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Aboveground and Belowground Input Effects on Soil Health in Urban Camphor Tree Forests

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  • Xuejia Huang

    (College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
    Art and Design College, Hunan City University, Yiyang 413000, China)

  • Yuanying Peng

    (College of Arts and Sciences, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL 60446, USA)

  • Wende Yan

    (College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
    National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha 410004, China
    Key Laboratory of Urban Forest Ecology of Hunan Province, Changsha 410004, China)

  • Tianyi Yan

    (College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
    College of Information Technology, Hunan Biological and Electromechanical Polytechnic, Changsha 410127, China)

  • Xiaocui Liang

    (College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
    National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha 410004, China
    Key Laboratory of Urban Forest Ecology of Hunan Province, Changsha 410004, China)

  • Junjie Lei

    (College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China)

  • Xiaoyong Chen

    (College of Arts and Sciences, Governors State University, University Park, IL 60484, USA)

  • Yaqin Qi

    (Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China)

Abstract

Urban forests provide essential ecosystem services, including improving soil health, sequestering carbon (C), and supporting biodiversity. However, the effects of anthropogenic litter and root management on soil biogeochemical processes in urban environments remain poorly understood. This study applied the Detritus Inputs and Removal Treatment (DIRT) framework to examine how aboveground and belowground organic inputs influence soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), soil water content (SWC), and enzymatic activities in subtropical urban camphor tree forests in China. Six treatments were implemented: litter removal (LR), litter addition (LA), root exclusion (RE), combined litter and root removal (LR + RE), combined litter addition and root exclusion (LA + RE), and an undisturbed litter control (LC). The results showed that the LA treatment significantly enhanced SOC, TN, SWC, and key soil enzyme activities (protease, catalase, and urease) compared to the LC, highlighting the crucial role of litter in enhancing soil fertility and microbial functioning. These elevated enzyme activities suggest intensified microbial nutrient cycling and metabolic activity in response to organic matter inputs. In contrast, the combined LR + RE treatment reduced SOC and enzyme activities but unexpectedly increased TN, indicating disrupted nutrient cycling, possibly due to accelerated microbial nitrogen mineralization and decomposition of existing soil organic matter in the absence of fresh carbon inputs. The LA treatment also showed the highest carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio, reflecting a carbon-enriched environment that may favor long-term carbon stabilization. Additionally, SWC was most improved under the LA + RE treatment, suggesting its potential for enhancing soil moisture retention in urban settings. These findings underscore the complementary roles of litter and root inputs in maintaining soil health and biogeochemical balance in urban forests. The study provides insights into enzyme-mediated soil processes under varying organic input regimes and highlights the value of targeted organic matter management to enhance urban ecosystem services.

Suggested Citation

  • Xuejia Huang & Yuanying Peng & Wende Yan & Tianyi Yan & Xiaocui Liang & Junjie Lei & Xiaoyong Chen & Yaqin Qi, 2025. "Aboveground and Belowground Input Effects on Soil Health in Urban Camphor Tree Forests," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6358-:d:1699505
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marco Keiluweit & Jeremy J. Bougoure & Peter S. Nico & Jennifer Pett-Ridge & Peter K. Weber & Markus Kleber, 2015. "Mineral protection of soil carbon counteracted by root exudates," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(6), pages 588-595, June.
    2. Rahul Datta & Aditi Kelkar & Divyashri Baraniya & Ali Molaei & Amitava Moulick & Ram Swaroop Meena & Pavel Formanek, 2017. "Enzymatic Degradation of Lignin in Soil: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-18, July.
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