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Characteristics of Soil C, N, and P Stoichiometry as Affected by Land Use and Slope Position in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Southwest China

Author

Listed:
  • Mengdie Feng

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

  • Dengyu Zhang

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

  • Binghui He

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

  • Ke Liang

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

  • Peidong Xi

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

  • Yunfei Bi

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

  • Yingying Huang

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

  • Dongxin Liu

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

  • Tianyang Li

    (College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

Abstract

Land use change and slope position are commonly identified as the key factors affecting the soil organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), and total phosphorus (P) traits in distinct ecological scales. However, the directions of these effects are still unclear in some fragile terrestrial ecosystems. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of soil C, N, and P concentrations and stoichiometry as affected by different land uses and slope positions in a representative purple soil hillslope in Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA), China, which is experiencing severe soil erosion and non-point source pollution. A total of 108 soil samples were collected from secondary forest, orchard plantation, and cropland on the upper, middle, and lower slopes, respectively. Soil C, N, and P concentrations and their stoichiometric ratios were determined. The results showed that soil C concentration was not affected by land use, while soil N and P concentrations were both the highest in orchard plantation rather than in secondary forest and cropland, resulting in the lowest C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios in the orchard plantation. Soil C and N concentrations synchronously decreased from upper slope to the lower slope, and soil P concentration was not markedly different among slope positions. This also caused the insignificant difference in soil C:N ratio and the remarkably lowest C:P and N:P ratios on the lower slope. There were significant interactive effects of land use and slope position on the study soil variables except soil P concentration. Our results highlight the effects of land use and slope position on soil C, N, and P traits and point to the decoupling of linkages between soil P and soil C as well as N due to the severe soil erosion and overuse of fertilization in the TGRA.

Suggested Citation

  • Mengdie Feng & Dengyu Zhang & Binghui He & Ke Liang & Peidong Xi & Yunfei Bi & Yingying Huang & Dongxin Liu & Tianyang Li, 2021. "Characteristics of Soil C, N, and P Stoichiometry as Affected by Land Use and Slope Position in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Southwest China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-13, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:17:p:9845-:d:627440
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Marcel G. A. van der Heijden & John N. Klironomos & Margot Ursic & Peter Moutoglis & Ruth Streitwolf-Engel & Thomas Boller & Andres Wiemken & Ian R. Sanders, 1998. "Mycorrhizal fungal diversity determines plant biodiversity, ecosystem variability and productivity," Nature, Nature, vol. 396(6706), pages 69-72, November.
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