Intensive forest harvest increases N2O emission from soil: A meta-analysis. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Hui; Tang, Caixian; Berninger, Frank; Bai, Shangbin; Wang, Hongquan; Wang, Yixiang
• Is Part Of: Soil biology and biochemistry. Volume 172(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: N2O flux -- Forest logging -- Greenhouse gas -- Disturbance -- Forest type -- N transformation; Soil biochemistry -- Periodicals; Soil biology -- Periodicals; Sols -- Biochimie -- Périodiques; Sols -- Biologie -- Périodiques; Sols -- Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Bodembiologie; Biochemie; 631.46
• DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108712
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-0717

Abstract

Abstract: A comprehensive evaluation of the impact of forest harvest on soil N2 O flux at the global scale is currently unavailable. In this study, by using a global meta-analysis of 64 observations from 29 peer-reviewed publications over the last 30 years, we elucidated how forest harvest impacted soil N2 O flux and related soil properties. Intensive forest harvest significantly increased soil N2 O flux with a mean effect size of 0.85 and the increase was associated with elevated soil temperature, increased concentration of NO3 − -N and decreased soil pH. The effect on soil N2 O flux lasted for around six years, and soil N2 O emission depended on existing forest types in the late stage (the recovery period >6 years) after harvest. Forest harvest clearly increased soil N2 O flux, with effect size ranging 0.73–2.12, in broadleaf forests but did not significantly affect it in coniferous and mixed broadleaf-conifer forests. In addition, the time required for the complete recovery from harvest in terms of N2 O flux was difficult to define because of the scarcity of long-term experiments. Overall, this study provides the first formal global-scale assessment on how forest harvest intensity, forest types and the time since harvest affect soil N2 O flux. The findings of this study help to narrow the knowledge gap regarding the effect of forest harvest on soil N2 O flux, and to facilitate decision making to decrease soil N2 O emission post forest harvest. Highlights: Intensive forest harvest enhances N2 O fluxes. Elevated N2 O fluxes are associated with warming, increased NO3 − and decreased pH. The effect of intensive harvest on forest soil N2 O flux lasts for around 6 years. Harvest increases soil N2 O flux more in broadleaf than coniferous and mixed forests.