Articles | Volume 9, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-609-2023
© 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-9-609-2023
© 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
| 
07 Dec 2023
Original research article |
| 07 Dec 2023
| 07 Dec 2023
Soil organic carbon stocks did not change after 130 years of afforestation on a former Swiss Alpine pasture
Tatjana C. Speckert
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Jeannine Suremann
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Konstantin Gavazov
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
Maria J. Santos
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Frank Hagedorn
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
Guido L. B. Wiesenberg
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Viewed
Total article views: 3,914 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 08 May 2023)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,747 | 1,024 | 143 | 3,914 | 356 | 147 | 300 |
- HTML: 2,747
- PDF: 1,024
- XML: 143
- Total: 3,914
- Supplement: 356
- BibTeX: 147
- EndNote: 300
Total article views: 2,094 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 07 Dec 2023)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,619 | 396 | 79 | 2,094 | 135 | 75 | 129 |
- HTML: 1,619
- PDF: 396
- XML: 79
- Total: 2,094
- Supplement: 135
- BibTeX: 75
- EndNote: 129
Total article views: 1,820 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 08 May 2023)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,128 | 628 | 64 | 1,820 | 221 | 72 | 171 |
- HTML: 1,128
- PDF: 628
- XML: 64
- Total: 1,820
- Supplement: 221
- BibTeX: 72
- EndNote: 171
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 3,914 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 3,827 with geography defined
and 87 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 2,094 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 2,022 with geography defined
and 72 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 1,820 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 1,805 with geography defined
and 15 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Temperate grassland conversion to conifer forest destabilises mineral soil carbon stocks F. Joly et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124149
- Temporal dynamics and environmental controls of carbon and nitrogen stabilization in soil aggregates during afforestation on the Loess Plateau X. Qin et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110020
- Effect of pine afforestation on soil physicochemical properties compared to pasture land: A case study in Kosovo B. Bresilla et al. https://doi.org/10.17221/73/2025-JFS
- Bulk density calculation methods systematically alter estimates of soil organic carbon stocks in United States forests A. Lang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-025-01235-6
- Afforestation of Abandoned Agricultural Land: Growth of Non-Native Tree Species and Soil Response in the Czech Republic A. Tama et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/f16071113
- Availability of labile carbon controls the temperature-dependent response of soil organic matter decomposition in alpine soils D. Püntener et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-991-2025
- Soil organic carbon sequestration over 50 years in resampled afforestation chronosequences on former cropland M. Yu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.129715
- 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
- Shifts in Soil Nutrient Availability and C:N:P Stoichiometry During Long-Term Vegetation Restoration in Mu Us Sandy Land C. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16080815
- Root and mycorrhizal contributions to soil organic carbon changes following 12 years of poplar coppice on former cropland and grassland G. Berhongaray et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07995-2
- Multidecadal to centennial afforestation in degraded ecosystems alters soil aggregate structure and humus carbon dynamics in the subtropical plateau mountains of China Y. Bai & Y. Zhou https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2026.117860
- Long Term Grassland Rehabilitation and Agroforestation Transform Soil Health Parameters in Grazing Areas in Semi-Arid Conditions I. Bandak et al. https://doi.org/10.3161/15052249PJE2025.73.3.001
- Vulnerability of carbon in subalpine soils in the face of warmer temperatures D. Püntener et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-599-2026
- Responses of soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometry to afforestation of severely desertified land in northern China Y. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113520
- Impact of Land-Use Changes on Carbon Sequestration and Economic Losses: Insights from the Northern Qinling Mountains, China P. Joshi et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/10549811.2025.2592612
- Quantification of soil nutrient stocks and stoichiometric ratios in Eucalyptus pellita biomass plantation chronosequence in Papua New Guinea G. Powae & B. Rao https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2024.108564
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Temperate grassland conversion to conifer forest destabilises mineral soil carbon stocks F. Joly et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124149
- Temporal dynamics and environmental controls of carbon and nitrogen stabilization in soil aggregates during afforestation on the Loess Plateau X. Qin et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110020
- Effect of pine afforestation on soil physicochemical properties compared to pasture land: A case study in Kosovo B. Bresilla et al. https://doi.org/10.17221/73/2025-JFS
- Bulk density calculation methods systematically alter estimates of soil organic carbon stocks in United States forests A. Lang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-025-01235-6
- Afforestation of Abandoned Agricultural Land: Growth of Non-Native Tree Species and Soil Response in the Czech Republic A. Tama et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/f16071113
- Availability of labile carbon controls the temperature-dependent response of soil organic matter decomposition in alpine soils D. Püntener et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-991-2025
- Soil organic carbon sequestration over 50 years in resampled afforestation chronosequences on former cropland M. Yu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.129715
- 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
- Shifts in Soil Nutrient Availability and C:N:P Stoichiometry During Long-Term Vegetation Restoration in Mu Us Sandy Land C. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16080815
- Root and mycorrhizal contributions to soil organic carbon changes following 12 years of poplar coppice on former cropland and grassland G. Berhongaray et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07995-2
- Multidecadal to centennial afforestation in degraded ecosystems alters soil aggregate structure and humus carbon dynamics in the subtropical plateau mountains of China Y. Bai & Y. Zhou https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2026.117860
- Long Term Grassland Rehabilitation and Agroforestation Transform Soil Health Parameters in Grazing Areas in Semi-Arid Conditions I. Bandak et al. https://doi.org/10.3161/15052249PJE2025.73.3.001
- Vulnerability of carbon in subalpine soils in the face of warmer temperatures D. Püntener et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-599-2026
- Responses of soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometry to afforestation of severely desertified land in northern China Y. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113520
- Impact of Land-Use Changes on Carbon Sequestration and Economic Losses: Insights from the Northern Qinling Mountains, China P. Joshi et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/10549811.2025.2592612
- Quantification of soil nutrient stocks and stoichiometric ratios in Eucalyptus pellita biomass plantation chronosequence in Papua New Guinea G. Powae & B. Rao https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2024.108564
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 05 Jun 2026
Short summary
Soil organic carbon (SOC) is key player in the global carbon cycle. Afforestation on pastures potentially alters organic matter input and SOC sequestration. We investigated the effects of a Picea abies L. afforestation sequence (0 to 130 years) on a former subalpine pasture on SOC stocks and dynamics. We found no difference in the SOC stock after 130 years of afforestation and thus no additional SOC sequestration. SOC composition was altered due to a modified SOC input following afforestation.
Soil organic carbon (SOC) is key player in the global carbon cycle. Afforestation on pastures...
