Nitrogen (N) availability limits plant growth and soil carbon (C) sequestration in N‐limited ecosystems

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the stated challenges and stated research gap and abstract of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2024 and 2026, spanning 3 journals. Those papers have been cited 20 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 4 representative gaps

• Unveiling the legacy of traditional agroforestry systems and their role in enriching soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics in the Chhattisgarh Plain Region (2026) · Frontiers in Agronomy · doi

  The study identifies the challenge of quantifying SOC and nitrogen stocks in traditional agroforestry systems. It also notes the complexity of soil health and productivity, governed by interactions among biophysical and chemical properties. The study highlights the need for site-specific, comparative assessments of carbon-nitrogen dynamics across traditional agroforestry systems.

  generalstated challenges
  Keywords: study identifies challenge quantifying soc nitrogen stocks traditional
• Effect of land use change on soil aggregates and soil carbon inventories in the India’s eastern Himalaya (2026) · Frontiers in Forests and Global Change · doi

  There is a lack of understanding of the effect of agroforestry systems on soil aggregates and carbon inventories. Few studies have examined the impact of land use change on soil physical quality and carbon sequestration in the eastern Himalaya region.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: there lack understanding effect agroforestry systems soil aggregates
• Plant and Microbial Carbon Are Important Drivers of Free‐Living Nitrogen Fixation in Tropical Forest Soils: A New Discovery of Carbon‐Driven Nitrogen Input (2024) · Geophysical Research Letters · cited 20× · doi

  Abstract Nitrogen (N) availability limits plant growth and soil carbon (C) sequestration in N‐limited ecosystems, however, plant and soil C feedback on the free‐living nitrogen fixation (FLNF) process is poorly understood.

  generalabstractevidence 5/5
  Keywords: nitrogen plant soil abstract availability limits growth carbon sequestration limited ecosystems feedback free living fixation
• Depth-stratified soil organic carbon dynamics across forest–cultivation gradients in Nkanu East Watershed, Southeast Nigeria: implications for agroecological management (2026) · Frontiers in Agronomy · doi

  Depth-stratified assessments that account for subsoil contributions to soil organic carbon dynamics remain scarce. Conventional sampling approaches systematically underrepresent subsoil contributions. There is a need to understand the implications of forest-to-cultivation conversion for agroecological management.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: depth-stratified assessments account subsoil contributions soil organic carbon

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