Effects of land use type on soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen contents in Karst region of South China
喀斯特地区不同土地利用方式对土壤有机碳、全氮以及微生物生物量碳和氮的影响

A total of 721 surface (0-20 cm) soil samples were collected from the paddy field, upland, and woodland in the Karst region of Dacai, Huanjiang County, Guangxi Province, and the contents of their organic carbon (Oc ), total nitrogen (TN), microbial biomass carbon (Bc) , and microbial biomass nitrogen (BN) were determined. The results showed that the Oc and BN contents and soil pH value showed the trend of paddy field = woodland > upland, while TN and Bc contents had the trend of woodland > paddy field > upland. There was a significant positive correlation between Bc and Oc, and between B5 and TN. Soil microbial biomass C and N had rapid responses to the changes of land use type, which could be used as the sensitive biological indicators in evaluating soil quality and fertility in Karst region.