Vertical distribution of natural abundance of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes along the soil profile and the underlying mechanisms

doi:10.13287/j.1001-9332.202106.028

Abstract

Abstract: Understanding the changes of natural abundance of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) along soil profile is of great importance in revealing the mechanisms of soil carbon and nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Based on a comprehensive review on the distribution of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N along soil profile, the mechanisms underlying their vertical distribution were mainly introduced here. There were three mechanisms driving the δ¹³C vertical distribution in soil profile: 1) historical changes of vegetation δ¹³C value, 2) changes of C3-C4 species dominance in plant communities, 3) accumulation of ¹³C-enriched microbial-derived carbon during decomposition. The effects of ¹³C Suess effect on the vertical distribution of δ¹³C in soil profile were also discussed. There were four mechanisms underlying the vertical distribution of δ¹⁵N in soil profile: 1) ¹⁵N-depletion gas loss during denitrification, 2) accumulation of ¹⁵N-enriched microbial-derived nitrogen during decomposition, 3) accumulation of ¹⁵N-encriched mycorrhizal fungi residues in deep soil as a result of transferring ¹⁵N-depleted nitrogen compounds to plants by mycorrhizae, 4) intera-ction between soil organic matter and mineral substance. We proposed important concerning points for the future study on vertical distribution of natural abundance of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in soil profile.

Key words: soil profile, carbon stable isotope, nitrogen stable isotope, isotopic fractionation, vertical distribution

CHEN Miao, LIU Shun, XU Ge-xi, SHI Zuo-min. Vertical distribution of natural abundance of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes along the soil profile and the underlying mechanisms[J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2021, 32(6): 1919-1927.

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