Home About Staff Dario Fornara, Ph.D.

Dario Fornara, Ph.D.

Research Director, European Regenerative Organic Center (EROC)

Email: d.fornara@davines.it
Address: Via Don Angelo Calzolari 55/a, 43126, Parma, Italy

Dr. Dario Fornara is the Research Director of the Davines Group-Rodale Institute European Regenerative Organic Center (EROC) in Parma, Italy. He was awarded a PhD in Ecology from the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 2005. In 2006 he was awarded a Marie Curie Post-Doctoral Fellowship of the EU between the University of Minnesota (USA) and Lancaster University (UK). In 2009 he took a Lectureship position in Terrestrial Ecology at Ulster University, UK.

Between 2014 and 2022 he worked in the Agri-Food Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Belfast, UK, as project leader of the Terrestrial Ecology and Soil Biogeochemistry research programme. Dario has been involved in research, education, and dissemination activities to demonstrate the multiple beneficial effects of biodiversity and regenerative organic practices on soil health. He authored and co-authored >90 scientific publications and has been involved in Networks of Excellence including the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Soil Carbon Stock Changes of the Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership promoted by FAO, the Working Group of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) on Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) management, and the Integrative Research Group of the Global Research Alliance.

Select Publications

  • Yuan C, Wu F, Wu Q, Fornara DA, Heděnec P, Peng Y, Zhu G, Zhao Z, Yue K. 2023. Vegetation restoration effects on soil carbon and nutrient concentrations and enzymatic activities in post-mining lands are mediated by mine type, climate, and former soil properties. Science of The Total Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163059
  • Surigaoge S, Yang H, Su Y, Du Yu-He, Ren S-X, Fornara D, Christie P, Zhang Wei-Ping, Li Long. 2023. Maize/peanut intercropping has greater synergistic effects and home-field advantages than maize/soybean on straw decomposition. Frontiers in Plant Science, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1100842
  • Zhang WP, Fornara D, Yang H, Yu RP, Callaway RM, Li L. 2023. Plant litter strengthens positive biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships over time. Trends Ecol Evol https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2022.12.008
  • Yuan C, Wu, Wu Q, Fornara DA, Heděnec P., Peng Y, Yuan J, Zhu Gu, Yue K, 2023. Divergent effects of converting different types of ecosystems to tree plantations on soil water holding characteristics: A meta-analysis. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2023.108403
  • Yue K, Fornara DA, Heděnec P, Wu Q, Peng Y, Peng X, Ni X, Wu F, Peñuelas J, 2023. No tillage decreases GHG emissions with no crop yield tradeoff at the global scale. Soil and Tillage Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2023.105643
  • Zhang W-P, Li Z-X, Gao S-N, Yang H, Xu H-S, Yang X, Fan H-X, Su Y, Surigaoge, Weiner J, Fornara D, Li L. 2023. Resistance vs. surrender: Different responses of functional traits of soybean and peanut to intercropping with maize. Field Crops Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2022.108779
  • Vanino S., Pirelli T., Di Bene C., Bøe F., Castanheira N., Chenu C., Cornu S., Feiza V., Fornara D., Heller O., Kasparinskis R., Keesstra S., Lasorella M. V., Madenoğlu S., Meurer K.H.E., O’Sullivan L., Peter N., Piccini C., Siebielec G., Smreczak B., Thorsøe H.M., Farina R. 2023. Barriers and opportunities of soil knowledge to address soil challenges: Stakeholders’ perspectives across Europe. Journal of Environmental Management, 325, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116581
  • Peng Y, Fornara DA, Wu Q, Heděnec P, Yuan J, Yuan C, Yue K, Wu F. (2023) Global patterns and driving factors of plant litter iron, manganese, zinc, and copper concentrations. Science of The Total Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159686
  • Fornara, D., Higgins, A. (2022) Tillage and reseeding effects on soil carbon stocks: evidence from 500 agricultural grasslands in the UK. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 42, 71 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-022-00804-5
  • Peng, Y., Fornara, D. A., Yue, K., Peng, X., Peng, C., Wu, Q., Ni, X., Liao, S., Yang, Y., Wu, F., & Peñuelas, J. (2022). Globally limited individual and combined effects of multiple global change factors on allometric biomass partitioning. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 31, 454– 469. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13438
