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Liang J, Himes A, Siegert C. A meta-analysis of afforestation impacts on soil greenhouse gas emissions. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2025; 386:125709. [PMID: 40367804 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2025] [Revised: 04/08/2025] [Accepted: 05/05/2025] [Indexed: 05/16/2025]
Abstract
Afforestation is a natural climate solution and a key strategy to mitigate climate change. While tree planting primarily achieves this mitigation via above-ground carbon sequestration, soils also play a dual role as sources and sinks of greenhouse gases (GHG). Understanding afforestation impacts on soil GHG flux is essential for leveraging afforestation to combat global warming. In this research, we conducted a global meta-analysis of 157 studies to assess the effects of afforestation on soil GHG emissions across different prior land uses and to identify key emission drivers. Our results indicated that afforestation significantly reduced CO2 emissions in former grasslands and deforested land and decreased CH4 emissions across most prior land uses. However, soil N2O flux was mostly unaffected by afforestation. The type of forest planted also influenced soil GHG emissions. Hardwood planting reduced CH4 emissions, but no clear trends emerged for N2O emissions from either softwood or hardwood forests. Tree planting density had no significant effect on GHG fluxes. GHG responses to afforestation also changed over time and were influenced by environmental factors. CO2 emissions correlated positively with soil organic carbon, mean annual precipitation, C:N ratio, and soil temperature. N2O flux increased with soil NO3- and microbial nitrogen and decreased with soil organic carbon and moisture. Additionally, soil microbial biomass carbon and soil organic carbon were positively correlated with CH4 emissions. These findings highlight the importance of selecting tree species, site conditions, and environmental factors to optimize afforestation's GHG mitigation potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianing Liang
- Department of Forestry, College of Forest Resources, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA.
| | - Austin Himes
- School of the Environment, College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resources Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Courtney Siegert
- Department of Forestry, College of Forest Resources, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA
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Midot F, Goh KM, Liew KJ, Lau SYL, Espenberg M, Mander Ü, Melling L. Temporal dynamics of soil microbial C and N cycles with GHG fluxes in the transition from tropical peatland forest to oil palm plantation. Appl Environ Microbiol 2025; 91:e0198624. [PMID: 39714193 PMCID: PMC11784229 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01986-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2024] [Accepted: 11/29/2024] [Indexed: 12/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Tropical peatlands significantly influence local and global carbon and nitrogen cycles, yet they face growing pressure from anthropogenic activities. Land use changes, such as peatland forests conversion to oil palm plantations, affect the soil microbiome and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the temporal dynamics of microbial community changes and their role as GHG indicators are not well understood. This study examines the dynamics of peat chemistry, soil microbial communities, and GHG emissions from 2016 to 2020 in a logged-over secondary peat swamp forest in Sarawak, Malaysia, which transitioned to an oil palm plantation. This study focuses on changes in genetic composition governing plant litter degradation, methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes. Soil CO2 emission increased (doubling from approximately 200 mg C m-2 h-1), while CH4 emissions decreased (from 200 µg C m-2 h-1 to slightly negative) following land use changes. The N2O emissions in the oil palm plantation reached approximately 1,510 µg N m-2 h-1, significantly higher than previous land uses. The CH4 fluxes were driven by groundwater table, humification levels, and C:N ratio, with Methanomicrobia populations dominating methanogenesis and Methylocystis as the main CH4 oxidizer. The N2O fluxes correlated with groundwater table, total nitrogen, and C:N ratio with dominant nirK-type denitrifiers (13-fold nir to nosZ) and a minor role by nitrification (a threefold increase in amoA) in the plantation. Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria encoding incomplete denitrification genes potentially impact N2O emissions. These findings highlighted complex interactions between microbial communities and environmental factors influencing GHG fluxes in altered tropical peatland ecosystems.IMPORTANCETropical peatlands are carbon-rich environments that release significant amounts of greenhouse gases when drained or disturbed. This study assesses the impact of land use change on a secondary tropical peat swamp forest site converted into an oil palm plantation. The transformation lowered groundwater levels and changed soil properties. Consequently, the oil palm plantation site released higher carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide compared to previous land uses. As microbial communities play crucial roles in carbon and nitrogen cycles, this study identified environmental factors associated with microbial diversity, including genes and specific microbial groups related to nitrous oxide and methane emissions. Understanding the factors driving microbial composition shifts and greenhouse gas emissions in tropical peatlands provides baseline information to potentially mitigate environmental consequences of land use change, leading to a broader impact on climate change mitigation efforts and proper land management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frazer Midot
- Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
- Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Kian Mau Goh
- Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Kok Jun Liew
- Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Sharon Yu Ling Lau
- Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Mikk Espenberg
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ülo Mander
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Lulie Melling
- Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
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Novita N, Asyhari A, Ritonga RP, Gangga A, Anshari GZ, Jupesta J, Bowen JC, Lestari NS, Kauffman JB, Hoyt AM, Perryman CR, Albar I, Putra CAS, Adinugroho WC, Winarno B, Castro M, Yeo S, Budiarna T, Yuono E, Sianipar VC. Strong climate mitigation potential of rewetting oil palm plantations on tropical peatlands. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 952:175829. [PMID: 39197784 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 08/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
For decades, tropical peatlands in Indonesia have been deforested and converted to other land uses, mainly oil palm plantations which now cover one-fourth of the degraded peatland area. Given that the capacity for peatland ecosystems to store carbon depends largely on hydrology, there is a growing interest in rewetting degraded peatlands to shift them back to a carbon sink. Recent estimates suggest that peatland rewetting may contribute up to 13 % of Indonesia's total mitigation potential from natural climate solutions. In this study, we measured CO2 and CH4 fluxes, soil temperature, and water table level (WTL) for drained oil palm plantations, rewetted oil palm plantations, and secondary forests located in the Mempawah and Kubu Raya Regencies of West Kalimantan, Indonesia. We found that peatland rewetting significantly reduced peat CO2 emissions, though CH4 uptake was not significantly different in rewetted peatland compared to drained peatland. Rewetting drained peatlands on oil palm plantations reduced heterotrophic respiration by 34 % and total respiration by 20 %. Our results suggest that rewetting drained oil palm plantations will not achieve low CO2 emissions as observed in secondary forests due to differences in vegetation or land management. However, extrapolating our results to the areas of degraded oil palm plantations in West Kalimantan suggests that successful peatland rewetting could still reduce emissions by 3.9 MtCO2 yr-1. This result confirms that rewetting oil palm plantations in tropical peatlands is an effective natural climate solution for achieving national emission reduction targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisa Novita
- Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara, Graha Iskandarsyah Lt. 3, Jl. Iskandarsyah Raya No. 66C, Jakarta 12160, Indonesia.
| | - Adibtya Asyhari
- Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara, Graha Iskandarsyah Lt. 3, Jl. Iskandarsyah Raya No. 66C, Jakarta 12160, Indonesia
| | - Rasis P Ritonga
- Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara, Graha Iskandarsyah Lt. 3, Jl. Iskandarsyah Raya No. 66C, Jakarta 12160, Indonesia
| | - Adi Gangga
- Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara, Graha Iskandarsyah Lt. 3, Jl. Iskandarsyah Raya No. 66C, Jakarta 12160, Indonesia
| | - Gusti Z Anshari
- Universitas Tanjungpura, Jl. Prof. Dr. H. Hadari Nawawi, Bansir Laut, Pontianak 78124, Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia
| | - Joni Jupesta
- United Nations University, Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, 5-53-70 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan; Center for Transdisciplinary and Sustainability Sciences (CTSS), IPB University, Kampus IPB Baranangsiang, Jl. Raya Pajajaran No.27, Bogor 16127, Indonesia
| | - Jennifer C Bowen
- Stanford University, Department of Earth System Science, 367 Panama Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
| | - Nurul Silva Lestari
- Research Center for Ecology and Ethnobiology, Research Organization for Life Sciences and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency, Cibinong 16911, Indonesia
| | - J Boone Kauffman
- Oregon State University, Nash Hall, 2820 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
| | - Alison M Hoyt
- Stanford University, Department of Earth System Science, 367 Panama Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
| | - Clarice R Perryman
- Stanford University, Department of Earth System Science, 367 Panama Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
| | - Israr Albar
- Indonesia Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Gedung Manggala Wanabakti Blok VII Lt 13, Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jakarta 10270, Indonesia
| | - Chandra Agung Septiadi Putra
- Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara, Graha Iskandarsyah Lt. 3, Jl. Iskandarsyah Raya No. 66C, Jakarta 12160, Indonesia
| | - Wahyu Catur Adinugroho
- Research Center for Ecology and Ethnobiology, Research Organization for Life Sciences and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency, Cibinong 16911, Indonesia
| | - Bondan Winarno
- Research Center for Ecology and Ethnobiology, Research Organization for Life Sciences and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency, Cibinong 16911, Indonesia
| | - Miguel Castro
- The Nature Conservancy, 4245 Fairfax Dr #100, Arlington, VA 22203, United States
| | - Samantha Yeo
- The Nature Conservancy, 4245 Fairfax Dr #100, Arlington, VA 22203, United States
| | - Tryan Budiarna
- Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara, Graha Iskandarsyah Lt. 3, Jl. Iskandarsyah Raya No. 66C, Jakarta 12160, Indonesia
| | - Eko Yuono
- Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara, Graha Iskandarsyah Lt. 3, Jl. Iskandarsyah Raya No. 66C, Jakarta 12160, Indonesia
| | - Velyn C Sianipar
- Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara, Graha Iskandarsyah Lt. 3, Jl. Iskandarsyah Raya No. 66C, Jakarta 12160, Indonesia
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Ratai J, Teh CBS, Tan NP, Mohidin H, Goh KJ, Sangok FE, Melling L. Tropical peat soil changes across successive oil palm generations in Sarawak, Malaysia. Heliyon 2024; 10:e37754. [PMID: 39315233 PMCID: PMC11417167 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 09/07/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Oil palm is commonly replanted once reaching the end of its productive lifespan. This cyclical planting practice in oil palm plantations could have long-term implications for the humification and properties of tropical peat soil. This study aimed to investigate the changes observed across successive generations of oil palm plantations in Sarawak, Malaysia. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was applied to examine the quality of the Soil Organic Matter (SOM), specifically the functional groups, humification index, Hydrophobicity Index (HI), and Degree of Degradation (DDI). Overall, the peat humification trend was in the order of 2nd Gen > Forest >1st Gen. The higher presence of recalcitrant compounds of lignin in the soil was attributed to the higher HI and lower DDI in the 2nd Gen. The relationship between the Pyrophosphate Solubility Index (PSI) and the humification index further revealed a significant increase in the relative abundance of humic substances with the maturity of degraded organic matter. These findings suggest a notable transition, implicating a shift towards a more stable form of SOM over the long-term utilization of tropical peatland for oil palm plantations. This is characterised by a significant increase in the relative abundance of aromatic, phenolic, and carboxylic functional groups. The study also highlights the need for further research on the linkage between these changes and greenhouse gas emissions to enhance our understanding of the long-term biogeochemical cycle of oil palm on tropical peatlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jicqueline Ratai
- Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
- Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Ngai Paing Tan
- Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hasmah Mohidin
- Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kampus Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Kah Joo Goh
- Advanced Agriecological Research Sdn. Bhd., Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Lulie Melling
- Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
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Asyhari A, Gangga A, Putra CAS, Ritonga RP, Candra RA, Anshari GZ, Bowen JC, Perryman CR, Novita N. Quantifying the fluxes of carbon loss from an undrained tropical peatland ecosystem in Indonesia. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11459. [PMID: 38769331 PMCID: PMC11106321 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62233-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Conservation of undrained tropical peatland ecosystems is critical for climate change mitigation as they store a tremendous amount of soil carbon that is preserved under anoxic water-logged conditions. Unfortunately, there are too few measurements of carbon fluxes from these ecosystems to estimate the climate change mitigation potential from such conservation efforts. Here, we measured carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes as well as fluvial organic carbon export over the peat swamp forest within an undrained tropical peatland landscape in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Our measurements throughout one year (Oct 2022-Sep 2023) showed that despite its water-logged condition, peat and water overlying the swamp forest on average emits 11.02 ± 0.49 MgCO2 ha-1 yr-1 of CO2 and 0.58 ± 0.04 MgCO2e ha-1 yr-1 of CH4. Further, the fluvial organic carbon export contributes to additional carbon loss of 1.68 ± 0.06 MgCO2e ha-1 yr-1. Our results help improve the accuracy of carbon accounting from undrained tropical peatlands, where we estimated a total carbon loss of 13.28 ± 0.50 MgCO2e ha-1 yr-1. Nevertheless, the total carbon loss reported from our sites is about half than what is reported from the drained peatland landscapes in the region and resulted in a larger onsite carbon sink potential estimate compared to other undrained peat swamp forests. Together, these findings indicate that conserving the remaining undrained peatland ecosystems in Indonesia from drainage and degradation is a promising natural climate solution strategy that avoids significant carbon emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adi Gangga
- Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | | | | | | | - Gusti Z Anshari
- Magister of Environmental Science, Tanjungpura University, Pontianak, Indonesia
- Department of Soil Science, Tanjungpura University, Pontianak, Indonesia
| | - Jennifer C Bowen
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Clarice R Perryman
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Nisa Novita
- Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara, Jakarta, Indonesia.
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Fawzi NI, Sumawinata B, Suwardi, Rahmasary AN, Qurani IZ, Naufaldary RG, Nabillah R, Palunggono HB, Mulyanto B. Integrated water management practice in tropical peatland agriculture has low carbon emissions and subsidence rates. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26661. [PMID: 38444506 PMCID: PMC10912239 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Hydrological management in the use of peatland for agriculture is the backbone of its sustainability and a critical factor in climate change mitigation. This study evaluates the application of an integrated water management practice known as the "Water Management Trinity" (WMT), implemented since 1986 on a coconut plantation on the eastern coast of Sumatra, in relation to CO2 emissions and subsidence rates. The WMT integrates canals, dikes, and dams with water gates to regulate water levels for both coconut agronomy and the preservation of the peat soil. The WMT has successfully regulated and maintained an average yearly water table depth of -45 to -51 cm below the surface. The methodology involved a closed chamber method for measuring soil CO2 flux using a portable Infrared Gas Analyzer, conducted weekly over a six-month period to cover dry and rainy season at bi-modal climate condition. Subsidence measurements have been ongoing from 1986 to 2022. The results show bare peat soil has heterotrophic respiration CO2 emissions of 7.77 t C-CO2 ha-1 yr-1, while in coconut plantations 7.99 t C-CO2 ha-1 yr-1, similar to emissions in mineral soils. Autotrophic respiration leads to the overestimation of CO2 emissions on peatland and accounts for 212-424% of the total emissions. The cumulative subsidence from 1986 to 2022 is -56.3 cm, with a soil rise of +0.8 cm in 2022, indicating a flattening rate of subsidence. This is characterized by an increase in bulk density at the surface from 0.072 to 0.144 gr/cm3, with approximately 81% of the subsidence being due to compaction. The statistical analysis found no relationship between water table depth and CO2 emissions, indicating that water table depth cannot be used as a predictor for CO2 emissions. In summary, peatland agriculture has a promising future when managed sustainably using an integrated hydrological management system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurul Ihsan Fawzi
- Department of Soil Science and Land Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia
- Tay Juhana Foundation, North Jakarta, 14440, Indonesia
| | - Basuki Sumawinata
- Department of Soil Science and Land Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia
| | - Suwardi
- Department of Soil Science and Land Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia
| | - Annisa Noyara Rahmasary
- Indonesian Agro-climate and Hydrology Standardization Institute, Ministry of Agriculture Republic of Indonesia, Bogor, 16111, Indonesia
| | | | - Raihan Garin Naufaldary
- Department of Soil Science and Land Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia
| | - Ratu Nabillah
- Tay Juhana Foundation, North Jakarta, 14440, Indonesia
| | - Heru Bagus Palunggono
- Department of Soil Science and Land Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia
| | - Budi Mulyanto
- Department of Soil Science and Land Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia
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Mander Ü, Espenberg M, Melling L, Kull A. Peatland restoration pathways to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and retain peat carbon. BIOGEOCHEMISTRY 2023; 167:523-543. [PMID: 38707516 PMCID: PMC11068583 DOI: 10.1007/s10533-023-01103-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Peatlands play a crucial role in the global carbon (C) cycle, making their restoration a key strategy for mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and retaining C. This study analyses the most common restoration pathways employed in boreal and temperate peatlands, potentially applicable in tropical peat swamp forests. Our analysis focuses on the GHG emissions and C retention potential of the restoration measures. To assess the C stock change in restored (rewetted) peatlands and afforested peatlands with continuous drainage, we adopt a conceptual approach that considers short-term C capture (GHG exchange between the atmosphere and the peatland ecosystem) and long-term C sequestration in peat. The primary criterion of our conceptual model is the capacity of restoration measures to capture C and reduce GHG emissions. Our findings indicate that carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most influential part of long-term climate impact of restored peatlands, whereas moderate methane (CH4) emissions and low N2O fluxes are relatively unimportant. However, lateral losses of dissolved and particulate C in water can account up to a half of the total C stock change. Among the restored peatland types, Sphagnum paludiculture showed the highest CO2 capture, followed by shallow lakes and reed/grass paludiculture. Shallow lakeshore vegetation in restored peatlands can reduce CO2 emissions and sequester C but still emit CH4, particularly during the first 20 years after restoration. Our conceptual modelling approach reveals that over a 300-year period, under stable climate conditions, drained bog forests can lose up to 50% of initial C content. In managed (regularly harvested) and continuously drained peatland forests, C accumulation in biomass and litter input does not compensate C losses from peat. In contrast, rewetted unmanaged peatland forests are turning into a persistent C sink. The modelling results emphasized the importance of long-term C balance analysis which considers soil C accumulation, moving beyond the short-term C cycling between vegetation and the atmosphere. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10533-023-01103-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ülo Mander
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mikk Espenberg
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Lulie Melling
- Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute, Kuching, Sarawak Malaysia
| | - Ain Kull
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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