Nitrogen-rich soil doubles tropical forest growth rate, boosting carbon capture potential

A groundbreaking study in Panama has revealed that adding nitrogen to degraded tropical soils can nearly double the speed of forest regeneration, offering new hope for climate change mitigation efforts. The research, published in Nature Communications, demonstrates that nitrogen deficiency significantly limits how quickly cleared tropical forests can regrow and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Scientists conducted a large-scale experiment in the Panama Canal Watershed, applying nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers to forest plots at various stages of recovery. The results surprised even the researchers themselves. “We didn’t realize that nitrogen could be that important in tropical forests, and the fact that the forest grew back twice as fast in the first decade was just kind of amazing,” said study author Sarah Batterman, an ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies.

The findings address a critical knowledge gap in forest restoration science. While replanting tropical forests is considered one of the most effective strategies for removing carbon from the atmosphere, scientists have struggled to predict exactly how quickly these restored ecosystems will grow. The study reveals that when forested land is cleared, essential nitrogen often evaporates or washes away from disturbed soils, creating a bottleneck for new growth.

This discovery could transform how conservationists approach tropical forest restoration projects worldwide. By ensuring adequate nitrogen availability in degraded soils, restoration efforts could potentially capture carbon at rates much faster than previously expected, making reforestation an even more powerful tool in the fight against climate change.