IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i14p6358-d1699505.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/14/6358/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/14/6358/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chen Ma & Runze Nie & Guoming Du, 2023. "Responses of Soil Collembolans to Land Degradation in a Black Soil Region in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Subhan Danish & Muhammad Zafar-ul-Hye & Shah Fahad & Shah Saud & Martin Brtnicky & Tereza Hammerschmiedt & Rahul Datta, 2020. "Drought Stress Alleviation by ACC Deaminase Producing Achromobacter xylosoxidans and Enterobacter cloacae , with and without Timber Waste Biochar in Maize," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-17, August.
    3. Tobias Bölscher & Zoe G. Cardon & Mariela Garcia Arredondo & Stéphanie Grand & Gabriella Griffen & Rachel Hestrin & Josephine Imboden & Floriane Jamoteau & Emily M. Lacroix & Sherlynette Pérez Castro , 2025. "Vulnerability of mineral-organic associations in the rhizosphere," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Rahul Datta & Divyashri Baraniya & Yong-Feng Wang & Aditi Kelkar & Ram Swaroop Meena & Gulab Singh Yadav & Maria Teresa Ceccherini & Pavel Formanek, 2017. "Amino Acid: Its Dual Role as Nutrient and Scavenger of Free Radicals in Soil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-9, August.
    5. Gonzalo Almendros & José A. González-Pérez, 2025. "Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Mechanisms and the Chemical Nature of Soil Organic Matter—A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-22, July.
    6. Nina L. Friggens & Gustaf Hugelius & Steven V. Kokelj & Julian B. Murton & Gareth K. Phoenix & Iain P. Hartley, 2025. "Positive rhizosphere priming accelerates carbon release from permafrost soils," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    7. Aiya Chantarasiri, 2020. "Klebsiella and Enterobacter Isolated from Mangrove Wetland Soils in Thailand and Their Application in Biological Decolorization of Textile Reactive Dyes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-21, October.
    8. Xiaomei Gou & Xiangning Wang & Xuemei Wang & Yan Cai & Bing Li & Yi Zhang & Lihong Han, 2025. "Regulatory Mechanisms of Medium-Term Crop Rotation on Soil Organic Carbon Storage in Red Soils at the Aggregate Level," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-19, July.
    9. Piao Zhou & Lin Zhang & Shi Qi, 2022. "Plant Diversity and Aboveground Biomass Interact with Abiotic Factors to Drive Soil Organic Carbon in Beijing Mountainous Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-12, August.
    10. Li, Wanwu & Khalid, Habiba & Zhu, Zhe & Zhang, Ruihong & Liu, Guangqing & Chen, Chang & Thorin, Eva, 2018. "Methane production through anaerobic digestion: Participation and digestion characteristics of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 1219-1228.
    11. Peng Zhang & Yuxin He & Tao Ren & Yang Wang & Chao Liu & Naiwen Li & Longguo Li, 2021. "The Crop Residue Removal Threshold Ensures Sustainable Agriculture in the Purple Soil Region of Sichuan, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, March.
    12. Zhe (Han) Weng & Lukas Zwieten & Ehsan Tavakkoli & Michael T. Rose & Bhupinder Pal Singh & Stephen Joseph & Lynne M. Macdonald & Stephen Kimber & Stephen Morris & Terry J. Rose & Braulio S. Archanjo &, 2022. "Microspectroscopic visualization of how biochar lifts the soil organic carbon ceiling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    13. Ogechukwu Bose Chukwuma & Mohd Rafatullah & Husnul Azan Tajarudin & Norli Ismail, 2020. "Lignocellulolytic Enzymes in Biotechnological and Industrial Processes: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-31, September.
    14. Marie Spohn & Sumanta Bagchi & Lori A. Biederman & Elizabeth T. Borer & Kari Anne Bråthen & Miguel N. Bugalho & Maria C. Caldeira & Jane A. Catford & Scott L. Collins & Nico Eisenhauer & Nicole Hagena, 2023. "The positive effect of plant diversity on soil carbon depends on climate," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    15. Qian Fang & Anhuai Lu & Hanlie Hong & Yakov Kuzyakov & Thomas J. Algeo & Lulu Zhao & Yaniv Olshansky & Bryan Moravec & Danielle M. Barrientes & Jon Chorover, 2023. "Mineral weathering is linked to microbial priming in the critical zone," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    16. Theodore Danso Marfo & Rahul Datta & Valerie Vranová & Adam Ekielski, 2019. "Ecotone Dynamics and Stability from Soil Perspective: Forest-Agriculture Land Transition," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-10, October.
    17. Qiang Li & Baoshan Chen & Hezhong Yuan & Hui Li & Shunyao Zhuang, 2024. "Characterization of controlling factors for soil organic carbon stocks in one Karst region of Southwest China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(1), pages 1-15, January.
    18. Ludovic Henneron & Jerôme Balesdent & Gaël Alvarez & Pierre Barré & François Baudin & Isabelle Basile-Doelsch & Lauric Cécillon & Alejandro Fernandez-Martinez & Christine Hatté & Sébastien Fontaine, 2022. "Bioenergetic control of soil carbon dynamics across depth," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    19. Intan Nazirah Mohammad & Clarence M. Ongkudon & Mailin Misson, 2020. "Physicochemical Properties and Lignin Degradation of Thermal-Pretreated Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-12, November.
    20. Shuai Wang & Nan Wang & Junping Xu & Xi Zhang & Sen Dou, 2019. "Contribution of Microbial Residues Obtained from Lignin and Cellulose on Humus Formation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-12, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6358-:d:1699505. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.