Land-Use Conversion Altered Topsoil Properties and Stoichiometry in a Reclaimed Coastal Agroforestry System

Reclaimed coastal areas were mostly used for agricultural purposes in the past, while land-use conversion was initiated recent decades eastern China. Elucidation of effects on soil properties and stoichiometry is essential addressing climate change ecological conservation. In this study, five types a reclaimed area chosen to compare differences stoichiometry, which comprised paddy, upland, upland-forest, forest, vegetable garden, with age about 100 years. The results indicated that these significantly differed water concentration, pH, bulk density, salt organic carbon content, total nitrogen phosphorus, as well C:N, C:P, N:P ratios. Positive correlations found among carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus; concentration. Total phosphorus contents main factors shaping topsoil types. Contents paddy garden soils higher than upland upland-forest soils, concentration showed opposite trends. Forest demonstrated intermediate values most properties. And highest C:N occurred C:P lowest upland-forest. respectively. stoichiometric characteristics presented narrow range ratio, C:N:P averaged 48:3:1 similar average Chinese cropland soils. Rotations including legume, use fertilizers, appropriate fertilization strategies suggested improving management.