Impact of climate change on soil health and nutrient cycling

Abstract

The soil environment is influenced by different parameters and processes including topography, climate and parent material throughout the landscape. Major soil properties including, (i) soil moisture which plays a fundamental role in interactions between the land and the atmosphere, (ii) soil respiration which is attributed by the soil carbon pool to the atmosphere, (iii) soil organic matter (SOM), and (iv) soil nutrient cycles which go hand-in-hand with ecological restoration practices, are affected by the soil ecosystem. Plant species play a crucial role in nutrient cycling in natural ecosystems, with plant growth, litter quality and herbivory affecting the rates of nutrient cycling. The diversity and activity of soil microorganisms are essential for sustainable agriculture, and organic farming and tillage can improve soil health. Cycling nutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorus, is a vital ecosystem service that incorporates reusing agricultural and municipal organic residues. Soil quality is not a constant value for nutrient cycling or other soil functions, as soil properties can simultaneously enhance or weaken the performance of one or more functions depending on prevailing climatic conditions, and evaluations must be site-specific. Soil health is crucial in delivering various ecosystem services, such as sustaining water quality and plant productivity, controlling soil nutrient recycling and decomposition, and reducing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. This chapter focuses on the effects of climate change on soil health and nutrient cycling, leading to variations in plant productivity.