Effects Of Land Use Change Research Articles

Strengths of fertilizer and litter effects on seedling recruitment and growth of grassland species differ depending on functional groups and seed size.

Agricultural grasslands play an important role in conserving the biodiversity of the European cultural landscape. Both, litter cover and soil nutrient availability, change with grassland management, but it is not well-studied how seedling recruitment and growth of multiple grassland species are influenced by their single or combined effects. Therefore, we studied the effects of nitrogen fertilization (100 kg N per year and ha) and litter cover (250 gdw per m2) on seedling recruitment and growth of 75 temperate grassland species (16 graminoid species, 51 forb species, 8 legume species) in a full factorial microcosm experiment. Overall, fertilizer reduced seedling emergence, while litter cover increased it even when combined with fertilization. Fertilization increased seedling height and biomass, and the combination of fertilizer and litter resulted in even stronger responses. Litter cover alone did not influence seedling biomass or seedling height. While the overall direction of treatment effects was similar across functional groups, their strengths were mostly weaker in graminoids than in non-legume forbs and legumes. Positive litter effects on seedling emergence were stronger in large-seeded species. Positive fertilization effects on seedling growth were stronger in small-seeded species, while their seedling biomass was negatively affected by litter cover. In summary, our results show for multiple grassland species that the combination of litter cover and fertilization modulates their single effects. The varying sensitivity of how grassland species representing different functional groups and seed sizes respond with their seedling emergence and growth to litter cover and nitrogen fertilization indicates that the consequences of land-use change on grassland diversity and composition already start to manifest in the earliest stages of the plant life cycle.

Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Erosion Risk Assessment Using GIS-Based AHP Method: A Case Study of Doğancı Dam Watershed in Bursa (Türkiye)

Soil erosion, one of the most serious phenomena in watershed management, can be estimated based on various criteria. Land use change is one of the most important factors affecting the susceptibility of soil erosion. In this study, the effect of land use change on soil erosion risk in two plan periods (2005 and 2017) was investigated using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the forest planning units in the Doğancı Dam Watershed, located in Bursa, Türkiye. Eight criteria were evaluated including erosion-related slope, bedrock type, land use/land cover, precipitation, relative relief, aspect, drainage frequency, and density. According to the results, the most effective factor in soil erosion was slope (0.29), while bedrock type and land use/land cover ranked second with 0.19. It was found that full closure forests were characterized by high erosion resistance (0.3), while bare land was characterized as the most sensitive area to erosion (0.39). In terms of spatio-temporal changes in a 12-year period, the areas in the medium and high erosion risk decreased, while low and very low-risk areas increased. The ROC method showed a satisfactory accuracy of 72.8% and 80.2% for the 2005 and 2017 erosion risk maps, respectively.

Partitioned Simulation of Land Use Change Based on Carbon Neutrality Zoning and Its Multiscale Effect on Carbon Emissions in the Xia–Zhang–Quan Metropolitan Circle, China

Urbanization significantly affects the global carbon balance. Therefore, clarifying the effect of urbanization-induced land use change on carbon emissions and proposing the zonal-based policy implementation became crucial. In this study, we estimated the future land use carbon emissions in three scenarios by adopting the partitioned Patch-generating Land Use Simulation Model (PLUS) in the Xiamen–Zhangzhou–Quanzhou (XZQ) metropolitan circle, China. The results showed that (1) the region could be divided into two sub-areas (carbon sink function zone and high-carbon optimization zone); the partitioned PLUS model had a higher accuracy in the developed areas, whereas it had a lower accuracy in the undeveloped areas; (2) the main characteristic of land use change was the construction on the land that was previously farmland, spanning 260.2 km2; the land used for construction would continue to expand, with 215.5 km2 (8.2%), 261.0 km2 (9.9%), and 129.5 km2 (4.9%) in the natural development scenario (ND), economic development scenario (ED), and carbon neutrality scenario (CN), respectively; (3) the amount of carbon emissions would increase by 196.2 × 104 tons and 235.4 × 104 tons in the ND and ED, respectively, whereas, it would decrease by 49.0 × 104 tons in the CN. This study made a beneficial attempt at partitioning based on carbon neutrality by improving the PLUS model simulation results and carbon emission assessment, which could provide methods and references for future similar studies. The findings suggest a method for the coordinated development between the carbon sink function zone and the high-carbon optimization zone. In addition, comprehensively understanding the land use change and its effects on carbon emissions, from this study, could provide important insights into carbon neutrality and regional sustainable development for urban planners and policymakers. In future research, the zoning research could be conducted at a finer scale, since the partition results were relatively coarse in this study.

