biostudies-literatureUnknown5Jin ZA large reservoir of soil nitrate in desert subsoil zones has been demonstrated in previous studies; however, information on the subsoil nitrate reservoir and its distribution characteristics in the deserts of China is still limited. This study investigated the distribution patterns of soil total nitrogen (N), nitrate, ammonium, and stable isotopic ratios of (15)N (δ(15)N) in shallow (1 m) and subsoil (5 m) profiles in three types of dunes in the Mu Us desert of China. We found that soil N retention of the fixed and semi-fixed dunes followed a progressive nutrient depletion pattern in shallow soil profiles, whereas the subsoil nitrate of the fixed, semi-fixed and mobile dunes maintained a conservative accumulation pattern. The results indicate that the subsoil of the Mu Us desert may act aScientific reports14222https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4642556biostudies-literatureSoil N retention and nitrate leaching in three types of dunes in the Mu Us desert of China.PMC4642556Li XDong YZhu YAn ZJin ZfalseSoil N retention and nitrate leaching in three types of dunes in the Mu Us desert of China.A large reservoir of soil nitrate in desert subsoil zones has been demonstrated in previous studies; however, information on the subsoil nitrate reservoir and its distribution characteristics in the deserts of China is still limited. This study investigated the distribution patterns of soil total nitrogen (N), nitrate, ammonium, and stable isotopic ratios of (15)N (δ(15)N) in shallow (1 m) and subsoil (5 m) profiles in three types of dunes in the Mu Us desert of China. We found that soil N retention of the fixed and semi-fixed dunes followed a progressive nutrient depletion pattern in shallow soil profiles, whereas the subsoil nitrate of the fixed, semi-fixed and mobile dunes maintained a conservative accumulation pattern. The results indicate that the subsoil of the Mu Us desert may act a2015-01-01T00:00:00Z2015 Sep2025-04-18T13:56:11.393Z2019-03-27T02:01:47ZS-EPMC46425562637025310.1038/srep14222