Nitrogen Stocks Research Articles

CHEMICAL ATTRIBUTES AND SOIL CARBON AND NITROGEN STOCKS IN PASTURES IN THE MARANHÃO AMAZON

In the eastern Amazon region, converting forests into pastureland is a common practice that quickly leads to the degradation of these areas. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different land uses in different evaluation periods on the chemical attributes, total contents, and carbon and nitrogen stocks of the soil in the Maranhão Amazon. The land use systems analyzed were: perennial pasture (PP), recovered pasture (RP), and secondary forest (SF). Trenches were opened in 2013 and 2019 in each use system in the 0.0-0.20 m and 0.20-0.40 m soil layers. The soil chemical attributes (pH, P, K, Ca, and Mg) and C and N contents and stocks were assessed. PP in the surface layer showed superior results compared to RP and SF, while the opposite behavior occurred in the subsurface. The chemical attributes of the soil decreased over the years evaluated, regardless of the layer and area. The chemical attributes of the soil, as well as the C and N contents and stocks, changed depending on the land use, layer, and year of sampling.

Soil available phosphorous and potassium stocks related to environmental properties, land uses and soils

Abstract Soil available phosphorus (SAP) and potassium (SAK) are indispensable for crops, and their stocks are important for food production needed for a growing global population. This study analysed 991 soil profiles across a large part of Romania covering forestland, grassland and cropland in almost all ecological regions. This study investigated SAP and SAK stocks for different soil depths and characterized their magnitude and variability within land uses under different environmental ecosystems, soil classes and soil types, for a better soil and land management under a temperate-continental climate. Cropland soils present the highest SAP and SAK stocks. Chernozems, Phaeozems and Vertosols possess the highest SAP and SAK stocks in Romania, representing the largest country's pool. Both SAP stocks and SAK stocks are significantly correlated with basic environmental properties, existing direct correlations between SAP, SAK, soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) stocks. For all land uses, SAP and SAK stocks correlated significantly and directly with each other, as well as with annual temperature, clay content, pH and sum of base cations, and inversely with altitude, slope and annual precipitation. The best predictive values using multiple regression models and basic environmental driving factors were found for forestland stocks of SAP and SAK, followed by grassland stocks, while the lowest prediction occurred for cropland stocks, probably due to the long-term additional nutrient input performed by farmers in cropland that changed the natural conditions otherwise present in grassland, and especially in forestland. Based on these results some management measures are discussed.

Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks and Microbial Activity of the Humus Horizon of Loamy Soils after Mass Windthrow in the Broadleaved Forest of the Kaluzhskie Zaseki Nature Reserve

Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks and Microbial Activity of the Humus Horizon of Loamy Soils after Mass Windthrow in the Broadleaved Forest of the Kaluzhskie Zaseki Nature Reserve

Long-term tillage and crop rotation effects on soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in southwestern Ontario

Conservation tillage and crop rotation diversification have been promoted to increase soil C and N storage; however, the interactive effects of tillage and crop rotation on soil C and N dynamics remain contradictory. Using a long-term (24-yr) experiment established at a clay loam site (Orthic Humic Gleysol) at Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada, the interactive effects of five crop rotations and two tillage systems were tested on soil organic C (SOC) and total N storage in soil depth increments and in the full soil profile (0-0.6 m) in 2019. While crop rotation influenced SOC and total N concentration in top 0.2 m, these effects were minimized when storage was expressed on an equivalent soil mass basis. Over the 0-0.6 m depth, no-tillage had 24 Mg SOC ha-1 and 4.7 Mg total N ha-1 greater content, respectively, than conventional tillage, supporting the value of no-tillage on increasing soil C and N in the long-term. Interestingly, no interactive effects of crop rotation and tillage on soil C and N storage in 0-0.6 m were observed. While the type of crop species and amount of C and N inputs under different crop rotations are important variables impacting the soil C and N storage, our results suggest that the crop rotation diversity was not a major driver of soil C and N in this study. Future mechanistic investigations exploring the persistence and linkage of soil C and N with crop rotation diversity in the tested production systems are needed.