Land use and temperature shape the beta diversity of soil nematodes across the Mollisol zone in northeast China

Understanding soil biodiversity response to land use change is crucial for predicting and preserving soil ecological functions and health under anthropogenic influence. Yet, the overall effect of land use changes and climate conditions on belowground biodiversity remains insufficiently explored at large scales. Here, we studied the effect of conversion from natural soils to agricultural soils on soil nematode diversity and community assembly across the Mollisol zone in northeast China. We found that nematode alpha diversity decreased in agricultural soils, and nematode alpha diversity did not exhibit a regular change with latitudinal variation. For beta diversity, we found that nematode community structures were significantly affected by land use change. Furthermore, climatic factors and geographic distance significantly impacted the beta diversity of soil nematodes, but not the alpha diversity. Mean annual temperature was a primary climatic determinant of soil nematode communities, while the effect of mean annual precipitation on soil nematode beta diversity was only observed in agricultural soils. Stochastic processes dominated soil nematode community assembly, but agricultural soils increased the importance of deterministic processes compared to natural soils. There is no any expected variation in soil nematode alpha diversity along the Mollisol zone. Our findings highlight the crucial role of temperature in driving soil nematode communities.

Can the best management practices resist the combined effects of climate and land-use changes on non-point source pollution control?

Climate and land-use changes have an overlying impact on non-point source (NPS) pollution in river basins. However, the control effect of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for NPS pollution is not yet clear under future scenarios. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was coupled with the entropy-weighted method, global climate patterns and land-use data to explore the dynamic variations in total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) loads in the Jing River Basin during the baseline (2000−2020) and future periods (2021–2065), evaluate the pollution reduction effectiveness of individual and combined BMPs, and propose practical BMP configurations. Results indicate that a future trend of urban land expansion, particularly in the economic scenario (LU_SSP585), leads to weakened environmental ecosystems, while the sustainable scenario (LU_SSP126) exhibits more balanced land development. The MIROC-ES2L model demonstrates higher Taylor skill scores, forecasted significant increases in precipitation, maximum, and minimum temperatures under the SSP585 scenario. Spatial heterogeneity in TN and TP loads is notable, showing an upward trajectory in the future. The interaction between land-use and climate change has complex effects on TN and TP loads, with land-use-induced TN changes being relatively small (4.6 %) and TP changes substantial (24.3 %). The spatial distribution, under overlying effects, leans towards the influence of climate change, emphasizing its dominant role in TN and TP load variations. Distinct differences exist in the reduction of NPS pollution loads among different BMPs, with combined BMPs demonstrating superior effectiveness. The environmental-cost effectiveness trends of BMPs remain consistent across various future scenarios. RG (Return agricultural land to grass), RG + TT (Terracing), and RG + FR10 (Fertilizer reduction: 10 %) + GW (Grassed waterway) + FS (Filter strip) + TT emerge as the most effective single, double, and multiple BMP combinations, respectively. The results offer valuable insights for preventing and mitigating future NPS pollution risks, optimizing land-use layouts, and enhancing watershed management decisions.

Soil water content and RubisCO activity control the carbon storage in soil under different land uses in Sanjiang Plain, China

