Lakeshore SOM and plant stable carbon isotope in northwest China

Soil and lacustrine sediment organic matter (SOM) variations in the land-lake transition zone where frequent lateral SOM transport happens has significant impacts on understanding the carbon cycling processes. This dataset provides SOM δ¹³C variations along lakeshore transects in the Junggar Basin of Xinjiang, China, and plant δ¹³C variations along one transect. Corresponding sampling information and environmental variables are also provided. This dataset proves a tight constraint of salinity on SOM δ¹³C in these lakeshores, implying lakeshores in arid region is a hot-zone for SOM degradation. Our dataset would be very useful for future studies on organic matter degradation during lateral transport.