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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
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Design and Construction of an Experimental Setup to Enhance Mineral Weathering through the Activity of Soil Organisms
Published on: November 10, 2023
Microbial and anthropogenic controls on global soil nitrogen mineralization efficiency.
Ahmed Salah Elrys1, Christoph Müller2, Aysha Mohamad Ali3
1College of Agriculture, University of Al Dhaid, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, China; Liebig Centre for Agroecology and Climate Impact Research, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.
Journal of Environmental Management
|June 19, 2026
Summary
Soil nitrogen turnover is significantly influenced by bacterial dominance and human activities like land use and fertilization. These factors are key to managing nitrogen availability and loss in ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Soil Science
- Ecology
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Soil nitrogen (N) turnover is crucial for plant nutrition and environmental N loss.
- Global patterns of N turnover are influenced by microbial communities, human activities, and climate change.
- Understanding these drivers is essential for effective nitrogen management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify global soil N turnover using the N mineralization efficiency index (NMEI).
- To analyze associations between NMEI and climatic, edaphic, microbial, land-use, and fertilization factors.
- To evaluate the impact of land-use change and fertilization on NMEI.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 2444 observations from 373 15N-based studies.
- Combined global pattern analysis with meta-analysis.
- Assessed NMEI, recalcitrant NMEI, and labile NMEI in relation to various environmental factors.
Main Results:
- NMEI was higher in croplands and alkaline soils; bacterial abundance was the strongest positive predictor.
- Higher temperatures, soil pH, and lower soil organic carbon correlated with higher NMEI, driven by bacterial dominance.
- Land-use change and fertilization significantly increased NMEI, with balanced/organic fertilization showing the largest effect.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial dominance and anthropogenic land use/fertilization are key predictors of global soil N turnover.
- Nitrogen management requires integrating microbial regulation, land-use impacts, and balanced/organic nutrient inputs.
- Optimizing mineral N supply necessitates a holistic approach considering these interconnected factors.
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