  • Peng, Y., Peñuelas, J., Vesterdal, L., Yue, K., Peguero, G. & Fornara, D.A. et al. (2022) Responses of soil fauna communities to the individual and combined effects of multiple global change factors. Ecology Letters, 00, 1– 13. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.14068
  • Fornara, D.; Ball, E.M.E.; Mulvenna, C.; Reyer, H.; Oster, M.; Wimmers, K.; Damgaard Poulsen, H.; Rosemarin, A. Soil and Plant Responses to Phosphorus Inputs from Different Phytase-Associated Animal Diets. Agronomy 2022, 12, 130. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12010130
  • Zemin Zhao, Pieter De Frenne, Josep Peñuelas, Koenraad Van Meerbeek, Dario A. Fornara, Yan Peng, Qiqian Wu, Xiangyin Ni, Fuzhong Wu, Kai Yue. 2022. Effects of snow cover-induced microclimate warming on soil physicochemical and biotic properties, Geoderma, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.115983
  • Rodrigues, L., Hardy, Brieuc, Huyghebaert, B., Fohrafellner, J., Barancíková, G., Bárcena, T., De Boever, M., Di Bene, C., Feiziene, D., Fornara, D., Kätterer, T., Laszlo, P., O’Sullivan, L., Seitz, D., Leifeld, J. (2021). Achievable agricultural soil carbon sequestration across Europe from country-specific estimates. Global Change Biology, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gcb.15897
  • Yue, K., De Frenne, P., Fornara, D.A., Van Meerbeek, K., Li, W., Peng, X., Ni, X., Peng, Y., Wu, F., Yang, Y. and Peñuelas, J. (2021). Global patterns and drivers of rainfall partitioning by trees and shrubs. Global Change Biology 27:3350-3357. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15644
  • Zhang, W., Gao, M.S., Li, Z., Xu, H., Yang, H., Yang, M.X., Fornara, D., Li, L. (2021). Shifts from complementarity to selection effects maintain high productivity in legume-based intercropping ecosystems. Journal of Applied Ecology http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13989
  • Zhang, W., Fornara, D., LIU, G., Penuelas, J., Sardans, J., SUN, J., ZHANG, L., LONG, L. (2021). Interspecific interactions affect N and P uptake rather than N:P ratios of plant species: evidence from intercropping. Journal of Plant Ecology http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jpe/rtab084
  • Zhou Q, Guo M, Wu S, Fornara D, Sarkar B, Sun L, Wang (2021). Electrochemical sensor based on corncob biochar layer supported chitosan-MIPs for determination of dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry 897, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2021.115549
  • Roy, R., Sultana, S., Begum, N., Fornara, D., Barmon, M., Zhang, R., Sarker, T., Rabbany, G. (2021). Exogenous melatonin reduces water deficit-induced oxidative stress and improve growth performance of Althaea rosea grown on coal mine spoils. Environmental Science and Pollution Research https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14671-2
  • Paterson, K.C., Cloy, J.M., Rees, R.M., Baggs, E.M., Martineau, H., Fornara, D., Macdonald, A.J., Buckingham, S. (2021). Estimating maximum fine-fraction organic carbon in UK grasslands. Biogeosciences, 18, 605–620 https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-605-2021
  • Yu, R.‐P., Zhang, W.‐P., Fornara, D.A. and Li, L. (2021), Contrasting responses of nitrogen: phosphorus stoichiometry in plants and soils under grazing: a global meta‐analysis. J Appl Ecol. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13808
  • Kai Yue, Dario A Fornara, Wang Li, Xiangyin Ni, Yan Peng, Shu Liao, Siyi Tan, Dingyi Wang, Fuzhong Wu, Yusheng Yang (2021). Nitrogen addition affects plant biomass allocation but not allometric relationships among different organs across the globe, Journal of Plant Ecology, rtaa100, https://doi.org/10.1093/jpe/rtaa100
  • Roy, R., Mostofa, M.G., Wang, J., Fornara, D., Sarker, T., Zhang, R. (2021). Revegetation intervention of drought-prone coal-mined spoils using Caragana korshinskii under variable water and nitrogen-phosphorus resources. Agricultural Water Management 246, 106712, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106712
  • Yue, K., Ni, X., Fornara, D.A. et al. (2020) Dynamics of Calcium, Magnesium, and Manganese During Litter Decomposition in Alpine Forest Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems. Ecosystems https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-020-00532-5
  • Roy, R., Wang, J., Mostofa, M.G. and Fornara, D. (2020), Optimal water and fertilizer applications improve growth of Tamarix chinensis in a coal mine degraded area under arid conditions. Physiologia Plantarum https://doi:10.1111/ppl.13147
  • Roy, R., Mostofa, M.G., Fornara, D., Sikdar, A., Shulin, F., Tanwne, S., Xiuqing, W., Mohammad S, J. (2020). Fine-tuning of soil water and nutrient fertilizer levels for the ecological restoration of coal-mined spoils using Elaeagnus angustifolia. Journal of Environmental Management https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110855
