the total nematode abundance compared with native earthworms. Furthermore, nematode species richness and Shannon–Wiener index were lowest in the treatment with exotic earthworms and were the highest in the treatment with native earthworms. However, neither native nor exotic earthworms significantly affected soil microbial community composition. The results of redundancy analysis indicated that available phosphorus was positively correlated with nematode community. Our results demonstrated that exotic earthworms had adverse effects on the available nutrient content in the soil, and had a potential negative effect on the abundance of soil microfauna. These findings will be helpful in understanding the influence of exotic earthworms on soil micro-decomposers and the ecological consequences of earthworm invasion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Biology and Biochemistry of Forests)
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2589 KiB  
Article
Effects of Tree Species on Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis (Carriere) J. Houzeau) Fine Root Morphology, Biomass, and Soil Properties in Bamboo–Broadleaf Mixed Forests
by Yang Zhou, Fengying Guan, Zhen Li, Yaxiong Zheng, Xiao Zhou and Xuan Zhang
Forests 2022, 13(11), 1834; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13111834 - 03 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1381
Abstract
Understanding fine root characteristics in relation to soil properties of bamboo–broadleaf mixed forests may help optimize belowground production management and ecological functions in mixed-forest ecosystems. In this study, we compared four different bamboo–broadleaf mixed forests: Castanopsis chinensis (Sprengel) Hance with moso bamboo (CCB), [...] Read more.
Understanding fine root characteristics in relation to soil properties of bamboo–broadleaf mixed forests may help optimize belowground production management and ecological functions in mixed-forest ecosystems. In this study, we compared four different bamboo–broadleaf mixed forests: Castanopsis chinensis (Sprengel) Hance with moso bamboo (CCB), Alniphyllum fortunei (Hemsl.) Makino with moso bamboo (AFB), Choerospondias axillaris (Roxb.) Burtt and Hill with moso bamboo (CAB), and Castanopsis fargesii Franch with moso bamboo (CFB), and analyzed their effects on the traits of fine roots of moso bamboo, soil nutrient contents, and enzyme activities. In January 2022, fine root and soil samples from four different mixed bamboo–broadleaf forests were collected from a subtropical region of Fujian Province, China. Results showed that CAB significantly increased fine root biomass (FRB) and root length density (RLD); however, specific root length (SRL) was only in the 0–20 cm soil layer. Specific surface area (SSA) was significantly reduced in the CCB in the 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil layers. The total phosphorous (TP) and total potassium (TK) contents of AFB and CAB were significantly increased (p < 0.05), and the alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN) content was significantly increased by CCB in the 0–20 cm soil layer (p < 0.05). Additionally, CFB increased the activities of acid phosphatase (ACP) and catalase (CAT) but decreased the activity of sucrase (SC). Principal component analysis showed that fine root traits (FRB, RLD, SRL, and SSA) were not only positively associated with soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and available potassium (AK) but also associated with urease (UE) and CAT. Therefore, belowground interactions between different species have a significant impact on the characteristics of fine roots and soil in bamboo–broadleaf mixed forests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Biology and Biochemistry of Forests)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2199 KiB  
Article
Drought Offsets the Potential Effects of Nitrogen Addition on Soil Respiration and Organic Carbon in Model Subtropical Forests
by Yu-lin Zhu, Xue-ping Lin, Yun-peng Huang, Xing-hao Tang, Xiong Fang and Zhi-gang Yi
Forests 2022, 13(10), 1615; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13101615 - 02 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1169
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) deposition is increasingly aggravating and has significant impact on the processes of forest soil carbon (C) cycling. However, how N deposition affects forest soil C cycling processes in the scenario of future drought-frequent climate is still unclear. Therefore, we conducted a [...] Read more.
Nitrogen (N) deposition is increasingly aggravating and has significant impact on the processes of forest soil carbon (C) cycling. However, how N deposition affects forest soil C cycling processes in the scenario of future drought-frequent climate is still unclear. Therefore, we conducted a 2.5-year experiment at two levels of N addition treatments (control and N addition) and three levels of moisture (well-watered: ca. 80% of field capacity, moderate drought: ca. 60% of field capacity, severe drought: ca. 40% of field capacity) to investigate the impact of N addition, drought, and their interaction on soil respiration (Rs) and soil organic carbon (SOC) content. The results showed that N addition significantly increased Rs and SOC content, and severe drought decreased Rs and SOC content. In a well-watered condition, N addition significantly increased annual mean Rs, but in moderate drought and severe drought condition, N addition did not obviously affect Rs. In the control group, severe drought significantly decreased annual mean Rs by 61.5%, and decreased SOC content in 0–10 cm and in 10–20 cm by 3.0% and 1.6%, respectively. However, in the N addition group, moderate drought and severe drought significantly decreased annual mean Rs by 27.6% and 70.5%, respectively. Meanwhile, compared to the well-watered condition, severe drought significantly decreased SOC content in 0–10 cm and in 10–20 cm by 12.4% and 11.9% in the N addition group, respectively. Severe drought also decreased aboveground and belowground biomass, fine root biomass, MBC, and specific respiration in N addition group. The Rs and SOC content were positively correlated with aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, and fine root biomass. These results suggest that under future global change scenarios, severe drought might offset the promotive effects of N deposition on soil respiration and C sequestration in the young subtropical forest. Moreover, the N deposition may enhance the suppressive effect of drought on soil respiration and C sequestration in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Biology and Biochemistry of Forests)
Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 4331 KiB  
Article
The Biological Origins of Soil Organic Matter in Different Land-Uses in the Highlands of Ethiopia
by Dessie Assefa, Axel Mentler, Hans Sandén, Boris Rewald and Douglas L. Godbold
Forests 2022, 13(4), 560; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13040560 - 31 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1950
Abstract
In the Ethiopian highlands, clearance of Afromontane dry forest and conversion to crop and grazing land lead to land degradation and loss of soil organic matter (SOM). Eucalyptus is often grown on degraded soils, and this results in the partial recovery of soil [...] Read more.
