Global limited effects of the conversion of multiple ecosystem types to tree and shrub plantations on soil base cation concentration and exchangeable capacity

The conversion of multiple types of ecosystems into tree and shrub plantations can significantly affect soil properties, but until now we know little about its effects on soil base cation concentration and exchangeable capacity. Here, we quantified the effects of ecosystem conversion on the concentration and exchangeable capacity of soil base cations (K+, Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+) based on 2,133 paired observations collected from 153 publications. We found that (1) as a whole, ecosystem conversion did not affect soil base cation concentration and cation exchangeable capacity (CEC) on a global scale; (2) the former ecosystem type significantly affected the effects of ecosystem conversion on CEC, which were significantly increased by 22.7 and 61.1% in bare lands and deserts, respectively, but decreased by 17.2% in primary forests, while it did not affect ecosystem conversion effects on base cation concentration; (3) leaf type significantly influenced the responses of CEC and exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations to ecosystem conversion, while vegetation composition, mycorrhizal association and soil depth had no impacts; and (4) latitude, year after conversion, soil pH and organic carbon (OC) concentrations also showed significant impacts on base cation concentration and CEC. Overall, our results indicate that the conversion of multiple types of ecosystems into tree and shrub plantations had limited impacts on soil base cation concentration and CEC, but the effects can be regulated by soil properties of the former ecosystems. These results will contribute to better understanding the responses of soils to extensive ecosystem conversions under ongoing environmental change scenarios.