Land-use change alters soil nitrogen supply potential and nitrogen-cycling functional genes on China's Loess Plateau

Key Points

• Soil nitrogen supply potential decreased due to land-use change, affecting ecosystem health and productivity.
• Significant changes in nitrogen-cycling functional genes were observed, specifically in response to varied land uses.
• Assessment based on soil samples from multiple sites on the Loess Plateau highlights regional environmental effects.
• Findings suggest that land-use planning needs to consider nitrogen cycling impacts for sustainable management.