Objective This study aims to investigate the response of soil structure and soil nitrogen dynamics to ecological restoration in the Qinling water source area. Methods Based on soil sample data from different land-use types in the Minjiahe River small watershed of the Qinling water source area, the amounts of soil erosion and total nitrogen loss under ecological restoration were quantitatively analyzed. The effects of ecological restoration on soil aggregate composition, stability, and total nitrogen distribution were further explored. Results 1) Soil erosion in the watershed was predominantly slight, with only 6.76% of the area affected by light and moderate erosion. The soil erosion modulus and per-unit-area total soil nitrogen loss in farmland were significantly higher than those in forestland and grassland. Farmland contributed 56.46% of the total soil erosion and 45.11% of the total soil nitrogen loss, mainly distributed in the middle and lower reaches of the watershed. 2) Ecological restoration significantly increased soil aggregate stability and the content of macro-aggregates. Compared with farmland, the proportion of soil aggregates >5 mm in grassland and forestland increased by 86.43%-216.65%. The stability indicators, including mean weight diameter (MWD), the proportion of soil aggregates >0.25 mm (Ra>0.25), and geometric mean diameter (GMD), increased by 32.73%-56.36%, 3.97%-11.90%, and 40.98%-86.89%, respectively. 3) Ecological restoration promoted the accumulation of total nitrogen across all soil aggregate sizes. The total nitrogen content of soil aggregates in forestland and grassland increased by 38.84%-54.44% and 1.33%-22.14%, respectively, compared with that in farmland. The accumulation of soil total nitrogen was mainly attributed to the contribution of macro-aggregates and meso-aggregates, with forestland storing 84.47% of the total nitrogen in the watershed. Conclusion Ecological restoration effectively suppresses soil erosion, improves soil structure, and reduces nitrogen loss through vegetation reconstruction. The findings provide a scientific basis for enhancing the ecological barrier function and achieving sustainable management of the water source area for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.
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