Changes in the biological N2-fixation rates and diazotrophic community as vegetation recovers on abandoned farmland in a karst region of China

The successful regeneration of karst landscapes that have been severely degraded by intensive agriculture relies on the recovery of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by diazotrophic communities in soils after nitrogen (N) derived from synthetic fertilizers dissipates through the soil. It is important to understand the mechanisms that drive BNF because there must be enough bioavailable N in soils to support the recovery of native vegetation...