Nutrient Limitations Lead to a Reduced Magnitude of Disequilibrium in the Global Terrestrial Carbon Cycle

Ning Wei, Jianyang Xia, Ying Ping Wang, Xuanze Zhang, Jian Zhou, Chenyu Bian, Yiqi Luo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

The terrestrial carbon (C) cycle is shifting to a state of dynamic disequilibrium under a rapid global climate change. However, the magnitude of such disequilibrium is inherently hard to measure directly. Abundant studies have revealed that the availability of nutrients, particularly nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), constrains ecosystem productivity and carbon stocks across the globe. However, whether and how nutrient limitation affects the disequilibrium magnitude of the terrestrial C cycle (Xp) has never been evaluated. Here, we developed an approach by combining a process-based numerical model and an analytical framework to evaluate the role of nutrient limitation on Xp. We found that nutrient limitation did have significant impacts on the Xp. Over the modeled period of 1901–2013, absolute change in Xp was 497.6 PgC under the C-only run, while it decreased to 155.6 and 124.3 PgC under N and NP limitations, respectively. To understand the underlying reasons, we further disaggregated the changes of Xp into changes in steady-state C storage and transit C storage with the former being decomposed into a productivity-driven change, an ecosystem-C-residence-time-driven (τE-driven) change, and a change induced by productivity-τE interactions. We found that nutrient constrained the increase in Xp primarily by dampening the productivity-driven changes in the steady-state C storage. Reductions in the productivity-driven term under N and NP limitations accounted for 94.7% and 94.9%, respectively, of the reductions in the steady-state C storage. These results indicate that nutrient limitations have profound impacts on future climate-biosphere feedback by reducing the disequilibrium magnitude of the terrestrial C cycle.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere2021JG006764
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences
Volume127
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2022

Keywords

  • biogeochemistry
  • carbon cycle model
  • carbon storage potential
  • dynamic disequilibrium
  • nutrient limitation
  • terrestrial carbon sequestration

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Forestry
  • Aquatic Science
  • Ecology
  • Water Science and Technology
  • Soil Science
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Palaeontology

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