Global patterns of soil greenhouse gas fluxes in response to litter manipulation

Abstract

Summary: Soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are influenced by litter inputs, but the impact of these inputs is uncertain. This study addresses this gap by conducting a meta-analysis of 115 published articles to investigate the global responses of soil GHG fluxes to altered litter inputs and the potential factors that drive these responses. The findings suggest that litter changes significantly influence soil GHG fluxes, such that litter removal greatly decreases soil CO2 and N2O emissions, while doubling the amount of litter significantly enhances soil CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions. Also, the impact of litter on soil CO2 and N2O fluxes is affected by other factors such as ecosystem type, climatic factors, soil pH, and litter quality. These findings have important implications for climate change mitigation and sustainable soil management. Science for society: As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have become a particular cause for concern. Litter is an important source of soil organic carbon that influences GHG emissions, but the impact of litter inputs on GHG emissions is uncertain. Here, we use a meta-analysis approach to investigate the relationship between litter inputs and GHG emissions and how this relationship is influenced by other factors. Altogether, the findings of this study have important implications for climate change mitigation and sustainable soil management.

Keywords

• litter removal
• double litter
• greenhouse fluxes
• meta-analysis