The Use of Integrated Crop–Livestock Systems as a Strategy to Improve Soil Organic Matter in the Brazilian Cerrado

This study aimed to analyze the carbon (C) stock and stabilization of soil organic matter in particulate- and mineral-associated fractions across different land use systems after 32 years of experimentation in the Brazilian Cerrado. The experiment was established in 1991 and was performed in Planaltina-DF. The treatments evaluated included continuous pasture with monoculture grasses; integrated crop–livestock systems under no tillage; continuous cropping under no tillage; minimum tillage; and the preservation of the native Cerrado biome in its original condition. Soil sampling was performed to a depth of 30 cm. Carbon and nitrogen (N) stocks were quantified for the years 2001, 2009, 2013, and 2023, with soil organic matter fractionation performed on samples from 2023. Land use change resulted in significant losses of soil C and N in areas managed with conventional soil preparation practices. Systems that promote plant diversity, such as integrated crop–livestock systems, enhanced soil C and N stocks (72.8 and 5.5 Mg ha−1, respectively) and increased both particulate organic matter and mineral-associated fractions, most of which were in more stabilized forms. Integrated crop–livestock systems are management practices that offer an effective alternative to present methods in terms of combating climate change and supporting ecosystem sustainability.

Conservation agriculture enhances crop productivity and soil carbon fractions in Indo-Gangetic Plains of India

This study evaluates the impact of conservation agriculture (CA) on soil carbon sequestration and crop productivity in the Indo-Gangetic Plains, focusing on short-term effects over 3 and 5 years. Conducted at two distinct sites, Karnal and Samastipur, the research compares zero tillage, permanent raised beds, and conventional tillage systems across diverse cropping patterns. Initial findings after 3 years showed no significant differences in carbon and nitrogen stocks at Karnal, while Samastipur’s maize-mustard-mungbean rotation on permanent raised beds showed increased carbon stocks. Notably, after 5 years, significant differences in soil carbon stocks emerged at both sites, with improved organic matter input indicated by coarse particulate organic matter (cPOM) formation. The study confirms the potential of POXC and POC as early indicators for carbon sequestration in CA systems, highlighting the role of CA practices in enhancing soil health and crop productivity sustainably.

Organic cropping systems balance environmental impacts and agricultural production

Agriculture provides food to a still growing population but is a major driver of the acceleration of global nutrient flows, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Policies such as the European Farm2Fork strategy aim to mitigate the environmental impact of land-use by fostering organic farming. To assess long-term environmental impact of organic food production we synthesized more than four decades of research on agronomic and environmental performance of the oldest system comparison experiment on organic and conventional cropping systems (DOK experiment). Two organic systems (bioorganic and biodynamic) are compared with two conventional (manure-based integrated and mineral-based) systems all with the same arable crop rotation including grass-clover, and manure from livestock integrated in all except the mineral-based system. Organic systems used 92% less pesticides and 76% less mineral nitrogen than conventional systems. Nitrogen use efficiency, that also considers biological nitrogen fixation, was above 85% for all systems. Organic fertilization with farmyard manure maintained or increased soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in the long term, especially in the biodynamic system with manure compost. Conventional mineral-based cropping reduced soil organic carbon and nitrogen stocks. Higher soil organic carbon stocks in organic cropping did not translate to increased N2O emissions, which were the main driver for 56% lower soil-based, area-scaled climate impact compared to the integrated conventional system with manure. Organic cropping systems, especially compost-based biodynamic, showed enhanced soil health, richness of micro- and macrofauna and weed species. Highest yields were achieved in integrated conventional system, with highest total nitrogen inputs and enhanced soil health compared to pure mineral fertilization. Yet, these benefits come at the cost of lower nitrogen use efficiency and higher N2O emissions. Despite a rigorous reduction of inputs yields of the organic systems achieved 85% of the conventional systems. We demonstrate at field level that organic cropping systems with reduced external nutrient inputs have less climate impact and a larger in-situ biodiversity, while providing a fertile ground for the future development of sustainable agricultural production systems.

