Stoichiometric characteristics and factors influencing soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in various types of peatlands: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Peatland ecosystems around the world exhibit distinct stoichiometric characteristics for soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), which are influenced by anthropogenic activities such as drainage. This study aimed to investigate the effects of drainage on C:N:P stoichiometry across various types of peatlands worldwide. A comprehensive global meta-analysis synthesized 735 pairwise observations from 41 published articles was conducted to examine the effects of drainage on the C:N:P stoichiometry of peat soils. The collected data included climatic variables such as mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP). Our findings indicate that drainage resulted in a significant increase in N content by 426.59%, while C content decreased by 20.95%. Additionally, drainage led to a significant increase in P content in bogs and swamps, whereas a decrease in P content was observed in fens. Overall, the C:N and C:P ratios significantly declined by 25.13% and 1.60%, respectively, while there was a notable positive increase in the N:P ratio by 499.24%. Climatic factors were found to influence C, N, P, and their ratios. The response ratios (RRs) of C and N increased with higher MAT, while the RRs of C:N ratios showed a decreasing relationship with an increase in MAT. Changes in drainage-induced P content, as well as C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios, exhibited a negative correlation with variations in MAP. The RRs of C and P contents showed a positive yet non-significant correlation with MAP. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of global nutrient dynamics in peatlands, providing essential insights for ecological restoration and the effective management of these unique environments.