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In Central Brazil, plateaus, the most common geomorphologic form, have been undergoing intense conversion from native vegetation to pasture and agriculture in recent decades. We used carbon stable isotope ratios (δ13C) and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ15N) to assess possible changes in soil organic matter dynamics under such land use modifications. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in soil δ13C and δ15N and C and N stocks between native vegetation and agricultural or pasture areas in different locations of a plateau in the savannas of Central Brazil. We sampled soil up to 100 cm depth in pasture areas in the summit of the plateau and no-tillage and conventional tillage on the border of a plateau, as well as soils under native vegetation in both landscape locations. Both soil δ13C and δ15N, and C and N stocks showed no differences between land uses. The different relationships between δ15N and C/N ratio at different locations indicated distinct behavior of the soil organic matter between the summit and border of the plateau. Therefore, in addition to land-use, landscape location contributes to both δ13C and δ15N, and C and N stocks in the soil of the plateau.

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