Surface soil sampling underestimates soil carbon and nitrogen storage of long-term cover cropping

Cover cropping is a promising management practice for soil health and climate change mitigation by improving soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) stocks. However, limited studies focused on deeper soil layers (>30 cm depth) where soil C is more stable than that in surface soil (≤30 cm depth). Here, deep soil sampling was conducted in a 15-year cover cropping experiment, in a horticulture-grain system on sandy loam soil. The SOC and TN stocks were expressed on an equivalent soil mass basis using a cubic spline model. Overall, long-term cover cropping had significantly greater SOC and TN stocks by 22 % (95 %CI: 5–43 %) and 26 % (95 %CI: 6–49 %), respectively in the 0–120 cm depth, compared to no cover cropping. Additionally, the mean SOC and TN sequestration rate (0–30 cm depth) was 0.53 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 and 0.06 Mg N ha−1 yr−1, respectively. However, if only 0–15 cm depth was evaluated, long-term cover cropping did not significantly affect SOC and TN stocks. These results indicated that shallow sampling (<15 cm depth) may not provide comprehensive information on the effect of long-term cover cropping on soil C and N storage. To better understand the mechanism of bulk soil C and N storage, we investigated their distribution between particulate and mineral-associated organic matter pools (POM and MAOM). We found POM pool was the main store of bulk SOC and TN stocks in surface soils while it was the MAOM pool in deeper soil layers, without soil texture change with soil depth. These findings indicated that soil C and N sources for bulk SOC and TN accrual differed in surface and deeper soils. Our study demonstrated that long-term cover cropping can facilitate SOC accumulation in the soil below 15 cm deep, which calls into question carbon capture protocols that focus on shallow soil depths.

Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks related to land use and basic environmental properties − assessment of soil carbon sequestration potential in different ecosystems

Soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) stocks are crucial for the development of wild plants and crops. This paper examines the current SOC and TN stocks and their variability within land uses under different environments, assessing the relationships between SOC and TN stocks with basic environmental properties and quantifying the magnitude of SOC sequestration potential for a better land use management. We studied 991 soil profiles, from steppe to wet mountain-soils. The land use was essential in influencing soil organic C and total N stocking, with the forestland showing the significantly highest SOC stocks specifically in mountain soils, followed by grassland and cropland. Altitude, clay content, pH and plant available phosphorous and potassium were other influencers of SOC and TN stocks. The best predictive multiple linear regression model explained 68 % of the 0.5 m depth SOC stock variability for forest, 61 % for grassland and 37 % for cropland, while Random Forest model explained 70 %, 65 %, and 28 % for the same land uses. The obtained models rank factors contribution and may be useful in management. Lands having the highest C sequestration potential occurred within fine-textured soils, mainly in croplands. The most favorable soil depth for further C sequestration is below C-saturated topsoil and this could be achieved by deep-rooting crops and conservative technologies. Additionally, changing some low-fertile soils of cropland into forestland or grassland would improve SOC sequestration. These measures might contribute to sequester additional C amounts in soils, in order to bolster initiatives for climate-change mitigation and adaptation.

Carbon and nitrogen stocks and distributions associated with different vegetation covers and soil profiles in Abisko, northern Sweden.

Carbon and nitrogen stocks and distributions associated with different vegetation covers and soil profiles in Abisko, northern Sweden.

Permafrost Region Greenhouse Gas Budgets Suggest a Weak CO2 Sink and CH4 and N2O Sources, But Magnitudes Differ Between Top‐Down and Bottom‐Up Methods

AbstractLarge stocks of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in northern permafrost soils are vulnerable to remobilization under climate change. However, there are large uncertainties in present‐day greenhouse gas (GHG) budgets. We compare bottom‐up (data‐driven upscaling and process‐based models) and top‐down (atmospheric inversion models) budgets of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) as well as lateral fluxes of C and N across the region over 2000–2020. Bottom‐up approaches estimate higher land‐to‐atmosphere fluxes for all GHGs. Both bottom‐up and top‐down approaches show a sink of CO2 in natural ecosystems (bottom‐up: −29 (−709, 455), top‐down: −587 (−862, −312) Tg CO2‐C yr−1) and sources of CH4 (bottom‐up: 38 (22, 53), top‐down: 15 (11, 18) Tg CH4‐C yr−1) and N2O (bottom‐up: 0.7 (0.1, 1.3), top‐down: 0.09 (−0.19, 0.37) Tg N2O‐N yr−1). The combined global warming potential of all three gases (GWP‐100) cannot be distinguished from neutral. Over shorter timescales (GWP‐20), the region is a net GHG source because CH4 dominates the total forcing. The net CO2 sink in Boreal forests and wetlands is largely offset by fires and inland water CO2 emissions as well as CH4 emissions from wetlands and inland waters, with a smaller contribution from N2O emissions. Priorities for future research include the representation of inland waters in process‐based models and the compilation of process‐model ensembles for CH4 and N2O. Discrepancies between bottom‐up and top‐down methods call for analyses of how prior flux ensembles impact inversion budgets, more and well‐distributed in situ GHG measurements and improved resolution in upscaling techniques.

