Soil organic nitrogen variation shaped by diverse agroecosystems in a typical karst area: evidence from isotopic geochemistry.

BACKGROUND: Soil organic nitrogen (SON) levels can respond effectively to crop metabolism and are directly related to soil productivity. However, simultaneous comparisons of SON dynamics using isotopic tracing in diverse agroecosystems are lacking, especially in karst areas with fragile ecology.

METHODS: To better understand the response of SON dynamics to environmental changes under the coupling of natural and anthropogenic disturbances, SON contents and their stable N isotope (δ15 NSON ) compositions were determined in abandoned cropland (AC, n = 16), grazing shrubland (GS, n = 11), and secondary forest land (SF, n = 20) from a typical karst area in southwest China.

RESULTS: The SON contents in the SF (mean: 0.09%) and AC (mean: 0.10%) profiles were obviously lower than those in the GS profile (mean: 0.31%). The δ15 NSON values ranged from 4.35‰-7.59‰, 3.79‰-7.23‰, and 1.87‰-7.08‰ for the SF, AC, and GS profiles, respectively. Decomposition of organic matter controlled the SON variations in the secondary forest land by the covered vegetation, and that in the grazing shrubland by goat excreta. δ15 NSON ranges were controlled by the covered vegetation, and the δ15 NSON fractionations during SON transformation were influenced by microorganisms in all surface soil.

CONCLUSIONS: The excreta of goats that contained 15 N-enriched SON induced a heavier δ15 NSON composition in the grazed shrubland. Long-term cultivation consumes SON, whereas moderate grazing increases SON content to reduce the risk of soil degradation. This study suggests that optimized crop-livestock production may benefit the sustainable development of agroecosystems in karst regions.