In the Ethiopian highlands, clearance of Afromontane dry forest and conversion to crop and grazing land lead to land degradation and loss of soil organic matter (SOM). Eucalyptus is often grown on degraded soils, and this results in the partial recovery of soil carbon stocks. The aim of this work was to assess the biological sources of SOM in this land-use sequence. In top-soils (0–10 cm) of four land-use systems, namely remnant natural forest, eucalyptus plantation, cropland, and grazing land, in the Ethiopian highlands, the origin of SOM was investigated. For this, a sequential extraction method was used, involving a solvent extraction, base hydrolysis, and a subsequent CuO oxidation. In these extracts, biomarkers (molecular proxies) were identified to characterize the SOM of the soil of the four land-uses. Putative lipid monomers of leaf, root, and microbial degradation products suggest that root inputs and microbial inputs dominate in SOM of all the land-uses, except grazing land. The ratios of syringyls, vanillyls, and cinnamyls showed that non-woody angiosperm plants were the predominant source for lignin in eucalyptus, cropland, and grazing land soil. In the soils of the natural forest, lignin originates from both woody angiosperms and woody gymnosperms. Our study shows the importance of root and microbial inputs in the formation of SOM, but also that, in the natural forest, legacies of previous forest cover are present. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Biology and Biochemistry of Forests)
Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 7921 KiB  
Article
The Effectiveness of Soil Extracts from Selangor Peat Swamp and Pristine Forest Soils on the Growth of Green Microalgae sp.
by Nor Suhaila Yaacob, Mohd Fadzli Ahmad, Ashvini Sivam, Emi Fazlina Hashim, Maegala Nallapan Maniyam, Fridelina Sjahrir, Noor Fazreen Dzulkafli, Wan Muhammad Ikram Wan Mohd Zamri, Kazuhiro Komatsu, Victor S. Kuwahara and Hasdianty Abdullah
Forests 2022, 13(1), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13010079 - 07 Jan 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1449
Abstract
Microalgae are widely utilized in commercial industries. The addition of a modified artificial medium (soil extract) could enhance their growth. Soil extract collected from the Raja Musa peat swamp and mineral soil from the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve (AHFR), Selangor, Malaysia, were treated [...] Read more.
Microalgae are widely utilized in commercial industries. The addition of a modified artificial medium (soil extract) could enhance their growth. Soil extract collected from the Raja Musa peat swamp and mineral soil from the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve (AHFR), Selangor, Malaysia, were treated using various extraction methods. Carteria radiosa PHG2-A01, Neochloris conjuncta, and Nephrochlamys subsolitaria were grown in microplates at 25 °C, light intensity 33.75 µmol photons m−2s−1 for 9 days. N. conjuncta dominated the growth in 121 °C twice extraction method AFHR samples, with 47.17% increment. The highest concentrations of ammonia and nitrate were detected in the medium with soil extract treated with 121 °C twice extraction method, yielding the concentrations of 2 mg NL−1 and 35 mg NL−1 for ammonia and nitrate of RM soil and 2 mg NL−1 and 2.85 mg NL−1 for the AH soil. These extracts are proved successful as a microalgal growth stimulant, increasing revenue and the need for enriched medium. The high rate of nutrient recovery has the potential to serve as a growth promoter for microalgae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Biology and Biochemistry of Forests)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2469 KiB  
Article
Opposing Ecological Strategies Together Promote Biomass Carbon Storage in Homegardens Agroforestry of Southern Bangladesh
by Md Mizanur Rahman, Gauranga Kumar Kundu, Md Enamul Kabir, Heera Ahmed and Ming Xu
Forests 2021, 12(12), 1669; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12121669 - 30 Nov 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1698
Abstract
Exploration of the biodiversity–environmental factors–carbon storage relationships have been a central research question in the changing global climate over the last few decades. However, in comparison to other forest ecosystems, very few studies have been conducted in homegarden agroforestry plantations, which have a [...] Read more.
Exploration of the biodiversity–environmental factors–carbon storage relationships have been a central research question in the changing global climate over the last few decades. However, in comparison to other forest ecosystems, very few studies have been conducted in homegarden agroforestry plantations, which have a tremendous capacity to battle global climate change sustainably. We hypothesized that (i) soil organic matter content has both a direct and indirect effect on aboveground carbon storage through species richness, structural diversity, functional diversity (FD) and functional composition (FC); (ii) some facets of diversity (structural diversity, FD and FC) would be more important in linking species richness to aboveground carbon; (iii) species richness, FC, structural diversity and FD would have a positive impact on aboveground carbon storage (AGC) after considering the effect of soil fertility; and (iv) FC would have a greater effect on AGC than the other three components of biodiversity. These hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling with field data obtained from 40 homesteads in southwestern Bangladesh. We observed that species richness, FC of maximum canopy height and structural diversity had significant effects on AGC, while soil organic matter and FD of wood density had an insignificant effect. Among the four biodiversity components, the structural diversity had a greater influence on AGC. Contrary to our hypothesis, soil fertility and species richness did not have a significant indirect effect on AGC through their mediators. These four components of biodiversity, along with soil organic matter together explained 49% of the variance in AGC. Our findings indicate that both niche complementarity and selection effects regulate AGC in homegardens, where the former theory had stronger control of AGC in homegardens. Therefore, we need to maintain not only the species diversity but also structural diversity (DBH) and functional composition (canopy height) for enhancing aboveground carbon storage on a sustainable basis in homegardens and other restoration programs under nature-based solution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Biology and Biochemistry of Forests)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop