Changes in soil organic carbon after land-use change from primary forest to grassland

Journal article

Forest soils hold the largest carbon on land and play a key role in global carbon balance, climate change, and the stability of terrestrial ecosystems. Consequently, fluctuations in soil organic carbon (SOC) significantly influence atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Although carbon emissions induced by land-use change (LUC) have been extensively studied and many reports indicate SOC declines following deforestation, our analysis reveals more complex patterns. We conducted a meta-analysis of 548 observational datasets from 46 peer-reviewed studies spanning climatic gradients (semi-arid to humid, tropical to temperate) to identify global patterns and drivers of SOC changes induced by primary forest LUC to grassland. Land-use conversion increased mean SOC stocks by 3.35 Mg·ha−1 (13.30%), with significant regional variation: tropical systems exhibited moderate gains (2.05 Mg·ha−1, 7.70%), while temperate regions showed substantial increases (5.19 Mg·ha−1, 24.70%). Depth-specific analysis revealed differential accumulation across soil layers: 0–20 cm (+ 3.02 Mg·ha−1), 0–30 cm (+ 3.05 Mg·ha−1), and > 30 cm (+ 5.18 Mg·ha−1). Increases in deeper layers may reflect root allocation patterns and texture-dependent stabilization mechanisms. Both mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP) were significantly correlated with SOC changes (P < 0.05), with negative associations observed between these climatic variables and changes in carbon stocks. These findings are consistent with previous studies indicating that MAT and MAP critically influence ecosystem carbon dynamics. A significant interaction effect between MAT and MAP on SOC stock changes was also identified (P < 0.05). Our results enhance understanding of carbon balance dynamics following LUC in primary forests and provide a scientific foundation for soil carbon management strategies under global change scenarios.

Authors: Weng, H; Fan, X; Huang, Z; Li, S; Shi, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: SpringerOpen
• Journal: Environmental Sciences Europe
• Volume: 38
• Issue: 1
• Article number: 39
• Publication date: 2026-02-01
• Acceptance date: 2026-01-18
• DOI: 10.1186/s12302-026-01335-6
• EISSN: 2190-4715
• ISSN: 2190-4707
• Language: English
• Keywords: Grassland; Land-use change; Soil organic carbon; Climatic factors; Primary forest