  • Fornara, D., Flynn, D., Caruso, T. (2020). Effects of nutrient fertilization on root decomposition and carbon accumulation in intensively managed grassland soils. Ecosphere 11(4):e03103. 10.1002/ecs2.3103
  • Fornara, D., Flynn, D., Caruso, T. 2020. Improving phosphorus sustainability in intensively managed grasslands: The potential role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Science of The Total Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135744
  • Jia, Z., Zhou, X., Xia, W., Fornara, D., Wang, B., Wasson E.A., Christie, P., Polz, M.F., Myrold, D. 2020. Evidence for niche differentiation of nitrifying communities in grassland soils after 44 years of different field fertilization scenarios. Pedosphere, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(19)60803-9
  • Fornara, D., Olave, R., Higgins, A.J. 2020. Evidence of low response of soil carbon stocks to grassland intensification. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2019.106705
  • Khalil, M.I., Fornara, D., Osborne, B. 2020. Simulation and validation of long-term changes in soil organic carbon under permanent grassland using the DNDC model. Geoderma https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.114014
  • Egan, G., Fornara, D., McKenzie, P., Crawley, M. 2019. Effects of grassland management on plant Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE): evidence from a long-term experiment. Basic and Applied Ecology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2019.10.001
  • Smith, P., Soussana, J., Angers, D., Schipper, L., Chenu, C., Rasse, D.P., Batjes, N.H., van Egmond, F., McNeill, S., Kuhnert, M., Arias‐Navarro, C., Olesen, J.E., Chirinda, N., Fornara, D., Wollenberg, E., Álvaro‐Fuentes, J., Sanz‐Cobena, A., Klumpp, K. 2019. How to measure, report and verify soil carbon change to realise the potential of soil carbon sequestration for atmospheric greenhouse gas removal. Global Change Biology https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14815
  • Co-Author of: FAO. 2019. Measuring and modelling soil carbon stocks and stock changes in livestock production systems: Guidelines for assessment (Version 1). Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership. Rome, FAO. 170 pp. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. http://www.fao.org/3/CA2934EN/ca2934en.pdf
  • Zou, X., Sun, Z., Yang, N., Zhang, L., Lin, X., Wentao, S., Shiwei, N., Tan, L., Liu, H., Fornara, D., Li, L. 2019. Interspecific root interactions enhance photosynthesis and biomass of intercropped millet and peanut plants. Crop & Pasture Science, 70(3):234-243
  • Jia, Z., Hu, X., Xia, W., Fornara, D, Nannipieri P, Tiedje J. 2019. Community shift of microbial ammonia oxidizers in air-dried rice soils after 22 years of nitrogen fertilization. Biology & Fertility of Soils, 55: 419. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-019-01352-z
  • Sun, X., Li, Z., Tong, Z., Hu, P., Christie, P., Luo, Y., Fornara, D. 2019. Root-induced soil acidification and cadmium mobilization in the rhizosphere of Sedum plumbizincicola: evidence from a high-resolution imaging study. Plant and Soil, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-018-03930-w
  • Yue, K, Peng, Y, Fornara, DA, et al. 2019. Responses of nitrogen concentrations and pools to multiple environmental change drivers: A meta‐analysis across terrestrial ecosystems. Global Ecology & Biogeography, 28: 690– 724. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12884
  • Egan, G., Zhou, X., Wan, D., Jia, Z., Crawley, M., Fornara, DA. 2018. Long-term effects of grassland management on soil microbial abundance: implications for soil carbon and nitrogen storage. Biogeochemistry, 141, 213–228 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-018-0515-1
  • Zhou, T., Wu, L., Christie, P., Luo, Y., Fornara, DA. 2018. Phytoextraction efficiency of cadmium by Sedum plumbizincicola increased with rice straw amendments to polluted soils: the role of organic matter. Plant and Soil, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-018-3698-2
  • Oster, M., Reyer, H., Ball, M.E., Fornara, DA., McKillen, J.P., Ulrich Sørensen, K., Damgaard Poulsen, H., Andersson, K., Ddiba, D., Rosemarin, A., Arata, L., Sckokai, P., Magowan, E., Wimmers, K. 2018. Multi-actor approaches to bridge gaps in the agricultural phosphorus cycle from an animal husbandry perspective – the case of pigs and poultry. Sustainability (e-pub), 10(1825):1-14
  • Egan, G., Zhou, X., Wang, D., Jia Z., Crawley, M., Fornara DA. 2018 Long-term effects of grazing, liming and nutrient fertilization on the nitrifying community of grassland soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 118:97–102.