Soil carbon storage plays a crucial role in mitigating the climate warming and is significantly impacted by the land use pattern. To better understand soil carbon stability and the underlying microbial mechanism, based on qPCR, ELISA, and fluorescence techniques, the effects of land use changes on soil microbial abundance, enzyme activity, and soil carbon storage were investigated in the complex ecosystems of cropland, forestland, and wetland along three typical river (Wolvlan river, Bielahong river, Wusuli river) basin in Sanjiang Plain, China. We hypothesised that croplands soil carbon storage is lower than forestlands and wetlands, which is regulated by soil water content, microbe and enzyme activity. Results showed that topsoil TC in wetlands (85.54 mg·g−1) was higher than those in croplands (33.46 mg·g−1) and forestlands (46.13 mg·g−1). Topsoil water content increased 73.90 % and 71.64 % in wetlands than in farmland and forestlands, respectively. Additionally, reclamation diminished topsoil carbon storage. In croplands, soil dissolved organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen, available nitrogen, bacterial abundance, and soil enzymes (i.e., RubisCO, β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, 1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase and acid phosphatase) activities were substantially lower than those in wetlands. Structural equation modeling showed that soil carbon storage was positively related to soil water content and RubisCO activity but negatively related to soil bacterial abundance. Soil water content had the largest standardised total positive effect coefficient and indirectly influenced soil carbon storage by affecting RubisCO activity. Soil depth had a greater effect on SMC, hydrolase and site had a greater effect on bacteria and fungi abundance. The results highlight that the alteration of carbon fixing enzyme activity by soil water content is a crucial mechanism for soil carbon sequestration in response to land-use change. Management strategies that conserve natural wetlands, increase soil water content and minimize land disturbance would be effective in maintaining soil carbon stocks.

Effects of Land Use Change on Land Erosion and Land Critical Level Using GIS in the Mayang Watershed

The increasing population in an area often triggers heightened development, leading to diminished land availability and subsequent land conversion. This transformation, predominantly observed in agricultural and plantation lands, is driven by the need for residential areas. However, continuous land use changes contribute to erosion, a natural process wherein soil is transported, leading to sedimentation and eventual flooding. This study aims to identify critical areas prone to erosion and land degradation. To address this, we used the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) method for erosion prediction, leveraging its simplicity and accuracy. This study focuses on the Mayang watershed in East Java, utilizing a combination of USLE, spectral index modeling, and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to estimate soil erosion and land criticality. By integrating methodologies and analyzing data spanning from 2011 to 2021, the study reveals shifts in erosion danger levels and land use patterns. While regions with low erosion remained stable, areas with medium to high erosion declined, yet those with very high erosion exhibited a worrisome increase. Changes in land use, including forest loss and urban expansion, underscore the ecological shifts exacerbating erosion hazards. The study emphasizing the necessity for targeted conservation strategies and comprehensive land management plans to mitigate erosion risks and preserve environmental sustainability.

Reducing Sedimentation in Catchment Areas as Part of the Revitalization Efforts at Batujai Reservoir in Central Lombok

This research discusses efforts to revitalize the Batujai Reservoir in Central Lombok with a focus on sedimentation problems. Batujai Reservoir has a strategic role in meeting water needs in the surrounding area, but faces serious challenges due to significant sedimentation. In addition to assessing the effects of these changes on the reservoir's benefits�such as irrigation, flood control, and electricity production�this study intends to examine the effects of land use changes in the Dodokan Sub-Watershed Catchment Area (DTA) on the features and volume of sedimentation entering the reservoir. In addition, this study attempts to develop suggestions for efficient sedimentation management plans in order to increase the Batujai Reservoir's service life. Research methods include primary and secondary data collection, sedimentation modeling using the Water and Tillage/Sediment Delivery Model (WATEM/SEDEM), to evaluate the impact of sediment control structures such as check dams. Research variables include catchment area, population, annual rainfall, average daily evaporation, mainstay surface water availability, land surface erosion rate, sediment volume deposited in the reservoir, effective age of the Batujai Reservoir, and changes in land use in the Dodokan Sub-watershed. The results of this research will provide a better understanding of the main sources of sedimentation in the Batujai Reservoir and the impact of land use changes on the reservoir. It is hoped that the recommendations for sedimentation management strategies resulting from this research will help maintain reservoir storage capacity, which is important for meeting various water needs in the region.

Larger cities host richer bee faunas, but are no refuge for species with concerning conservation status: Empirical evidence from Western Europe

