Soil Nutrient Cycling and Microbial Dynamics in Forests

Dear Colleagues,

In terrestrial ecosystems, forests cover an estimated 4.1 billion hectares and store up to 56% of both above- and below-ground terrestrial carbon; thus, they come to play an important role in maintaining ecosystem structure and driving ecosystem function. The circulation of soil mineral nutrients, which is primarily driven by soil microorganisms, supports the growth, regeneration and productivity of forests. In recent years, the scientific community has learned about the turnover of key mineral nutrients between plants and soil and its microbial-driven mechanisms. However, there are still some gaps in our understanding of how soil nutrients and microbial communities affect processes and functions in global forest ecosystems. For example, the roles of stoichiometric properties, the biotic link between above-ground plants and below-ground microbes, and the interactions between macro- and micro-nutrients in growth and carbon sequestration need more study, especially in the background of global climate and human disturbance. We encourage researchers to submit studies on soil nutrient cycling and related microbial mechanisms in forest ecosystems, including case studies, meta-analysis studies, and model studies, to this Special Issue to promote knowledge and management strategies of forest ecosystems.

Dr. Songze Wan
Prof. Dr. Jianping Wu
Dr. Shaofei Jin
Guest Editors

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