岩溶区土地利用变化对土壤有机碳与岩溶碳汇的影响研究进展

土地利用变化对陆地生态系统碳循环的影响是当今全球碳循环和气候变化研究的热点。土地利用变化对土壤有机碳含量、组分及稳定性产生影响,从而影响土壤CO_2,进而控制岩溶地质过程的碳汇效应。本文综述了岩溶区土地利用变化对土壤有机碳与岩溶地质过程的影响,阐明了岩溶区土地利用变化对土壤有机碳及其组分影响的过程与机理,土地利用变化对岩溶地质过程影响的土壤CO_2浓度调控机制、水循环影响及无机酸干扰等影响机制。提出了土壤固碳的团聚体归宿和分配,团聚体物理保护机制及钙的化学稳定机制是当前岩溶土壤有机碳深化的方向;土壤CO_2、水循环和无机酸在土地利用变化过程中以何种关系共同影响岩溶碳汇强度;水生光合作用利用DIC形成的稳定有机质与DIC、AOC通量的关系及其对土地利用变化的响应机理是岩溶碳循环前沿领域;而石漠化治理对岩溶碳循环的影响及相关固碳增汇技术的研究是需要重视的工作。     

土地利用变化对区域碳源汇的影响研究进展

土地利用变化对陆地生态系统碳循环有着重要的影响,既可能成为碳源,也可能是碳汇。在国内外相关研究的基础上,综述了土地利用变化对全球及区域尺度上森林、草地和农业生态系统碳循环的影响。全球范围内,森林砍伐后向草地和农田的转化发挥碳源的作用,在毁林碳排放中占主导地位,其中热带地区森林转变为农田和草场的碳排放均高于温带和北方森林。另一方面,土地利用变化可促进森林的碳贮存,如退耕还林、改善森林管理等。各区域森林生态系统通过土地利用变化贮存碳的潜力存在显著差别,热带湿润和半湿润地区具有较大的碳汇潜力,而干旱地区减少碳排放的空间相对较少。开垦活动是影响草地生态系统碳储存最主要的人类活动,草地转变为农田伴随着土壤碳的流失。森林或草场转变为农田的过程伴随着植被和土壤碳储量的减少,生态系统碳储量降低,因此它是一个碳排放的过程。伴随着城市的扩张,农田向建设用地的转化也是一个碳排放的过程。当前评估土地利用变化影响的研究方法主要有遥感观测和遥感模型、统计估算、生态系统模型以及土地利用与生态系统模型的耦合。研究方法得到不断地完善和改进的同时,还存在着一些不确定性,因此需要建立统一的观测统计方法,降低数据中的不确定性;完善土地利用与生态系统模型的耦合研究;建立多尺度土地利用变化及生态系统综合技术方法体系;开展碳减排目标下土地利用最优化布局研究。     

造林对土壤碳储量影响的研究

全球气候变化和土地利用变化,体现了自然和人类活动对陆地生态系统的影响。造林,作为一种土地利用变化．能够改变陆地土壤碳储量。但其作用结果具有不确定性,受到多种因素的制约。本文对造林后土壤碳储量变化和影响这种变化的因素及其影响效果进行综述,介绍了土壤碳储量变化的研究方法,最后指出当前研究的不足和今后的努力方向。随着我国造林面积的扩大和人工林年龄的增加,加强造林后土壤碳积累机制及这种积累的空间分异和时间动态的研究,具有重要的政治意义和科学实践意义。     

中国陆地生态系统土壤有机碳变化研究进展

通过文献资料, 对中国陆地生态系统土壤有机碳变化研究进行评述. 20世纪80年代初至21世纪初, 中国森林、草地、灌丛和农田土壤有机碳库合计年均增加(71±19) Tg/a, 三江平原沼泽湿地垦殖导致土壤有机碳损失(6±2) Tg/a. 该结果存在极大的不确定性, 尤其是对森林、灌丛和草地碳库变化的估计. 未来研究需重点关注土地利用变化及其碳源、碳汇效应, 放牧管理对草地土壤有机碳库的影响, 灌丛和非森林树木(经济林、防护林及四旁绿化造林)土壤有机碳变化估算, 深层土壤有机碳变化的测定和估算, 中国土壤的固碳潜力及陆地生态系统碳收支模型开发.     