  • Castelli, F., Ceotto, E., Borrelli, L., Cabassi, G., Moscatella, A., Fornara, DA. 2018. No-till permanent meadow promotes soil carbon sequestration and nitrogen use efficiency at the expense of productivity. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 37:55 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-017-0462-6
  • Egan, G., Crawley, M., Fornara, DA. 2018. Effects of long-term grassland management on the carbon and nitrogen pools of different soil aggregate fractions. Science of the Total Environment 613:810-819 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.09.165
  • Holland, J., Bennett, A., Newton, A., McKenzie, B., White, P., George, T., Pakeman, R., Bailey, J.S., Fornara, DA, Hayes, R. 2018. Liming impacts on soils, crops and biodiversity in the UK: A review. Science of the Total Environment 610–611, 316–332.
  • Heyburn, J., McKenzie, P., Crawley, M., Fornara, DA. 2017. Long-term effects of grassland management on plant C:N:P stoichiometry: implications for soil element cycling and storage. Ecosphere 8(10):e01963. 10.1002/ecs2.1963
  • Fornara, DA, Olave, R., Burgess, P., Delmer, A., Upson, M., McAdam, J.H. 2017. Land use change and soil carbon pools: evidence from a long-term silvopastoral experiment. Agroforestry Systems https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-017-0124-3
  • Di Palo, F., Fornara, DA 2017. Plant and soil nutrient stoichiometry along primary ecological successions: is there any link? PLoS ONE 12(8):e0182569. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0182569
  • Heyburn, J., McKenzie, P, Crawley, MJ and Fornara, DA 2017. Long-term belowground effects of grassland management: the key role of liming. Ecological Applications 27: 2001–2012. doi:10.1002/eap.1585
  • Isbell, F., Adler, P.R., Eisenhauer, N., Fornara, DA, Kimmel, K., Kremen, C., Letourneau, D., Liebman, M., Polley, H., Quijas, S., Scherer-Lorenzen, M. 2017. Benefits of increasing plant diversity in sustainable agroecosystems. Journal of Ecology 105, 871–879.
  • Yue, K., Fornara, DA, Yang, W., Peng, Y., Peng, C., Liu, Z. and Wu, F. 2017. Influence of multiple global change drivers on terrestrial carbon storage: additive effects are common. Ecology Letters 20: 663-672. doi:10.1111/ele.12767
  • Yue, K., Fornara, DA, Yang, W., Peng, Y., Li, Z., Wu, F., Peng, C. 2017. Effects of three global change drivers on terrestrial C:N:P stoichiometry: a global synthesis. Global Change Biology 23: 2450-2463. doi:10.1111/gcb.13569
  • Zhang, W.-P., Liu, G.-C., Sun, J.-H., Fornara, DA, Zhang, L.-Z., Zhang, F.-F. and Li, L. 2017. Temporal dynamics of nutrient uptake by neighbouring plant species: evidence from intercropping. Functional Ecology 31: 469–479. doi:10.1111/1365-2435.12732
  • Fornara, DA, Wasson, E-A, Christie, P., Watson CJ. 2016. Long-term nutrient fertilization and the carbon balance of permanent grassland: any evidence for sustainable intensification? Biogeosciences 13, 4975–4984.
  • Zhou X, Fornara DA, Ikenaga M, Akagi I, Zhang R, Jia, Z. 2016. The Resilience of Microbial Community under Drying and Rewetting Cycles of Three Forest Soils. Frontiers in Microbiology 7, 1101. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01101.
  • Cenini VL, Fornara DA, McMullan G, Ternan N, Carolan R, Crawley MJ, Clément J-C, Lavorel S. 2016. Linkages between extracellular enzyme activities and the carbon and nitrogen content of grassland soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 96, 198-206.
  • Carolan R & Fornara DA. 2016. Soil carbon cycling and storage along a chronosequence of re-seeded grasslands: do soil carbon stocks increase with grassland age? Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 218, 126–132.
