Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1120
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1120
21 Oct 2022
 | 21 Oct 2022

Deforestation for agriculture leads to soil warming and enhanced litter decomposition in subarctic soils

Tino Peplau, Christopher Poeplau, Edward Gregorich, and Julia Schroeder

Abstract. The climate-change induced poleward shift of agriculture could lead to enforced deforestation of subarctic forest. Deforestation alters the microclimate and, thus, soil temperature, which is an important driver of decomposition. The consequences of land-use change on soil temperature and decomposition in temperature-limited ecosystems is not well understood. In this study, we buried litter bags together with soil temperature loggers at two depths (10 and 50 cm) in native subarctic forest soils and adjacent agricultural land in the Yukon Territory, Canada. A total of 37 plots was established on a wide range of different soils and resampled after two years to quantify the land-use effect on soil temperature and decomposition of fresh organic matter. Average soil temperature over the whole soil profile was 2.1 ± 1.0 °C and 2.0 ± 0.8 °C higher in cropland and grassland soils compared to forest soils. Cumulative degree days (the annual sum of daily mean temperatures > 0 °C) increased significantly by 773 ± 243 (cropland) and 670 ± 285 (grassland). Litter decomposition was enhanced by 2.0 ± 10.4 % and 7.5 ± 8.6 % in cropland topsoil and subsoil, compared to forest soils, but no significant difference in decomposition was found between grassland and forest soils. Increased litter decomposition may not be attributed to increased temperature alone, but also to management effects, such as irrigation of croplands. The results suggest that deforestation-driven temperature changes exceed the soil temperature increase already observed in Canada due to climate change. Deforestation thus amplifies the climate-carbon feedback by increasing soil warming and organic matter decomposition.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

17 Mar 2023
Deforestation for agriculture leads to soil warming and enhanced litter decomposition in subarctic soils
Tino Peplau, Christopher Poeplau, Edward Gregorich, and Julia Schroeder
Biogeosciences, 20, 1063–1074, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1063-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1063-2023, 2023
Short summary

Tino Peplau et al.

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1120', Anonymous Referee #1, 25 Nov 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Tino Peplau, 15 Jan 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1120', Anonymous Referee #2, 17 Dec 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Tino Peplau, 15 Jan 2023

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1120', Anonymous Referee #1, 25 Nov 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Tino Peplau, 15 Jan 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-1120', Anonymous Referee #2, 17 Dec 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Tino Peplau, 15 Jan 2023

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (16 Jan 2023) by Sara Vicca
AR by Tino Peplau on behalf of the Authors (17 Feb 2023)  Author's response   Manuscript 
EF by Sarah Buchmann (17 Feb 2023)  Supplement 
EF by Sarah Buchmann (17 Feb 2023)  Author's tracked changes 
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (21 Feb 2023) by Sara Vicca
AR by Tino Peplau on behalf of the Authors (24 Feb 2023)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

17 Mar 2023
Deforestation for agriculture leads to soil warming and enhanced litter decomposition in subarctic soils
Tino Peplau, Christopher Poeplau, Edward Gregorich, and Julia Schroeder
Biogeosciences, 20, 1063–1074, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1063-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1063-2023, 2023
Short summary

Tino Peplau et al.

Viewed

Total article views: 428 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
315 97 16 428 35 2 4
  • HTML: 315
  • PDF: 97
  • XML: 16
  • Total: 428
  • Supplement: 35
  • BibTeX: 2
  • EndNote: 4
Views and downloads (calculated since 21 Oct 2022)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 21 Oct 2022)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 407 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 407 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 24 Mar 2023
Download

The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
We buried tea bags and temperature loggers in a paired-plot design in soils under forest and agricultural land and retrieved them after two years to quantify the effect of land-use change on soil temperature and litter decomposition in subarctic agricultural systems. We could show that agricultural soils were on average 2 °C warmer than forests and litter decomposition was enhanced. The results imply that deforestation amplifies effects of climate change on soil organic matter dynamics.