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.