黄土高原羊圈沟小流域土地利用时空变化的土壤有机碳效应

土地利用变化是影响土壤有机碳储量和分布变化的重要驱动因素,为进一步探讨土地利用变化对土壤有机碳的影响,根据土壤样点数据、土地利用类型图,分析了黄土丘陵沟壑区羊圈沟小流域2006—2011年土地利用变化及其对表层土壤有机碳密度和储量的影响,主要结论如下:(1)小流域土地利用发生较大变化,主要集中在乔木林地和灌木林地面积的增加,分别为39.697、46.404 hm2;以及草地面积的减少,为64.030 hm2;(2)土地利用方式的变化会导致土壤有机碳密度及储量的变化,其中转变用地类型的土壤有机碳储量增加587.25 kg,以荒草地转出类型增加的土壤表层有机碳储量最多,为441.64 kg;灌木林地转出类型减少的土壤表层有机碳储量最多,为-21.01 kg。草地-灌木林地、草地-乔木林地、坡耕地-草地、坡耕地-灌木林地、坡耕地-乔木林地、坡耕地-坝地、梯田-草地、梯田-灌木林地、梯田-乔木林地、梯田-坝地、坝地-草地、坝地-灌木林地、坝地-乔木林地等转换用地类型的表层土壤碳密度增加值高于保持用地类型碳密度的增加值,说明这些地类的转换有利于表层土壤有机碳储量的增加,即有利于表层土壤碳汇的形成;而其他地类转换造成了表层土壤的碳排放,应该引起足够的重视;(3)土壤固碳应着眼于长期效应,频繁的土地利用类型转化可能会降低土壤碳截流效果,黄土丘陵区植被重建的长期利用和保持更有利于土壤有机碳的积累。     

长三角典型城郊土地利用变化及其土壤碳氮响应

城市化在改变城市周边土地利用及其空间布局的同时,也改变了城郊土壤的碳氮循环等关键生物地球化学过程。明确城郊地区土地利用变化及其对土壤碳氮储量的影响,可有效揭示城郊地区土壤肥力提供等关键生态系统服务的演变特征。以长三角典型城郊宁波樟溪流域为例,分析了1974年至2015年其土地利用变化特征,并采用DNDC模型模拟了土地利用变化所引起的土壤碳、氮储量变化。研究表明该流域内农地和林地面积均在不断减小,而园地和城镇建设用地面积在不断增加。模拟表明农地单位面积有机碳、总氮含量逐年降低,而林地则不断增加,园地呈波动变化,不同土地利用类型的单位面积有机碳和总氮含量对温度和降雨的变化有不同程度的响应。随着城郊地区土地利用变化,流域内农地土壤有机碳和总氮储量逐年降低,园地和林地土壤有机碳和总氮储量逐年增加,土地利用变化决定了流域土壤有机碳和总氮的储量变化特征。     

1940—2002年长江中下游平原乡村景观区域中土地利用覆被及其土壤有机碳储量变化

过去60a来,长江中下游平原的乡村地区发展迅速,引起土地利用覆被及其土壤有机碳储量明显地变化。通过选取区域代表性样方、基于1942年航片和2002年IKONOS影像研究小尺度土地利用覆被变化、土壤取样和收集1965年前土壤有机碳历史数据,用尺度推绎和蒙特卡洛不确定性分析方法,评价了19402002年长江中下游平原人口密集的乡村景观区域中土地利用覆被的面积及其030cm土壤(或底泥)有机碳储量的变化。结果表明:近60a来,在86×103km2的区域中有47%的面积发生土地利用覆被转化,其中耕地转化为非耕地的面积为21%(18×103km2)。土地利用覆被类型转化及其有机碳密度的变化导致该区域土壤有机碳储量的净增加。该区域稻田和闲置水域面积分别减少了21.5%(18.5×103km2)和6.7%(5.7×103km2),导致其土壤(或底泥)有机碳储量分别减少41.8TgC和12.9TgC;而水产养殖、非渗漏表面为主的建筑用地、种植木本作物和种植1年生作物的水浇地面积分别增加了14.2%(12.2×103km2)、7.7%(6.7×103km2)、3.5%(3.0×103km2)和2.0%(1.7×103km2),使其土壤(或底泥)有机碳储量分别增加32.2TgC、22.2TgC、12.2TgC和6.5TgC。近60a来,整个区域030cm土壤有机碳的储量增加了18.2TgC,其净增加的可能性为75%,形成了弱碳汇。这主要是由于区域稻田土壤有机碳密度增加了17%,使区域土壤有机碳储量增加了22.2TgC(其净增加的可能性为92%);而且,稻田转化为种植木本作物和种植1年生作物的水浇地也使区域土壤有机碳储量分别增加了1.3TgC(净增加的可能性为86%)和0.3TgC(净增加的可能性为70%);此外,闲置水域转化为水产养殖也使区域土壤有机碳储量增加1.3TgC(净增加的可能性为77%)。但是,稻田转化为水产养殖和非渗漏表面为主的建筑用地导致区域土壤有机碳储量损失6.3TgC和0.6TgC。因稻田土壤有机碳密度增加及稻田转化类型的土壤有机碳储量变化的影响,使整个区域形成弱碳汇,但如果稻田继续减少的话,很可能变成碳源。通过选取区域代表性样方、研究小尺度土地利用覆被变化、土壤取样和收集土壤历史数据,采用尺度推绎方法,研究揭示了19402002年长江中下游平原人口密集的乡村景观区域中土地利用覆被的面积及其土壤有机碳储量的变化。     

