Global response of soil phosphatase activity to land reclamation and vegetation restoration

Phosphatase activity plays a significant role in soil phosphorus (P) cycling, supporting plant growth and maintaining soil health, yet agricultural-driven land use changes have substantially regulated its activity. However, the global impact of land reclamation and vegetation restoration on phosphatase activity remains unclear. This study conducted a meta-analysis using 851 observations of phosphatases from 201 publications to explore the response of phosphatase activity to land reclamation and vegetation restoration. Land reclamation significantly inhibited soil acid (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities by 28.94 % and 22.95 %, while vegetation restoration increased ACP and ALP activities by 46.10 % and 68.17 %. Phosphatase activity in forests was more influenced by land use change than in grasslands. The decreases in ACP activities from forest to cropland (− 33.25 %) were significantly greater than those from grassland to cropland (−20.11 %). Phosphatase activities were positively correlated with vegetation restoration years (P < 0.05), but not with land reclamation years (P > 0.05). Notably, during land reclamation, phosphatase activity was mainly driven by soil total nitrogen, organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon, whereas, mean annual temperature precipitation played a larger role in determining phosphatase activity during vegetation restoration. Our research suggests that land reclamation can weaken phosphorus cycling function, but targeted vegetation restoration measures, especially long-term restoration, can reverse these negative impacts. Our results highlight that it is crucial to use sustainable agricultural measures and incentivize climate adaptive land management to ensure long-term soil productivity and improve overall soil health. These findings emphasize the significant and variable influences of environmental factors on soil phosphatase activity across various land use patterns, providing valuable insights for land management and ecological restoration.