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Background and aims <p>Ecosystem restoration is widely implemented to rebuild soil organic carbon (SOC) in degraded ecosystems, yet whether SOC recovery occurs through similar stabilization pathways across ecosystems remains unclear. In particular, the contributions of microbial-derived carbon during restoration are poorly constrained at the global scale. This study aims to evaluate how restoration influences microbial necromass carbon (MNC), SOC fractions, and their relative contributions to SOC in forest and grassland ecosystems.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a global meta-analysis of 117 studies to quantify the effects of ecosystem restoration on SOC, MNC, SOC fractions, and the contribution of MNC to SOC across forest and grassland ecosystems.</p> Results <p>Compared with unrestored sites, ecosystem restoration increased SOC stocks by 11.4 t C ha⁻<sup>1</sup> and MNC by 36% (95% CI: 6.03–66.1, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) across ecosystems. However, the contribution of MNC to SOC showed contrasting responses between ecosystem types. Forest restoration increased the MNC/SOC ratio by 25% (95% CI: 16.3–35.3, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.001), accompanied by increases in mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC; + 70%, 95% CI: 56.4–83.0, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.001) and the MAOC/SOC ratio (+24%, 95% CI: 1.3–46.4, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.001). In contrast, long-term grassland restoration (&gt; 20&#xa0;years) decreased the MNC/SOC ratio by 10% (95% CI: − 19.69 to −1.02, <i>P</i> = 0.045) while increasing particulate organic carbon (POC; + 80%, 95% CI: 74.6–85.4, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.001), the POC/SOC ratio (+14%, 95% CI: 3.4–24.8, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.001), and macroaggregate abundance (+21%, 95% CI: 0.17–41.38, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.001). Structural equation modelling and random forest analyses further identified microbial biomass as the strongest predictor of MNC accumulation in forests, whereas soil aggregation, soil moisture, and C/N ratio were important predictors in grasslands.</p> Conclusions <p>Restoration-driven SOC accumulation occurs through distinct stabilization pathways in forests and grasslands. Forest restoration enhances microbial-derived and mineral-associated carbon stabilization, whereas grassland restoration primarily promotes the accumulation of particulate and aggregate-protected carbon. These contrasting pathways indicate that similar increases in SOC stocks may differ in long-term persistence, highlighting the importance of considering carbon composition and stabilization mechanisms, in addition to SOC stocks, when assessing the climate-mitigation potential of ecosystem restoration.</p>

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Divergent stabilization pathways shape soil carbon sequestration efficiency in restored forests and grasslands

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月24日

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  • Lechisa Takele,
  • Songyu Yang,
  • Tiehu He,
  • Junjie Li,
  • Zengming Chen,
  • Bahilu Bezabih Beyene,
  • Weixin Ding,
  • Junji Yuan

摘要

Background and aims

Ecosystem restoration is widely implemented to rebuild soil organic carbon (SOC) in degraded ecosystems, yet whether SOC recovery occurs through similar stabilization pathways across ecosystems remains unclear. In particular, the contributions of microbial-derived carbon during restoration are poorly constrained at the global scale. This study aims to evaluate how restoration influences microbial necromass carbon (MNC), SOC fractions, and their relative contributions to SOC in forest and grassland ecosystems.

Methods

We conducted a global meta-analysis of 117 studies to quantify the effects of ecosystem restoration on SOC, MNC, SOC fractions, and the contribution of MNC to SOC across forest and grassland ecosystems.

Results

Compared with unrestored sites, ecosystem restoration increased SOC stocks by 11.4 t C ha⁻1 and MNC by 36% (95% CI: 6.03–66.1, P < 0.05) across ecosystems. However, the contribution of MNC to SOC showed contrasting responses between ecosystem types. Forest restoration increased the MNC/SOC ratio by 25% (95% CI: 16.3–35.3, P < 0.001), accompanied by increases in mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC; + 70%, 95% CI: 56.4–83.0, P < 0.001) and the MAOC/SOC ratio (+24%, 95% CI: 1.3–46.4, P < 0.001). In contrast, long-term grassland restoration (> 20 years) decreased the MNC/SOC ratio by 10% (95% CI: − 19.69 to −1.02, P = 0.045) while increasing particulate organic carbon (POC; + 80%, 95% CI: 74.6–85.4, P < 0.001), the POC/SOC ratio (+14%, 95% CI: 3.4–24.8, P < 0.001), and macroaggregate abundance (+21%, 95% CI: 0.17–41.38, P < 0.001). Structural equation modelling and random forest analyses further identified microbial biomass as the strongest predictor of MNC accumulation in forests, whereas soil aggregation, soil moisture, and C/N ratio were important predictors in grasslands.

Conclusions

Restoration-driven SOC accumulation occurs through distinct stabilization pathways in forests and grasslands. Forest restoration enhances microbial-derived and mineral-associated carbon stabilization, whereas grassland restoration primarily promotes the accumulation of particulate and aggregate-protected carbon. These contrasting pathways indicate that similar increases in SOC stocks may differ in long-term persistence, highlighting the importance of considering carbon composition and stabilization mechanisms, in addition to SOC stocks, when assessing the climate-mitigation potential of ecosystem restoration.