Residential and agricultural soils dominate soil organic matter loss in a typical agricultural watershed of subtropical China

Soil organic matter (SOM) loss in agricultural watersheds driven by hydrology threatens the aquatic environ-ment, and increases the risk of greenhouse gas emissions from aquatic systems, and will be detrimental to both the green development of agriculture and the achievement of the national carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goal of China. Consequently, we explored the use of delta 13C, 615N, and the carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) as end-members and combined this with a Bayesian stable-isotope mixed model to quantitatively estimate the contribution of typical land-use types (i.e., forest, rice, vegetable, tea, and residential soils) to sedimentary organic matter in a typical agricultural watershed in subtropical China. The results indicated that there was significant spatial variation of 613C, 615N, and the C/N in the target sediment mixture and its sources. The range of sediment 613C (-26.2%o to-23.8%o) and 615N (3.9-7.9%o) were within the ranges of the sources, with 613C and 615N ranges of -29.3%o to -20%o and -1.2%o to 9%o, respectively. The average C/N of sediment was 11.1 & PLUSMN; 0.52, which was significantly higher than all source samples. The spatial distribution of 613C and 615N indicated that SOM loss in this catchment may primarily be attributed to vegetable and residential soils. According to the qualitative identification from dual fingerprint mark composite graphs of the C/N and 615N, as well as 613C and 615N, the sedimentary SOM in the Tuojia watershed was mainly derived from sewage. Furthermore, Bayesian stable-isotope mixed model analysis indicated that residential soil was the main contributor to the SOM loss in the watershed, with a contribution rate of 75.8 %, followed by agricultural land (rice and vegetable soils) with a combined input of 12 %. The findings highlight that anthropogenic life and agricultural production have a vital impact on the carbon and nitrogen cycle in this agricultural catchment, and improving the rural habitation environment may play a key role in the control of SOM loss in subtropical agricultural watersheds.

Automated summary

Loss of soil organic matter in agricultural watersheds poses a threat to the aquatic environment and increases greenhouse gas emissions. This study used stable isotopes and a Bayesian mixed model to quantify the contribution of different land-use types to sedimentary organic matter in a subtropical agricultural watershed in China. The findings indicate that vegetable and residential soils are the main contributors to soil organic matter loss.