Depth-stratified isotopic and molecular signatures reveal decoupled soil organic matter dynamics following grassland-to-cropland conversion

Key Points

• Soil organic matter dynamics are decoupled after converting grassland to cropland, leading to significant ecological shifts.
• Key findings indicate distinct isotopic and molecular signatures related to soil organic matter at different depths.
• Analysis using isotopic signatures demonstrates that changes in soil organic matter vary significantly based on land use change.
• These findings highlight the importance of depth-stratified approaches for understanding soil dynamics in altered landscapes.