“三线”约束下土地利用变化及其对碳储量的影响——以武汉城市圈为例

陆地生态系统碳储量作为全球碳循环研究的基础,与土地利用变化密切相关。生态保护-永久基本农田-城镇开发边界红线(简称“三线”)是国土空间规划的核心,能较好地约束土地利用,进而对碳储量造成影响。以武汉城市圈为例,采用Markov-FLUS耦合模型模拟“三线”约束下的土地利用变化情景,并运用InVEST模型定量研究不同情景下土地利用变化对碳储量的影响。结果表明：(1)2000—2015年武汉城市圈耕地、林地、草地和未利用分别减少了1267.582、112.703、24.896、42.14 km~2,建设用地和水域分别增加了1092.282 km~2和355.039 km~2。2035年“三线”约束情景下耕地减少面积小于自然发展情景,林地实现了增长,新增建设用地被引导至城镇开发边界红线内聚集。(2)2000—2015年武汉城市圈总碳储量呈连续递减势态,其中武汉市碳储量减少量最大。“三线”约束情景下碳储量和地均碳密度下降幅度明显变小,武汉市碳储量减少量仅为自然发展情景的44.89%。(3)耕地-建设用地之间的转换是引起碳储量剧烈变化的主要原因,土地利用强度与碳储量呈显著负相关,较低强度带的碳储量...     

排水对若尔盖高原泥炭地土壤有机碳储量的影响

泥炭地作为陆地上生态系统一个重要碳汇,存储了全球土壤有机碳储量的25%—43%。泥炭地排水与其他土地利用导致了大量的土壤有机碳损失。然而,有关排水对中国泥炭地土壤有机碳储量的影响研究报道较少,因此,为了获得更多可靠的泥炭地碳储量信息,以便减少它们估算的不确定性。选取了我国若尔盖高原未排水泥炭地和排水泥炭地进行土壤剖面取样,定量评价排水对泥炭地土壤有机碳储量的影响。研究表明:(1)未排水泥炭地土壤有机碳储量平均值为(923.71±107.18)t C/hm~2,为中国陆地和全球陆地土壤有机碳储量的8.1和9.4倍;而排水泥炭地土壤有机碳储量平均值为(574.01±66.86)t C/hm~2,为中国和全球陆地的5.1和5.8倍。(2)泥炭地排水后,导致表层(0—30 cm)土壤有机碳储量增加(59.11±9.31)t C/hm~2,可能源于土壤容重增加。(3)然而,完全考虑泥炭剖面深度后,排水泥炭地土壤有机碳储量较对照样地减少了349.7 t C/hm~2,这可能是由于泥炭地排水后,水位降低,加速了泥炭氧化,降低了泥炭厚度。     

气候变化对陆地生态系统土壤有机碳储量变化的影响

通过研究气候变化对土壤有机碳储藏的影响,对预测未来气候变化下土壤有机碳动态变化与深入理解陆地生态系统变化和气候变化之间的相互作用有着极其重要的意义。本文归纳了土壤类型法、模型模拟法等途径对土壤有机碳储量估算的结果并分析它们各自的不确定性,综述了气候变化对土壤碳贮藏影响机理的研究与相应过程模拟的模型研究进展,并综合分析了当前研究中还存在的问题与不足。     