In the context of worldwide biodiversity and wild bee decline, it is increasingly important to better understand the effect of land-use changes on wild bee communities at a global scale. To do so, we studied the effect of city area and urban green spaces layout on wild bee species richness and community composition, as well as on wild bee species with an unfavorable UICN conservation status. This study was based on a large European dataset encompassing 20 cities from France, Belgium and Switzerland. We found a mean wild bee species richness in cities of 96 ± 48 (SD), showing that this species richness was highly variable among cities. The main factor positively influencing wild bee species richness in cities was the area of the city. Conversely, species richness was not significantly related to the total area of urban green spaces in a given city, measured as the spatial extent of urban parks, wastelands and other semi-natural habitats, excluding urban private gardens. Species with conservation status were quite scarce in urban environments, especially when compared to the European Red List of Bees, and we could not link their presence to either city or urban green space area. Dissimilarities in wild bee species community compositions were not associated with any of the studied characteristics of cities. We found that the dissimilarity of wild bee community composition among cities was mainly driven by the rarest species, as the most common ones were found in a majority of the cities sampled. Overall, these results emphasize that larger cities host more wild bee species, but are no refuge for the ones with concerning conservation status. Thus, stakeholders are encouraged to design their cities in favor of biodiversity to better support wild bee communities, and perhaps mitigate the established effect of the urban ecological filter.

Unveiling soil bacterial diversity in the Andes-Amazon transition zone: Impacts of forest conversion to pasture

Soil microorganisms play a crucial role in the functioning of ecosystems by performing several essential functions. However, their resilience is tested by disturbances, primarily driven by land use changes. The Andes-Amazon transition zone, renowned for its ecological importance, is experiencing a growing pressure of removing native forests to establish pastures. In the last decades, efforts to characterize biodiversity in this region have been increasing; however, our comprehension of soil microbial communities and their responses to land use changes remains limited. Here, we used a shotgun DNA metagenomic sequencing approach to investigate the composition, diversity, and functions of soil bacterial communities in the litter and topsoil (0–10 cm) of a forest localized in an Andes-Amazon transition zone in Colombia and evaluate how they are affected by pasture establishments. Our findings unveiled the forest litter as a distinct microbial ecosystem, characterized by the highest bacterial richness and diversity. This layer was positively associated with increased availability of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), and enzymatic activity linked to the mineralization of these elements. The transition from forest to pasture altered the microbial community structure, which was accompanied by a reduction of soil acidity. We observed that Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the most abundant phyla in all environments, with a predominance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes in forest litter, while forest-pasture conversion increased the abundance of Verrucomicrobia and Firmicutes in the soil. Functional profiles were over-represented in the litter, followed by pasture and forest soils. These results provide a foundational framework for comprehending the microbiome in the Andes-Amazon transition zone and its role in ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, this study sheds light on the far-reaching consequences of land use changes on microbial communities.

From lake to fisheries: Interactive effect of climate and landuse changes hit on lake fish catch?

Global warming and unpredictable nature possess a negative impact on fisheries and the daily activities of other habitats. GIS and remote sensing approach is an effective tool to determine the morphological characteristics of the lake. The present study addresses the interactive effect of climate and landuse changes hit on fish catch in lake fisheries. We used a combination of the landscape disturbance index, vulnerability index, and loss index to construct a complete ecological risk assessment framework based on the landscape structure of regional ecosystems. The results indicate an increase from around 45%–76% in the percentage of land susceptible to moderate to ecological severe risk in the landscape from 2004 to 2023. Since 1950, temperature changes have increased by 0.4%, precipitation has decreased by 6%, and water levels have decreased by 4.2%, based on the results. The results indicate that landuse, water temperature, precipitation, and water depth significantly impact the aquaculture system. The findings strongly suggest integrating possible consequences of environmental change on fish yield for governance modeling techniques to minimize their effects.

Land-use change alters specialist bee diet and drives body size declines

ContextLand-use change can cause decreases in plant abundance and richness and the replacement of wild plants with domesticated plants. Changes in plant community composition disrupt mutualistic plant-pollinator interactions with ecological consequences for plants and pollinators, and especially for specialists that rely on certain plants.ObjectivesWe assessed the effects of land-use change and subsequent shifts in plant communities on resource collection and body size for a bee pollinator, Habropoda laboriosa, a purported specialist of blueberries and related Ericaceae plants.MethodsWe collected Habropoda laboriosa across a gradient of land use in north-central Florida including agricultural, natural, and urban habitats. We assessed landcover and floral community composition at each site and related these to bee body size (intertegular distance) and resource use (proportion host plant pollen and pollen diversity collected).ResultsHost plant pollen collection and bee body size generally responded similarly to the landscape, both increasing with habitats containing host plants (blueberry farms and natural habitat) but decreasing with urban development. However, host pollen collection and bee body size responded in opposite ways to overall cropland in the landscape, with cropland negatively affecting body size despite positively affecting host pollen collection, indicating other factors associated with cropland might drive declines in bee body size.ConclusionsLand-use change can adversely affect bee diet and body size, and changes in diet likely contribute to changes in body size over time. Specialists are particularly at risk for negative impacts of land-use change due to their inability to shift plant hosts.