Intercropping Legumes Improves Long Term Productivity and Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks in Sub‐Saharan Africa

AbstractFood, feed, and fiber production needs to increase to support demands of the growing population in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), while soil fertility continues to decline. Intercropping, the cultivation of two or more crop species on the same field, can provide yield benefits and is suggested to positively affect soil organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks. This study uses the biogeochemical model system LandscapeDNDC with the objective to (a) represent maize‐legume intercropping systems in different bioregions in SSA by simultaneously simulating both crops and their interactions and (b) assess long‐term (20 years) impacts of intercropping under varying mineral fertilizer inputs (0–150 kg N ha−1 yr−1) on productivity as well as soil organic C and N stocks. We test LandscapeDNDC on 82 field data sets (site‐year‐treatment combinations) from 18 sites to represent yields and soil C/N dynamics of maize‐legume intercropping systems. Using the model for long‐term scenario simulations showed that intercropping allows to sustain productivity and to improve or maintain SOC stock in low or zero fertilizer systems if all residues are returned to the soil. In contrast, for sole‐cropped maize systems, a decline in SOC stocks was simulated unless a minimum of 35 kg N ha−1 yr−1 of fertilizer was applied at full residue return. We conclude that intercropping using legumes alongside sufficient residue return allows for stabilizing long‐term yields while avoiding SOC losses even with low fertilizer N inputs. Overall, our study confirms the potential of intercropping as a sustainable agricultural practice that could significantly contribute to food security in SSA.

Long‐Term Effects of Arable and Tree Cropping Systems on Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics in a Tropical Agroecological Transition Zone

ABSTRACTContinuous cropping can affect soil carbon and nitrogen stocks and litter decomposition, but research on smallholder farms in Africa is limited. This study, conducted from 2020 to 2023 in Ghana's forest‐savanna transition zone, examined four cropping systems: continuous maize monocrop (M), maize rotated with legumes (ML), young cashew intercropped with maize or legumes (YCM/L), and mature cashew (MC). The objective was to assess the long‐term impact of the cropping systems on soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrogen (N) stocks, and soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition rates using the tea bag protocol. Results showed significant variability in SOC and N stocks across the systems. At a 0–15 cm depth, SOC in the MC and M systems was 160% and 149% higher than in the YCM/L system. At 15–30 cm, SOC in the M and MC systems was 86% and 132% higher than in YCM/L. Soil nitrogen stocks followed a similar trend, with MC and M systems showing 94%–199% higher values than YCM/L at both depths. SOM decomposition rates for green and rooibos tea in the MC and ML systems were statistically similar after 90 days of incubation (p &gt; 0.05). This study, the first to use the tea bag protocol in Ghanaian soils, revealed that mature cashew and sustainable practices, such as adding maize stover, can enhance SOC and N stocks in highly weathered tropical soils. These findings underscore the potential for specific cropping systems to improve soil health on smallholder farms.

Impact of climatic seasons on the dynamics of carbon, nitrogen and mercury in soils of Brazilian biomes affected by gold mining

