N supply mediates the radiative balance of N2 O emissions and CO2 sequestration driven by N-fixing vs. non-fixing trees

Abstract

Forests are a significant CO₂ sink. However, CO₂ sequestration in forests is radiatively offset by emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂ O), a potent greenhouse gas, from forest soils. Reforestation, an important strategy for mitigating climate change, has focused on maximizing CO₂ sequestration in plant biomass without integrating N₂ O emissions from soils. Although nitrogen (N)-fixing trees are often recommended for reforestation because of their rapid growth on N-poor soil, they can stimulate significant N₂ O emissions from soils. Here, we first used a field experiment to show that a N-fixing tree (Robinia pseudoacacia) initially mitigated climate change more than a non-fixing tree (Betula nigra). We then used our field data to parameterize a theoretical model to investigate these effects over time. Under lower N supply, N-fixers continued to mitigate climate change more than non-fixers by overcoming N limitation of plant growth. However, under higher N supply, N-fixers ultimately mitigated climate change less than non-fixers by enriching soil N and stimulating N₂ O emissions from soils. These results have implications for reforestation, suggesting that N-fixing trees are more effective at mitigating climate change at lower N supply, whereas non-fixing trees are more effective at mitigating climate change at higher N supply.

Keywords: carbon dioxide; nitrogen cycling; nitrogen-fixing trees; nitrous oxide.