Elevated CO2 levels promote both carbon and nitrogen cycling in global forests

Jinglan Cui, Miao Zheng, Zihao Bian, Naiqing Pan, Hanqin Tian, Xiuming Zhang, Ziyue Qiu, Jianming Xu and Baojing Gu ()
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Jinglan Cui: Zhejiang University
Miao Zheng: Zhejiang University
Zihao Bian: Boston College
Naiqing Pan: Boston College
Hanqin Tian: Boston College
Xiuming Zhang: Zhejiang University
Ziyue Qiu: Zhejiang University
Jianming Xu: Zhejiang University
Baojing Gu: Zhejiang University

Nature Climate Change, 2024, vol. 14, issue 5, 511-517

Abstract: Abstract Forests provide vital ecosystem services, particularly as carbon sinks for nature-based climate solutions. However, the impact of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels on carbon and nitrogen interactions of forests remains poorly quantified. We integrate experimental observations and biogeochemical models to elucidate the synergies between enhanced nitrogen and carbon cycling in global forests under elevated CO2. Elevated CO2 alone increases net primary productivity (+27%; 95% CI: 23–31%) and leaf C/N ratio (+26%; 95% CI: 16–39%), while stimulating biological nitrogen fixation (+25%; 95% CI: 0–56%) and nitrogen use efficiency (+32%; 95% CI: 5–65%) according to a global meta-analysis. Under the elevated CO2 middle-road scenario for 2050, the forest carbon sink is projected to increase by 0.28 billion tonnes (PgC yr−1), with reactive nitrogen loss decreasing by 8 Tg yr−1 relative to the baseline. The monetary impact assessment of the elevated CO2 impact on forests represents a societal value of US$271 billion.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-01973-9

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