China's crop productivity and soil carbon storage as influenced by multifactor global change

Much concern has been raised about how multifactor global change has affected food security and carbon sequestration capacity in China. By using a process‐based ecosystem model, the Dynamic Land Ecosystem Model (DLEM), in conjunction with the newly developed driving information on multiple environmental factors (climate, atmospheric CO₂, tropospheric ozone, nitrogen deposition, and land cover/land use change), we quantified spatial and temporal patterns of net primary production (NPP) and soil organic carbon storage (SOC) across China's croplands during 1980–2005 and investigated the underlying mechanisms. Simulated results showed that both crop NPP and SOC increased from 1980 to 2005, and the highest annual NPP occurred in the Southeast (SE) region (0.32 Pg C yr^?1, 35.4% of the total NPP) whereas the largest annual SOC (2.29 Pg C yr^?1, 35.4% of the total SOC) was found in the Northeast (NE) region. Land management practices, particularly nitrogen fertilizer application, appear to be the most important factor in stimulating increase in NPP and SOC. However, tropospheric ozone pollution and climate change led to NPP reduction and SOC loss. Our results suggest that China's crop productivity and soil carbon storage could be enhanced through minimizing tropospheric ozone pollution and improving nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency.     

Impact of tropical land‐use change on soil organic carbon stocks – a meta‐analysis

Land‐use changes are the second largest source of human‐induced greenhouse gas emission, mainly due to deforestation in the tropics and subtropics. CO₂ emissions result from biomass and soil organic carbon (SOC) losses and may be offset with afforestation programs. However, the effect of land‐use changes on SOC is poorly quantified due to insufficient data quality (only SOC concentrations and no SOC stocks, shallow sampling depth) and representativeness. In a global meta‐analysis, 385 studies on land‐use change in the tropics were explored to estimate the SOC stock changes for all major land‐use change types. The highest SOC losses were caused by conversion of primary forest into cropland (?25%) and perennial crops (?30%) but forest conversion into grassland also reduced SOC stocks by 12%. Secondary forests stored less SOC than primary forests (?9%) underlining the importance of primary forests for C stores. SOC losses are partly reversible if agricultural land is afforested (+29%) or under cropland fallow (+32%) and with cropland conversion into grassland (+26%). Data on soil bulk density are critical in order to estimate SOC stock changes because (i) the bulk density changes with land‐use and needs to be accounted for when calculating SOC stocks and (ii) soil sample mass has to be corrected for bulk density changes in order to compare land‐use types on the same basis of soil mass. Without soil mass correction, land‐use change effects would have been underestimated by 28%. Land‐use change impact on SOC was not restricted to the surface soil, but relative changes were equally high in the subsoil, stressing the importance of sufficiently deep sampling.     

Changes in soil organic carbon of terrestrial ecosystems in China: A mini-review

The present study provides an overview of existing literature on changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) of various terrestrial ecosystems in China. Datasets from the literature suggest that SOC stocks in forest, grassland, shrubland and cropland increased between the early 1980s and the early 2000s, amounting to (71±19) Tg·a⁻¹. Conversion of marshland to cropland in the Sanjiang Plain of northeast China resulted in SOC loss of (6±2) Tg·a⁻¹ during the same period. Nevertheless, large uncertainties exist in these estimates, especially for the SOC changes in the forest, shrubland and grassland. To reduce uncertainty, we suggest that future research should focus on: (i) identifying land use changes throughout China with high spatiotemporal resolution, and measuring the SOC loss and sequestration due to land use change; (ii) estimating the changes in SOC of shrubland and non-forest trees (i.e., cash, shelter and landscape trees); (iii) quantifying the impacts of grassland management on the SOC pool; (iv) evaluating carbon changes in deep soil layers; (v) projecting SOC sequestration potential; and (vi) developing carbon budget models for better estimating the changes in SOC of terrestrial ecosystems in China.     