Local and Nonlocal Biophysical Effects of Historical Land Use and Land Cover Changes in CMIP6 Models and the Intermodel Uncertainty

AbstractLand use and land cover changes (LULCCs) can influence surface temperature through local and nonlocal biophysical processes, which remain inadequately addressed. In this study, we separate the local and nonlocal effects of historical (1850–2014) LULCCs based on model outputs from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6. We also attempt to explore the sources of intermodel differences in the effects of LULCCs. The multimodel mean shows a cooling effect of −0.05°C (with an intermodel range of −0.24–0.06°C) at the global scale due to cropland and pastureland expansion, consisting of dominant nonlocal cooling of −0.06°C (with an intermodel range of −0.26–0.06°C) and slight local warming of 0.01°C (with an intermodel range of −0.01–0.05°C). The modeling results show some clear consistency in the effects of LULCCs despite considerable intermodel uncertainties. The local effects cause warming at low latitudes and cooling in boreal regions via changes in upward shortwave radiation and sensible and latent heat fluxes. The nonlocal effects mainly cause cooling via decreases in downward longwave radiation and increases in upward shortwave radiation. Intermodel differences in the total effects are dominated by those in the nonlocal effects, which are further attributed to divergent changes in downward longwave radiation and sensible heat flux across the models. This study highlights the importance of the nonlocal effects of LULCCs in terms of strength and intermodel uncertainty, with implications for designing land‐based solutions aimed at climate change mitigation.

Effect of Land Use Change on Molecular Composition and Concentration of Organic Matter in an Oxisol.

Land use change from native vegetation to cropping can significantly affect the quantity and quality of soil organic matter (SOM). However, it remains unclear how the chemical composition of SOM is affected by such changes. This study employed a sequential chemical extraction to partition SOM from an Oxisol into several distinct fractions: water-soluble fractions (ultrapure water (W)), organometal complexes (sodium pyrophosphate (PP)), short-range ordered (SRO) oxides (hydroxylamine-HCl (HH)), and well-crystalline oxides (dithionite-HCl (DH)). Coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS), the impact of land use change on the molecular composition of different OM fractions was investigated. Greater amounts of OM were observed in the PP and HH fractions compared to other fractions, highlighting their importance in SOM stabilization. The composition of different OM fractions varied based on extracted phases, with lignin-like and tannin-like compounds being prevalent in the PP and HH fractions, while aliphatic-like compounds dominated in the DH fraction. Despite changes in the concentration of each OM fraction from native vegetation to cropping, there was little influence of land use change on the molecular composition of OM associated with different mineral phases. No significant selective loss or preservation of organic carbon compounds was observed, indicating the composition of SOM remained unchanged.

Ecological effects of land use and land cover changes on lakes in urban environments

AbstractUrban lakes confront significant threats due to changes in land use and land cover (LULC) resulting from urbanization and subsequent climate change. This review discusses the intricate effects of the urban heat island phenomenon on lakes, specifically attributed to LULC changes. Utilizing the Scopus and Web of Science databases, this study gathers the most pertinent earlier research in the LULC and water bodies. This study systematically categorizes variables into five distinct groups and scrutinizes the drivers, parameters, tools, and management strategies influencing the LULC dynamics on lakes. A research gap is identified in understanding the conjoined impacts of LULC and urban heat island effects within urban lake environments. The review further investigates diverse ways in which LULC impacts lakes, intersecting with multiple United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs), notably SDGs 6, 11, 13, and 15. Consequently, this review serves as a valuable contribution to the understanding of LULC to provide substantial benefits to the urban climate research toward meeting SDGs.

