- A new study reveals tropical forests can regrow up to twice as fast when their soils have sufficient nitrogen, dramatically accelerating their ability to capture atmospheric carbon.
- Research across 76 forest plots over 20 years showed that nitrogen, not phosphorus, was the key nutrient driving accelerated recovery in the first critical decade after deforestation.
- The study estimates that global nitrogen shortages in young tropical forests could prevent the storage of about 0.69 billion tonnes of CO? annually, equivalent to two years of the U.K.’s total emissions.
- Instead of advocating widespread fertilizer use (which risks harmful side effects), researchers propose smarter strategies like planting nitrogen-fixing trees or prioritizing restoration in nitrogen-rich areas.
- The research highlights that successful forest restoration depends not just on planting trees but on managing soil nutrients, with adequate nitrogen being key to unlocking rapid growth and climate benefits.
In the urgent global race to restore lost forests, a groundbreaking new study has pinpointed a decisive factor hidden beneath our feet: soil nitrogen. Research led by the University of Leeds reveals that tropical forests can rebound from deforestation up to twice as fast when their soils contain sufficient nitrogen, dramatically accelerating their ability to capture atmospheric carbon.
The findings, published on Jan. 13 in Nature Communications, stem from the largest and longest-running experiment ever designed to untangle how nutrients control forest regrowth. For up to 20 years, a multinational team of scientists tracked 76 forest plots across Central America on lands previously cleared for logging or agriculture. By applying different nutrient treatments, nitrogen fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer, both or none, they could isolate the specific engine driving recovery.
The results were striking. In the critical first decade of regrowth, forests with adequate nitrogen recovered at nearly double the speed of those lacking it. Phosphorus, another key nutrient, did not produce a comparable boost on its own. “Our study is exciting because it suggests there are ways we can boost the capture and storage of greenhouse gases through reforestation by managing the nutrients available to trees,” said lead author Wenguang Tang, who conducted the research during his PhD at Leeds.
The implications for climate strategy are profound. Tropical forests are vital carbon sinks and the study quantifies the high cost of nitrogen limitation. The researchers estimate that if young tropical forests globally are constrained by nitrogen shortages, approximately 0.69 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide may fail to be stored annually, equivalent to two years of the U.K.’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists say no to fertilizer
Crucially, the scientists are not advocating for widespread fertilizer use, which could cause damaging side effects like emissions of nitrous oxide. According to BrightU.AI‘s Enoch, nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas that has the chemical formula N?O, meaning each molecule consists of two nitrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Instead, they propose smarter, nature-based solutions aligned with the study’s underlying soil science.
One promising strategy is to incorporate nitrogen-fixing trees, such as legumes, into reforestation projects. These plants host bacteria that pull nitrogen from the air and deposit it into the soil, naturally enriching the site. Another approach is strategic site selection, prioritizing restoration in areas where atmospheric pollution has already deposited higher levels of nitrogen.
The research arrives at a pivotal policy moment, following the recent COP 30 in Brazil and the launch of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility aimed at protecting and restoring tropical forests. Principal investigator Dr. Sarah Batterman, an Associate Professor at Leeds, connected the findings to these global efforts: “Our experimental findings have implications for how we understand and manage tropical forests for natural climate solutions. Avoiding deforestation of mature tropical forests should always be prioritized, but our findings about nutrient impacts on carbon sequestration are important as policymakers evaluate where and how to restore forests to maximize carbon sequestration.”
The study adds a critical new layer to our understanding of forest nutrient cycles. It reinforces earlier research, such as that from forest FACE experiments, which suggested forests may be less nitrogen-limited than once thought. Furthermore, it echoes principles from agricultural science, where cover crops are used to manage soil carbon and nitrogen. Just as grass with a high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio decomposes slowly, building soil carbon, the new research shows that ensuring adequate nitrogen availability can unlock rapid biomass growth in recovering forests.
Ultimately, this work shifts the reforestation paradigm. It moves beyond simply planting trees and highlights that the secret to faster recovery and greater climate benefit may already lie in the soil. By working with these natural nutrient dynamics, we can potentially double the pace at which forests and their indispensable carbon sinks, return to life.
Watch this video about nitrogen fertilizers.
This video is from the Surviving Hard Time channel on Brighteon.com.
Sources include:
Brighteon.com
BrightU.ai
ScienceDaily.com
Nature.com
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