Articles | Volume 9, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-39-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-39-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Original research article
| 
12 Jan 2023
Original research article |
| 12 Jan 2023
| 12 Jan 2023
Forest liming in the face of climate change: the implications of restorative liming for soil organic carbon in mature German forests
Oliver van Straaten
Northwest German Forest Research Institute, Grätzelstr. 2, 37079 Göttingen, Germany
Larissa Kulp
Northwest German Forest Research Institute, Grätzelstr. 2, 37079 Göttingen, Germany
Guntars O. Martinson
Soil Science of Tropical and Subtropical Ecosystems, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Dan Paul Zederer
Northwest German Forest Research Institute, Grätzelstr. 2, 37079 Göttingen, Germany
Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology, Department of Agriculture, Waldheimer Str. 219, 01683 Nossen, Germany
Ulrike Talkner
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Northwest German Forest Research Institute, Grätzelstr. 2, 37079 Göttingen, Germany
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Cited
15 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Consequences of nitrogen deposition and soil acidification in European forest ecosystems and mitigation approaches B. Du et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122523
- Impact of management components, abiotic factors and soil biological activity on carbon stocks in temperate forests T. Klein-Raufhake et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123306
- Ecological assessment of forest management approaches to develop resilient forests in the face of global change in Central Europe F. Huth et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2025.05.001
- Investigating the effects of climate change and anthropogenic activities on SOC storage and cumulative CO2 emissions in forest soils across altitudinal gradients using the century model A. Golchin & M. Misaghi https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173758
- Restoration rocks: The long-term impact of rock dust application on soil, tree foliar nutrition, tree radial growth, and understory biodiversity in Norway spruce forest stands R. Van Der Bauwhede et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122109
- Aluminum alters soil dynamics and wheat micronutrient uptake under limed and unlimed acidic soil conditions G. Gurmu et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44378-025-00084-x
- Phenology, Growth and Yield Parameters of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Genotypes and Soil Properties as Affected by Lime Application Under the Acidic Soil of Sidama Highlands, Southern Ethiopia T. Tefera et al. https://doi.org/10.1155/aess/6617574
- Field phytometers and lab tests demonstrate that rock dust can outperform dolomite and fertilisers for acid forest soil restoration R. Van Der Bauwhede et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-024-07175-8
- Lime for Lyme: Treatment of Leaf Litter with Dolomitic Lime Powder Impairs Activity of Immature Ixodes scapularis Ticks J. Rocheleau et al. https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2023.0158
- Three decades of monitoring the responses to alkaline K-rich applications in an acidified, K-deficient Norway spruce (Picea abies) stand reveals that forest restoration depends on treatment type: Rock dust, wood ash, dolomite and/or potassium sulphate R. Van Der Bauwhede et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117485
- Understanding and mitigating climate change impacts on ecosystem health and functionality K. Anandita et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-024-01259-4
- A review of forest management practices potentially suitable for carbon farming in European forests T. Chiti et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.128391
- Legacy effect of 25 years reduced atmospheric sulphur deposition on spruce tree nutrition J. Zethof et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.202400097
- Addition of silicate rock powder mitigates soil acidification in old oak forests J. Sitters et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2026.123995
- Global Trajectories of Forest Soil Acidification: A Scientometric Synthesis of Drivers, Impacts and Sustainable Solutions Y. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/f16050733
15 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Consequences of nitrogen deposition and soil acidification in European forest ecosystems and mitigation approaches B. Du et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122523
- Impact of management components, abiotic factors and soil biological activity on carbon stocks in temperate forests T. Klein-Raufhake et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123306
- Ecological assessment of forest management approaches to develop resilient forests in the face of global change in Central Europe F. Huth et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2025.05.001
- Investigating the effects of climate change and anthropogenic activities on SOC storage and cumulative CO2 emissions in forest soils across altitudinal gradients using the century model A. Golchin & M. Misaghi https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173758
- Restoration rocks: The long-term impact of rock dust application on soil, tree foliar nutrition, tree radial growth, and understory biodiversity in Norway spruce forest stands R. Van Der Bauwhede et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122109
- Aluminum alters soil dynamics and wheat micronutrient uptake under limed and unlimed acidic soil conditions G. Gurmu et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44378-025-00084-x
- Phenology, Growth and Yield Parameters of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Genotypes and Soil Properties as Affected by Lime Application Under the Acidic Soil of Sidama Highlands, Southern Ethiopia T. Tefera et al. https://doi.org/10.1155/aess/6617574
- Field phytometers and lab tests demonstrate that rock dust can outperform dolomite and fertilisers for acid forest soil restoration R. Van Der Bauwhede et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-024-07175-8
- Lime for Lyme: Treatment of Leaf Litter with Dolomitic Lime Powder Impairs Activity of Immature Ixodes scapularis Ticks J. Rocheleau et al. https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2023.0158
- Three decades of monitoring the responses to alkaline K-rich applications in an acidified, K-deficient Norway spruce (Picea abies) stand reveals that forest restoration depends on treatment type: Rock dust, wood ash, dolomite and/or potassium sulphate R. Van Der Bauwhede et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117485
- Understanding and mitigating climate change impacts on ecosystem health and functionality K. Anandita et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-024-01259-4
- A review of forest management practices potentially suitable for carbon farming in European forests T. Chiti et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.128391
- Legacy effect of 25 years reduced atmospheric sulphur deposition on spruce tree nutrition J. Zethof et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.202400097
- Addition of silicate rock powder mitigates soil acidification in old oak forests J. Sitters et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2026.123995
- Global Trajectories of Forest Soil Acidification: A Scientometric Synthesis of Drivers, Impacts and Sustainable Solutions Y. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/f16050733
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 06 Aug 2026
Short summary
Across northern Europe, millions of hectares of forest have been limed to counteract soil acidification and restore forest ecosystems. In this study, we investigated how restorative liming affects the forest soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and correspondingly ecosystem greenhouse gas fluxes. We found that the magnitude and direction of SOC stock changes hinge on the inherent site characteristics, namely, forest type, soil texture, initial soil pH, and initial soil SOC stocks (before liming).
Across northern Europe, millions of hectares of forest have been limed to counteract soil...
