Nature – Chen et al. (2023): Tree diversity increases decadal forest soil carbon and nitrogen accrual
Xinli Chen, Anthony R. Taylor, Peter B. Reich, Masumi Hisano, Han Y. H. Chen, Scott X. Chang IN: Nature, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05941-9
The authors analyse Canada’s National Forest Inventory (NFI) database with the help of structural equation modelling (SEM) to explore the relationship between tree diversity and soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation in natural forests. The authors find that greater tree diversity is associated with higher soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation, validating inferences from biodiversity-manipulation experiments. The results highlight that conserving and promoting functionally diverse forests could promote soil carbon and nitrogen storage, enhancing both carbon sink capacity and soil nitrogen fertility.