Soil organic carbon fractions response to ecological restoration: A global meta-analysis

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) has a critical influence on soil productivity and degradation. Meanwhile, ecological restoration is essential to prevent carbon (C) losses and reverse land degradation. In this study, 1374 sets of experimental data from 63 peer-reviewed publications were synthesized to quantitatively elucidate the effects of different restoration measures on soil properties and SOC fractions. The results showed that ecological restoration significantly increased SOC, particulate organic carbon (POC), and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) by 37.48 %, 45.73 %, and 36.42 %, respectively. Interventional restoration measured the sequestered carbon in POC at a rate of 50.7 %, which was 17.1 % higher than that achieved through natural restoration. In the tropics, the effect of ecological restoration on MAOC was not significant. In addition, soil texture, soil depth, and restoration duration were important factors regulating the global SOC response to ecological restoration. In summary, the use of ecological restoration to achieve C recovery represents a site-specific application of both proactive and natural strategies. The meta-analysis advances our understanding of how SOC pools respond to various restoration measures and enhances the prediction of restoration outcomes under climate change scenarios.