Assessment of the Effect of Land Use and Climate Change on Natural Resources and Agriculture in the Subarnarekha Basin, India, Using the SWAT

Assessment of the Effect of Land Use and Climate Change on Natural Resources and Agriculture in the Subarnarekha Basin, India, Using the SWAT

The effects of land use changes on site occupancy and breeding success of the barn owl (Tyto alba) from 1993 to 2020

Land use changes, driven by human activities such as agricultural intensification and urban expansion, have drastic effects on biodiversity. As these changes are anticipated to continue, understanding species’ adaptations to their evolving habitats is essential to find solutions for effective conservation efforts and sustainable management. In this study, we investigated how long-term changes in the agricultural landscape influence the breeding performance of a population of barn owls (Tyto alba) residing in nest boxes using data collected from 1993 until 2020. Specifically, we assessed how agricultural intensification, urbanization, and site availability affected barn owls' site occupancy and breeding success. Our results reveal that nest boxes surrounded by more agricultural fields are more likely to be occupied and have higher fledging success. Additionally, nest boxes installed higher on the barn were more likely to be occupied. Owls laid more eggs in nest boxes facing North than South or East. Clutches laid in nest boxes installed at higher altitudes were smaller. Finally, nest boxes with a higher density of surrounding nest boxes were less likely to be occupied and had smaller clutches. These insights show barn owls high reliance on the agricultural landscape surrounding their nesting sites, but also the importance of nest box characteristics to optimize their breeding success.

Deciphering the intricate link between watershed-level land use changes and reservoir eutrophication in central Argentina over the 20th-21st century

In Anthropocene, unbalances of the water cycle have created a severe threat to the supply of this crucial element for current and future generations. In addition, water quality degradation has been promoted by the land-use change from natural ecosystems to urbanized and industrialized areas, favoring the nutrient input into water bodies. In the last two decades, the San Roque reservoir (SRr), situated in central Argentina, has become hypereutrophic. In this work, we proposed an integrated study strategy that included a multiproxy examination of the reservoir sedimentary record and a study of land-use changes, in order to: 1) link land-use change to primary productivity of the SRr over the last 100 years; and 2) identify the processes involved in the SRr's environmental evolution prior and after urban expansion occurred by 1980 CE. Results allow to recognize two distinctive scenarios: a) Pre-urban scenario (1898–1983 CE) reflected by a dominance of allochthonous organic matter in the sedimentary record derived from the catchment's deforestation and, b) A transition towards increasing lake internal productivity (1984–2018 CE), resulting in a eutrophic state with cyanobacteria dominance due to catchment urban densification, particularly in the peri-lacustrine area. This work constitutes a novel tool by combining a paleolimnological approach with demographic analysis to accurately track the consequences of land use change on the water body and, in addition, provide the basis for modeling future scenarios.

Effects of Different Land Use Change on Soil Aggregate and Aggregate Associated Organic Carbon: A Meta-Analysis

Effects of Different Land Use Change on Soil Aggregate and Aggregate Associated Organic Carbon: A Meta-Analysis

Variability of soil organic carbon and nutrient content across land uses and agriculturally induced land use changes in the forest-savanna transition zone of Cameroon

Data expressing the effects of land use change on soil attributes is still very scarce in Cameroon as in most of Africa. In this regard, this study aimed to assess soil organic carbon (OC), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) content across land uses and agricultural-induced land use changes in the forest-savanna transition zone of Cameroon. Nine land uses were identified in the study area showing five directions of land use changes namely the change from the native forest to cocoa agroforestry, native savannah to cocoa agroforestry, native savannah to cropland, savannah fallow to cropland, and transition zone fallow to cropland. The soil was sampled at 0–10 cm (upper layer) and 10–30 cm (lower layer) depths in three replicates for each land use and analyzed for physicochemical properties. There were significant differences across the land uses for OC (p < 0.02), N (p < 0.01), C/N (p < 0.01), pH (p < 0.02), soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS) (p < 0.01), and soil nitrogen stocks (SNS) (p < 0.01), with a relatively higher magnitude in the upper soil layer. Higher magnitudes of OC (26.1 to 22.5 g kg−1), N (2.5 to 1.6 g kg−1), SOCS (32.1 to 27.8 Mg ha−1), and SNS (2.9 to1.9 Mg ha−1) were observed in native lands and cocoa agroforestry with the highest in the native forest and the forest-based cocoa agroforestry. Meanwhile, the effect of land use change on soil properties was mainly significant in the change from native savannah to croplands at p < 0.05 for OC, N, SOCS, and SNS, and p < 0.02 for P. Therefore, agroforestry is an alternative to enhance the ecological resilience of lands affected by land use changes.