河西走廊中段绿洲退化土地退耕种植苜蓿的固碳效应

土地利用变化和耕作管理是人类影响陆地生态系统碳过程一个重要方面.对河西走廊中段张掖绿洲退化土地退耕种植苜蓿5a后土壤性状的分析表明, 49个退耕苜蓿地土壤与相邻未退耕农田土壤配对样本的比较,退耕苜蓿地0～15cm土层土壤粒级组成和容重并未发生显著变化,但土壤pH平均提高了0.11个单位,电导率降低34.8%,土壤有机碳(SOC)和全氮(全N)含量较对照农田土壤平均提高18.5%和9.3%,活性有机碳(labile C)增加53.3%.SOC含量受海拔高度和土壤粒粉粒含量的影响,退耕后SOC和全N的增加幅度沙壤土高于粉壤土,而labile C的增加幅度沙壤土低于粉壤土.退耕苜蓿地0～15cm土层SOC和全N储量较农田土壤分别增加2.84Mg hm~(-2)和0.21Mg hm~(-2),土壤C、N的固存率平均为0.57Mg hm~(-2)a~(-1)和0.04 Mg hm~(-2)a~(-1),表明退化土地由1年生作物向多年生牧草的转变有显著的固碳效应和潜力.活性有机碳的变化较总有机碳的变化更为显著,表明活性有机碳对土地利用变化的响应更为敏感.     

Effect of land use conversion on soil organic carbon sequestration in the loess hilly area, loess plateau of China

Changes in land use may alter land cover, which results in carbon stock changes in biomass as well as in the soil. In China’s loess plateau, vegetation restoration has been conducted since 1950s to control soil erosion and improve the ecosystem, with significant investment of money and manpower. Despite these efforts, soil erosion has still been severe. To reduce soil erosion and improve land quality, China initiated another state-funded project, Grain-for-Green, in 1999 in the loess plateau. However, it is not clear how effective this newly initiated project will be. In this study, we evaluated the effect of land-use conversion on soil organic carbon (SOC) and the potential effect of the current project on SOC sequestration in the Anjiapo catchment area of the loess hilly area of the loess plateau in China. This evaluation is based on SOC measurements in cropland versus in other converted land use types. We found that SOC sequestration mainly occurred in the surface soil after land use conversion took place. Land use conversion from cropland to shrubland or wild grassland (i.e. undisturbed land) was better for SOC sequestration than tree plantation in the semi-arid loess hilly area. By using the land use change in the study area as a scenario, the potential contribution of land use change on SOC sequestration due to the Grain-for-Green project was estimated. It was found that this project in the loess plateau of China would be helpful for SOC sequestration if successfully implemented.     

Carbon storage capacity of semi‐arid grassland soils and sequestration potentials in northern China

Organic carbon (OC) sequestration in degraded semi‐arid environments by improved soil management is assumed to contribute substantially to climate change mitigation. However, information about the soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration potential in steppe soils and their current saturation status remains unknown. In this study, we estimated the OC storage capacity of semi‐arid grassland soils on the basis of remote, natural steppe fragments in northern China. Based on the maximum OC saturation of silt and clay particles <20 μm, OC sequestration potentials of degraded steppe soils (grazing land, arable land, eroded areas) were estimated. The analysis of natural grassland soils revealed a strong linear regression between the proportion of the fine fraction and its OC content, confirming the importance of silt and clay particles for OC stabilization in steppe soils. This relationship was similar to derived regressions in temperate and tropical soils but on a lower level, probably due to a lower C input and different clay mineralogy. In relation to the estimated OC storage capacity, degraded steppe soils showed a high OC saturation of 78–85% despite massive SOC losses due to unsustainable land use. As a result, the potential of degraded grassland soils to sequester additional OC was generally low. This can be related to a relatively high contribution of labile SOC, which is preferentially lost in the course of soil degradation. Moreover, wind erosion leads to substantial loss of silt and clay particles and consequently results in a direct loss of the ability to stabilize additional OC. Our findings indicate that the SOC loss in semi‐arid environments induced by intensive land use is largely irreversible. Observed SOC increases after improved land management mainly result in an accumulation of labile SOC prone to land use/climate changes and therefore cannot be regarded as contribution to long‐term OC sequestration.     

