Soil C:N:P Stoichiometry Succession and Land Use Effect after Intensive Reclamation: A Case Study on the Yangtze River Floodplain

Abstract

The coupling cycles of soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) have a significant impact on biogeochemical processes and ecosystem services. For centuries, large areas of floodplain wetlands in China have been extensively reclaimed for agricultural purposes due to population growth. However, little is known about the evolution of soil C:N:P stoichiometry along a reclamation chronosequence, particularly across different land uses. In this study, we investigated the variations in soil C:N:P ratios with land use and time gradients along a reclamation chronosequence comprising c. 0, 60, 100, 280, 2000, and 3000 years. Land reclamation induced nutrient decoupling, as it facilitated C and N accumulation from biological processes but restricted P supply controlled by geochemical processes. Soil C and N sequestration reached a stable state after 2000 years, while P declined steadily from 60 years. Soil C/P and N/P increased significantly and were controlled by organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN), respectively, indicating that an increase in C and N could also promote P uptake. Soil C/N declined in the first 60 years and stabilized at a threshold of 10:1. Different land use patterns following reclamation resulted in distinct soil nutrient structures. Paddies retained more OC and TN but exhibited lower adsorption of total phosphorus (TP) compared to adjacent dryland, leading to significant differences in C/P and N/P between land uses. Based on the redundancy analysis and random forest model, soil OC and TN were mainly affected by the abundance of bacteria metabolizing cellulose, while metal oxides, including Fe2O3 and CaO, could best predict TP. Soil C/P and N/P were mainly driven by soil texture and rose significantly with the increasing proportion of clay particles. Our study suggests that as reclamation proceeds, more anthropogenic management is required to regulate potential nutrient imbalances in order to prevent adverse effects on crop growth, soil quality, and ecosystem health. Additionally, any fertilization strategy should be developed based on dryland C and N deficiencies, and lack of P in paddies.