Carbon Nitrogen Isotope Coupling of Soils and Seasonal Variation Characteristics in a Small Karst Watershed in Southern China

Ya Liu, Ziqi Liu (), Kangning Xiong (), Yuan Li, Xiaoxi Lyu and Lulu Cai
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Ya Liu: School of Karst Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
Ziqi Liu: School of Karst Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
Kangning Xiong: School of Karst Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
Yuan Li: School of Karst Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
Xiaoxi Lyu: School of Karst Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
Lulu Cai: School of Karst Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-14

Abstract: Carbon and nitrogen are among the most important biogenic elements in terrestrial ecosystems, and carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes (δ 13 C and δ 15 N) are often used to indicate the sources of carbon and nitrogen elements and turnover processes, and the study of C and N isotopes coupling can provide more precise indications. To this end, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of different land use types on soil organic carbon (SOC), soil organic nitrogen (SON) and the coupling relationship of C-N isotopes, as well as to reveal the seasonal variation characteristics of soil C and N. The results showed that SOC and SON contents of forest land were significantly higher than those of agricultural land and grassland. The soil C/N was significantly higher in the dry season than in the rainy season ( p < 0.01), indicating that the decomposition rate of soil organic matter (SOM) was faster in the rainy season, which was not conducive to the accumulation of soil C. Soil δ 13 C and δ 15 N coupling showed seasonal characteristics: soil δ 13 C and δ 15 N did not have a good linear relationship in the rainy season, but showed a significant positive correlation in the dry season (r 2 = 0.75, p < 0.05), indicating that there are differences in the soil C-N isotope fractionation coupling under the influence of climatic factors. This study provides a reference for regional land resource management as well as carbon and nitrogen cycle studies in karst areas.

Keywords: land use change; soil organic carbon and nitrogen; stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen (δ 13 C and δ 15 N); carbon and nitrogen coupling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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