黄土丘陵区土壤有机碳固存对退耕还林草的时空响应

研究了黄土丘陵区土壤有机碳固存对退耕还林草的时空响应特征,分析了退耕还林草对土壤有机碳的近期影响和长期效应。结果表明,1)从黄土丘陵区退耕还林草的土壤固碳效应整体而言,相对于坡耕地,退耕还林和退耕撂荒具有显著的土壤碳增汇效应,而退耕还草、退耕还果没有明显土壤碳增汇效应。以天然草地土壤有机碳密度为目标,撂荒地表层土壤有机碳增汇潜力可达8.3 t/hm2。2)以10a为界,退耕还林草的近期土壤碳增汇效应不明显,而10a后土壤碳增汇效应逐渐明显,退耕还林、还灌、撂荒和坡耕地的固碳效应差异显著。3)在评估黄土丘陵区退耕还林草的土壤固碳效应时应当注重长期固碳效应。4)退耕还林草的土壤固碳效应主要受还林草方式及年限的影响,二者分别可解释55.6%和24.1%的有机碳变异性;地形因子可解释8.5%的有机碳变异性。在评估该区退耕还林的土壤固碳效应时应当充分考虑退耕年限和地形因子的影响。5)人工刺槐林地、人工柠条林地以及撂荒地深层土壤(100—200 cm)有机碳密度占2 m土体有机碳密度的35%—40%,而且随着植被恢复深层土壤有机碳密度显著增加。6)在估算黄土丘陵区退耕还林土壤固碳效应时应该考虑深层碳累积。如果按1 m土层的土壤有机碳密度计算,会严重低估退耕还林草的土壤固碳量。     

土地利用/覆盖变化对陆地生态系统碳循环的影响

土地利用/覆盖变化是学术界最为关注的环境变化问题之一,它能够影响陆地生态系统的生物多样性、水、碳和养分循环、能量平衡,引起温室气体释放增加等其它环境问题。不同类型的土地利用/覆盖变化对生态系统碳循环的作用不同,由高生物量的森林转化为低生物量的草地、农田或城市后,大量的CO₂将释放到大气中。全球土地利用/覆盖变化具有很强的空间变异性,对生态系统碳循环的影响同样具有明显的空间差异:热带地区的土地利用/覆盖变化造成大量的碳释放,而中高纬度地区土地利用/覆盖变化则表现为碳汇。目前,土地利用/覆盖变化引起的生态系统碳循环变化主要是通过模型模拟来估算的。尽管土地利用/覆盖变化及其相关过程与生态系统碳循环的关系已经比较清楚,但是,由于土地利用/覆盖变化过程复杂且影响广泛,对于如何量化两者之间的关系还存在很多不确定性。目前的量化过程主要是利用经验数据来实现的,机理性不强,使得对土地利用/覆盖变化造成的陆地生态系统CO₂释放量的估测差异很大。除了进一步加强长期定位研究以获得土地利用/覆盖变化与生态系统碳循环过程的定量关系外,土地利用/覆盖变化模型与植被动态模型、生态系统过程模型的耦合也是今后模型发展的主要方向之一。采用合理的管理措施能够大量增加土地利用/覆盖变化过程中的碳储存量,降低碳释放量,因此在模型中耦合管理措施来研究土地利用/覆盖变化过程对生态系统碳循环的影响是未来几年的工作重点。     

Temporal response of soil organic carbon after grassland‐related land‐use change

The net flux of CO₂ exchanged with the atmosphere following grassland‐related land‐use change (LUC) depends on the subsequent temporal dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC). Yet, the magnitude and timing of these dynamics are still unclear. We compiled a global data set of 836 paired‐sites to quantify temporal SOC changes after grassland‐related LUC. In order to discriminate between SOC losses from the initial ecosystem and gains from the secondary one, the post‐LUC time series of SOC data was combined with satellite‐based net primary production observations as a proxy of carbon input to the soil. Globally, land conversion from either cropland or forest into grassland leads to SOC accumulation; the reverse shows net SOC loss. The SOC response curves vary between different regions. Conversion of cropland to managed grassland results in more SOC accumulation than natural grassland recovery from abandoned cropland. We did not consider the biophysical variables (e.g., climate conditions and soil properties) when fitting the SOC turnover rate into the observation data but analyzed the relationships between the fitted turnover rate and these variables. The SOC turnover rate is significantly correlated with temperature and precipitation (p < 0.05), but not with the clay fraction of soils (p > 0.05). Comparing our results with predictions from bookkeeping models, we found that bookkeeping models overestimate by 56% of the long‐term (100 years horizon) cumulative SOC emissions for grassland‐related LUC types in tropical and temperate regions since 2000. We also tested the spatial representativeness of our data set and calculated SOC response curves using the representative subset of sites in each region. Our study provides new insight into the impact grassland‐related LUC on the global carbon budget and sheds light on the potential of grassland conservation for climate mitigation.