Effect of vegetation restoration on soil erosion control and soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics: A meta-analysis

Abstract

To accurately evaluate the effects of vegetation restoration strategies on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in erosion zones, we conducted a meta-analysis of 88 papers to analyze the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil total nitrogen (STN) contents under forestland and grassland restoration. The results indicated that i) vegetation restoration could reduce runoff and soil loss and increase SOC content, and forestland had a non-significant increase in STN content. ii) Vegetation restoration had the strongest soil C and N sequestration effects in the 0–20 cm soil layer and medium-textured soil. iii) Grassland restoration was more conducive to increasing the STN content and could increase the SOC and STN contents in the short term. iv) Forestland was more sustainable way to improve SOC contents compared with grassland, because its positive effects were not limited by mean annual precipitation (MAP), mean annual temperature (MAT), slope position. v) Grassland or forestland restoration could increase simultaneously both SOC and STN contents, when MAP < 800 mm, MAT < 15 °C, and at the foot position. Our findings indicate that when SOC sequestration is one of the main goals of vegetation restoration strategies, forestland restoration may be a better choice.