Soil enzyme activity mediated organic carbon mineralization due to soil erosion in long gentle sloping farmland in the black soil region

Soil erosion plays a crucial role in soil organic carbon (SOC) redistribution and mineralization. Meanwhile, the soil extracellular enzymes (EEs) drive C mineralization. However, the response of soil EEs mediated SOC mineralization to soil erosion remains unclear. We investigated the SOC and soil EEs distribution in long gentle sloping farmland (LGSF) under slop-ridge tillage (SRT) and cross-ridge tillage (CRT) in the black soil region (BSR) of northeast China. The results indicated that the SOC mineralization at the upper slope position was higher than that on the toe-slope (133 % ~ 340 %) under CRT. However, for SRT, SOC mineralization on the back-slope was 126 % and 164 % higher than on the summit- and shoulder-slope. The SOC, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content, and β-glucosidase (BG) activities underwent spatial migration and deposition in the lower region under both tillage practices. As for CRT, the SOC content of the back-slope was 19.21 % higher than on the summit-slope, while the DOC content at the back-slope was 29.20 % higher than on the toe-slope. The BG activity was the highest at the toe-slope, followed by the foot-and back-slope, which were 41.74 %–74.73 % higher than at the summit-slope. As for SRT, the SOC, DOC, and BG activities on the back-slope were significantly higher than other slope positions (P < 0.05). The SOC on the back-slope were 47.82 % and 31.72 % higher than those on the summit- and shoulder-slope, respectively. The DOC and BG on the back-slope were 10.98 % and 67.78 % higher than on the summit-slope. The soil EES results indicated strong C and P limitation. Spatial differences in soil C distribution resulted in a significant positive correlation between C limitation and mineralization. This indicated that soil C and nutrient distribution under different slope positions driven by soil erosion, leading to soil nutrient limitation, is a key factor influencing spatial differences in C sources or sinks.