Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Agro-Ecosystems and Other Anthropogenically Maintained Ecosystems—2nd Edition

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

"Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Agro-Ecosystems and Other Anthropogenically Maintained Ecosystems—2nd Edition" explores the intricate dynamics and challenges associated with carbon and nitrogen cycling in anthropogenically maintained ecosystems. Carbon and nitrogen are essential nutrients for plant growth, and their availability and effective management are critical for the development of sustainable agriculture and many anthropogenically maintained ecosystems. This collection of articles brings together the latest research into various aspects of carbon and nitrogen cycling in anthropogenically maintained ecosystems.

For this collection, we welcome manuscripts that provide novel insights into a broad range of topics related to carbon and nitrogen cycling in agro-ecosystems and other anthropogenically maintained ecosystems, including the following:

• Carbon and nitrogen sources and inputs;
• Carbon and nitrogen transformation and cycling processes;
• Carbon and nitrogen losses and environmental impacts;
• Carbon and nitrogen use efficiency and agricultural productivity;
• Carbon and nitrogen management.

By sharing your research, you will contribute to advancing knowledge in this critical area. We look forward to receiving your submissions and assembling a comprehensive collection of articles that will shape the future of sustainable carbon and nitrogen management in anthropogenically maintained ecosystems.

Prof. Dr. Jan Frouz
Dr. Adnan Mustafa
Dr. Jie Li
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Agriculture agriculture	3.6	6.3	2011	18 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Agronomy agronomy	3.4	6.7	2011	17.2 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Nitrogen nitrogen	2.3	2.8	2020	19.7 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Soil Systems soilsystems	3.5	5.4	2017	31.6 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	7.7	2009	19.3 Days	CHF 2400	Submit

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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All Agriculture Agronomy Nitrogen Soil Systems Sustainability

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16 pages, 3034 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Interannual Variability in Precipitation Modulates Grazing-Induced Vertical Translocation of Soil Organic Carbon in a Semi-Arid Steppe

by Siyu Liu, Xiaobing Li, Mengyuan Li, Xiang Li, Dongliang Dang, Kai Wang, Huashun Dou and Xin Lyu

Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1839; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081839 - 29 Jul 2025

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Abstract

Grazing affects soil organic carbon (SOC) through plant removal, livestock trampling, and manure deposition. However, the impact of grazing on SOC is also influenced by multiple factors such as climate, soil properties, and management approaches. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms by which grazing [...] Read more.

Grazing affects soil organic carbon (SOC) through plant removal, livestock trampling, and manure deposition. However, the impact of grazing on SOC is also influenced by multiple factors such as climate, soil properties, and management approaches. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms by which grazing intensity influences SOC density in grasslands remain incompletely understood. This study examines the effects of varying grazing intensities on SOC density (0–30 cm) dynamics in temperate grasslands of northern China using field surveys and experimental analyses in a typical steppe ecosystem of Inner Mongolia. Results show that moderate grazing (3.8 sheep units/ha/yr) led to substantial consumption of aboveground plant biomass. Relative to the ungrazed control (0 sheep units/ha/yr), aboveground plant biomass was reduced by 40.5%, 36.2%, and 50.6% in the years 2016, 2019, and 2020, respectively. Compensatory growth failed to fully offset biomass loss, and there were significant reductions in vegetation carbon storage and cover (p < 0.05). Reduced vegetation cover increased bare soil exposure and accelerated topsoil drying and erosion. This degradation promoted the downward migration of SOC from surface layers. Quantitative analysis revealed that moderate grazing significantly reduced surface soil (0–10 cm) organic carbon density by 13.4% compared to the ungrazed control while significantly increasing SOC density in the subsurface layer (10–30 cm). Increased precipitation could mitigate the SOC transfer and enhance overall SOC accumulation. However, it might negatively affect certain labile SOC fractions. Elucidating the mechanisms of SOC variation under different grazing intensities and precipitation regimes in semi-arid grasslands could improve our understanding of carbon dynamics in response to environmental stressors. These insights will aid in predicting how grazing systems influence grassland carbon cycling under global climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Agro-Ecosystems and Other Anthropogenically Maintained Ecosystems—2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 1527 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Mechanisms Behind the Soil Organic Carbon Response to Temperature Elevations

by Yonglin Wu, Haitao Li, Xinran Liang, Ming Jiang, Siteng He and Yongmei He

Agriculture 2025, 15(11), 1118; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15111118 - 22 May 2025

Viewed by 691

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) represents the most dynamic component of the soil carbon pool and is pivotal in the global carbon cycle. Global temperature rise and increasing drought severity are now indisputable realities, making soil organic carbon cycling under climate warming a critical [...] Read more.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) represents the most dynamic component of the soil carbon pool and is pivotal in the global carbon cycle. Global temperature rise and increasing drought severity are now indisputable realities, making soil organic carbon cycling under climate warming a critical research priority. This review elucidates the mechanism of the SOC response to temperature increase in terms of both extrinsic and intrinsic factors. The extrinsic factors are temperature elevation methods, rainfall, and land use. Different methods of temperature increase have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. Indoor warming methods exclude other factors, making temperature the only variable, but tend to ignore carbon inputs. In situ field warming and soil displacement methods help researchers explore the response of the complete ecosystem carbon cycle to temperature increase but cannot exclude the interference of factors such as rainfall. Elevated rainfall mitigates the adverse effects of elevated temperatures on organic carbon sequestration. In addition, the response of SOC to temperature elevations vary among different land use types. The temperature sensitivity of SOC is higher in peatland (high organic matter) alpine meadows (colder regions). The intrinsic factors that affect the response of SOC to elevated temperatures are SOC components, microorganisms, SOC temperature sensitivity, and SOC stability. The SOC decomposition rate is influenced by variations in the ratios of decomposable (easily oxidizable organic carbon (EOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC)) and stabilizing (inert organic carbon (IOC), alkyl carbon, and aromatic carbon) SOC to total organic carbon (TOC). Furthermore, temperature elevations also affect the soil microenvironment, resulting in microbial community reorganization such as changes in bacterial and fungal ratios and abundance. At the same time, soil aggregates, clay minerals, and iron and aluminum oxides protect the SOC, making it difficult to be utilized by microbial decomposition. The systematic clarification of the mechanism behind the SOC response to higher temperatures is crucial for accurately predicting and modeling global carbon cycles and effectively responding to the loss of SOC pools due to global temperature elevations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Agro-Ecosystems and Other Anthropogenically Maintained Ecosystems—2nd Edition)

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