Research advances on biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) in soil

TAN Yu; MU Zhao-Bin; YANG Fan; YANG Kai-Jun

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China Environmental Science ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (2) : 858-867.

Soil Pollution Control

Research advances on biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) in soil

TAN Yu^1,2, MU Zhao-Bin^3,4, YANG Fan⁵, YANG Kai-Jun^6,7

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Abstract

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are critical components linking terrestrial ecosystems with the atmospheric environment for gas exchange and information transfer, and they have played essential roles in biogeochemical cycles, climate change, and ecosystem functioning. Soil ecosystems serve as both significant sources and indispensable potential sinks for atmospheric BVOCs. In this review, the progress in soil BVOCs research was systematically synthesized. Their main sources in soil (soil organic matter, litter decomposition, plant roots, and microbial metabolism) and soil sink pathways (atmospheric dry and wet deposition, physical adsorption and dissolution, and microbial degradation) were highlighted. Furthermore, the seasonal variations and ecosystem-specific differences in soil BVOCs flux were summarized, and the potential mechanisms of soil BVOCs source-sink dynamics in the context of global climate change (warming, drought, and nitrogen deposition) were explored. Finally, current research gaps were elucidated, and future key research directions were proposed, aiming to provide new insights for a comprehensive understanding of the role of BVOCs in soil biogeochemical cycling processes.

Key words

biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) / source-sink balance / global change / terrestrial ecosystem / soil biogeochemical cycle

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TAN Yu, MU Zhao-Bin, YANG Fan, YANG Kai-Jun. Research advances on biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) in soil[J]. China Environmental Science. 2026, 46(2): 858-867

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