Land use change, especially mining activities, contributes to anthropic CO2 emissions, leading to decreased carbon (C) storage and loss of biodiversity. Artisanal gold mining associated with the use of mercury (Hg) for amalgamation may change soil organic matter (SOM) contents, and the release of Hg into the environment generates serious environmental problems. Changes in soil biogeochemistry due to C loss and seasonal climate fluctuations affect Hg dynamics and can either increase or decrease its availability. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the impact of mining on SOM and Hg geochemistry in four Brazilian biomes. We evaluated the dynamics of C and Hg in the dry and rainy seasons of mining and pasture areas by combining spectroscopic, thermogravimetric, and chemical extraction. The critical role of SOM in Hg retention and the influence of climatic seasons on C and nitrogen (N) stocks were highlighted, along with the availability of Hg in solution. Key findings indicated a 50 % reduction in soil C stocks in mined areas, exacerbated during dry seasons, which also saw up to a 70 % increase in bioavailable Hg. SOM played a critical role in Hg retention, with Hg availability closely linked to soil C stability. These results highlight the environmental degradation linked to mining and suggest strategies to mitigate these impacts by increasing SOM and immobilizing Hg. Amalgamation of gold directly into ore, as in the Amazon, has generated great soil Hg stocks, while Hg availability appeared to be governed by soil C stability. This information can serve as a basis for choosing strategies to mitigate environmental degradation caused by changes in land use in mining activities to promote increase in SOM and to immobilize Hg contents.

Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks in Vineyard Soils Amended with Grape Pomace Residues

Fruit crops under soil conservational management might sequester carbon (C) in soils and mitigate greenhouse gases emissions. Using grape pomace residues as soil amendment holds promise for sustainable viticulture. However, its actual capability to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) is unknown, especially in subtropical climates. This research aims to investigate whether grape pomace compost and vermicompost can increase SOC, total N (TN), and C and N stocks in subtropical vineyards. Two vineyards located in Veranópolis, in South Brazil, one cultivated with ‘Isabella’ and the other with ‘Chardonnay’ varieties, were annually amended with these residues for three years. We quantified SOC and TN in each condition in different soil layers, as well as C and N content in two different granulometric fractions: mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) and particulate organic matter (POM). C and N stocks were also calculated. Despite potential benefits, neither treatment enhanced SOC, its fractions, or C stocks. In fact, vermicompost was rapidly mineralized and depleted SOC and its fractions in the 0.0 to 0.05 m layers of the ‘Isabella’ vineyard. Our findings indicate that the tested grape pomace residues were unable to promote C sequestration in subtropical vineyards after a three-year period.

Long‐term tillage and residue removal effects on soil carbon, nitrogen, and grain yield in irrigated corn

AbstractCorn (Zea mays L.) stover demand as a forage or for an emerging bioeconomy has increased the importance of determining the long‐term effects of stover removal on grain yield and soil properties. Study objectives were to evaluate grain yield, soil organic carbon (SOC), and total soil N (0–150 cm) in a 20‐year, irrigated, continuous corn study, located in eastern Nebraska, under conventional tillage (CT) and no‐till (NT) with variable corn stover removal rates (none, medium, and high). After 20 years, grain yield was up to 6.0% greater under NT with stover removal compared with NT and no stover removal, while yield was similar for CT in all stover removal treatments. Grain yield was similar between NT with stover removal and CT in all stover removal treatments. High stover removal rates resulted in greater SOC loss at the surface soil layers (0–15 cm and 0–30 cm) after 20 years compared with no or medium stover removal. Corn stover retention under NT resulted in the same cumulative SOC stock loss as CT or stover removal. All management practices resulted in cumulative (0–120 cm) SOC stock loss (8% decrease) that occurred in the last 10 years of the study. Total soil nitrogen stocks were maintained or increased after 20 years at the surface soil layers (0–15 cm and 0–30 cm) and were similar between NT and CT. In an irrigated continuous corn system, neither NT nor stover retention was able to maintain cumulative SOC stocks over time.

Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks Across Hillslopes Underlain by Continuous Permafrost in the Northern Arctic Foothills, Alaska, United States

