In order to explore the characteristics and environmental significance of available nitrogen and phosphorus in different land-water transition zones, soil and sediment samples from three study areas, including the upstream watershed of Minjiang River (MJU), western watershed of Hongze Lake (HZW), and western watershed of Taihu Lake (THW), were collected and analyzed. The results showed that the contents of total nitrogen and phosphorus in THW were higher than those of other two study areas. The contents of nitrogen and phosphorus in sediments were higher than those in soils of HZW. The distribution trend of available nitrogen and available phosphorus was generally consistent with the distribution trend of total nitrogen and phosphorus. The proportions of available nitrogen and phosphorus in THW and HZW were much higher than those in MJU, and the proportions of available nitrogen and phosphorus in sediments were higher than those in soils. The physiochemical properties such as pH value, organic matter, and iron and aluminum oxides were related to the available nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil and sediment, but correlations between them were complex. The distribution patterns of available nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil and sediments of the land-water transition zone reflect the impacts of the natural environment and human activities, particularly those of the latter.
Keywords: available nitrogen and phosphorus; land-water transition zone; sediment; soil; watershed.