  • Di Palo F & Fornara DA. 2015. Soil fertility and the carbon:nutrient stoichiometry of herbaceous plant species. Ecosphere 6(12):273 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/ES15-00451.1)
  • Cenini VL, Fornara DA, McMullan G, Ternan N, Lajtha K, Crawley MJ. 2015. Chronic nitrogen fertilization and carbon sequestration in grassland soils: evidence of a microbial enzyme link. Biogeochemistry 126:301–313.
  • Guiz J, Hillebrand H, Borer E, Abbas M, Ebeling A, Weigelt A, Oelmann Y, Tilman D, Fornara DA, Weisser WW. 2015. Long-term effects of plant diversity and composition on plant stoichiometry. Oikos DOI: 10.1111/oik.02504
  • Zhou X., Fornara DA, Wasson E-A, Wang D., Christie P., Ren. G, Jia Z. 2015. Effects of 44 years of chronic nitrogen fertilization on the soil nitrifying community of permanent grassland. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 91, 76-83.
  • Fornara, D.A., Banin, L., Crawley, M.J. 2013. Multi-nutrient vs. nitrogen-only effects on carbon sequestration in grassland soils. Global Change Biology 19, 3848–3857.
  • Mueller, K., Tilman, D., Fornara, DA and Hobbie, S.E. 2013. Root depth distribution and the diversity-productivity relationship in a long-term grassland experiment. Ecology 94, 787-793.
  • Fornara, D.A. and D. Tilman. 2012. Soil carbon sequestration in prairie grasslands increased by chronic nitrogen addition. Ecology 93, 2030–2036.
  • Fornara, D.A. 2011. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation and the delivery of multiple ecosystem services: a global change perspective. CAB Reviews. Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources (PAVSNNR) 29, 1-6.
  • Fornara, D.A., Bardgett, R., Steinbeiss, S., Zak, D.R., Gleixner, G. and Tilman, D. 2011. Plant effects on soil N mineralization are mediated by the composition of multiple soil organic fractions. Ecological Research 26, 201-208.
  • Fornara, D.A., Steinbeiss, S., McNamara, N., Gleixner, G., Oakley, S., Poulton, P.R. Macdonald, A.J., and Bardgett, R.D. 2011. Increases in soil organic carbon sequestration can reduce the global warming potential of long-term liming to permanent grassland. Global Change Biology 17, 1925-1934.
  • DeHaan, L. R., Weisberg, S., Tilman, D., & Fornara, D. 2010. Agricultural and biofuel implications of a species diversity experiment with native perennial grassland plants. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 137, 33-38.
  • Fornara, D.A. and D. Tilman. 2009. Ecological mechanisms associated with the positive diversity-productivity relationship in an N-limited grassland. Ecology 90, 408-418.
  • Fornara, D.A., D. Tilman, and S. Hobbie. 2009. Linkages between plant functional composition, fine root processes and potential net soil nitrogen mineralization rates. Journal of Ecology 97, 48-56.
  • Dybzinski, R., Fargione, J.E. Zak, D. R., Fornara, D.A. and Tilman D. 2008. The fertility effect: resource supply increases across an experimental plant species diversity gradient. Oecologia 158, 85-93.
  • Fornara, D.A. and D. Tilman. 2008. Plant functional composition influences rates of soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation. Journal of Ecology 96, 314-322.
  • Fornara, D.A. and du Toit, J. 2008. Browsing-induced effects on leaf litter quality and decomposition in a southern African savanna. Ecosystems 11, 238-249.
  • Fornara, D.A. and du Toit, J. 2008. Community-level interactions between ungulate browsers and woody plants in an African savanna dominated by palatable-spinescent Acacia trees. Journal of Arid Environments 72, 534-545.
  • Fornara, D.A. and du Toit, J. 2008. Responses of woody saplings exposed to chronic mammalian herbivory in an African savanna. Ecoscience 15, 129-135.
  • Fornara, D.A. and du Toit, J. 2007. Browsing lawns? Responses of Acacia nigrescens to ungulate browsing in an African savanna. Ecology 88, 200-209.
  • Fornara, D.A. and Dalling, J.W. 2005. Post-dispersal removal of seeds of pioneer species from five Panamanian forests. Journal of Tropical Ecology 21, 79-84.
  • Fornara, D.A. and Dalling, J. W. 2005. Seed bank dynamics in five Panamanian forests. Journal of Tropical Ecology 21, 223-226.

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