ABSTRACTConstraining the variability of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) stocks across hillslopes in Low Arctic permafrost‐affected landscapes remains a significant challenge for improving global estimates of permafrost SOC stocks. We investigated SOC and TN stocks across hillslopes at two sites in the Arctic Foothills of Alaska, United States (Happy Valley and Sagwon Hills). Average SOC and TN stocks for the 0–1‐m depth interval were high (52.0 ± 15.1 kg C m−2 and 2.74 ± 0.82 kg N m−2) and linearly related (R2 = 0.74, p &lt; 0.0001). Unlike soils of other permafrost and nonpermafrost landscapes, variability was greatest within rather than between hillslope positions. Furthermore, SOC and TN stocks in the surface 1 m did not exhibit strong patterns by hillslope position and were only weakly associated with major geomorphic parameters that typically predict SOC and TN stocks well in other landscapes. Although sampling at upper hillslope positions was largely limited to depths of less than 1.5 m due to the presence of coarse fragments in reworked glacial till, deeper observations at lower hillslope positions (footslopes, toeslopes, and basins) revealed significantly larger SOC stocks (92.0 ± 18.0 kg C m−2 at 2 m; 117.1 ± 10.4 kg C m−2 at 3 m). The unique small‐scale variability in ice content, cryoturbation, patterned ground, and organic layer thickness on these broad, Low Arctic sites contributes to the relatively homogeneous distribution of SOC and TN stocks across hillslope positions in the top 1 m, but a future focus on deeper sampling may reveal greater differences in SOC and TN stocks.

Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks in Soil under Native Pastures in the Pantanal Wetland Biome, Brazil

The Pantanal has a high diversity of native pastures that provide food for many wild and domestic animals. Pantanal cattle raising is practiced in an extensive grazing-based system that varies according to the flood levels in the area. This study aimed to evaluate the fractions of soil organic matter in areas of native pastures under different uses and to quantify C and N stocks in sandy soils of the Pantanal. Soil samples from three native pastures differentiated by the predominance of Hymenachne amplexicaulis, Axonopus purpusii, and Mesosetum chaseae under different land use systems (continuous grazing and no grazing for five years) were collected and used to quantify the contents of carbon, nitrogen, and humic fractions. The dynamics of SOM are modified in grazed areas of the Pantanal, with influence on C and N, including their stocks. Native pastures of Axonopus purpusii and Hymenachne amplexicaulis showed an increase in organic matter after five years without grazing, while Mesosetum chaseae showed lower soil density and nitrogen levels. The highest C stock was observed in ungrazed areas of H. amplexicaulis (127.41 Mg ha−1 in the 0–40 cm layer). The dynamics of nitrogen in Pantanal pastures are influenced by the type of vegetation and land management, with higher nitrogen content in the surface layer (0–10 cm) and an increasing C/N ratio with soil depth, indicating lower nitrogen availability.

Impacts of land use change on carbon and nitrogen stocks in an Andosol in Michoacan, Mexico

Impacts of land use change on carbon and nitrogen stocks in an Andosol in Michoacan, Mexico

Montane evergreen forest deforestation for banana plantations decreased soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stores to alarming levels

Forest conversion to agricultural land has been shown to deplete soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil total nitrogen (STN) stocks. However, research on how soil properties respond to forest conversion to shifting cultivation has produced conflicting results. The conflicting findings suggest that the agricultural system may influence the response of SOC and STN to forest conversion to agriculture, depending on the presence of vegetative cover throughout the year. Due to the unique characteristics of montane evergreen forests (MEF) and banana plantations (BP), SOC and STN response to MEF conversion to BP may differ from existing models. Nevertheless, research on how soil properties are affected by MEF conversion to BP is scarce globally. In order to fill this research gap, the goal of this study was to evaluate how much deforestation for BP affects SOC, STN, and soil quality by analysing these soil parameters in MEF and BP fields down to 1-m depth, using standard profile-based procedures. Contrary to the specified hypothesis that SOC and STN losses would be restricted to the upper 20-cm soil layer, SOC losses were extended to the 40-cm depth layer and STN losses to the 60-cm depth layer. The soils lost 18.56 Mg ha – 1 (37%) of SOC from the upper 20 cm and 33.15 Mg ha – 1 (37%) from the upper 40 cm, following MEF conversion to BP. In terms of STN, the upper 20, 40, and 60 cm lost 2.98 (43%), 6.62 (47%), and 8.30 Mg ha – 1 (44%), respectively. Following MEF conversion to BP, the SOC stratification ratio decreased by 49%, implying a decline in soil quality. Massive exportation of nutrients, reduced C inputs due to complete removal of the arboreal component and crop residues, the erodibility of the soils on the study area’s steep hillslopes, and the potential for banana plantations to increase throughfall kinetic energy, and splash erosion through canopy dripping are thought to be the leading causes of SOC and STN losses. More research is needed to identify the extent to which each cause influences SOC and STN losses.