The temporal and spatial variability of topsoil nitrogen (N) status across the different regions and soil types in Jilin province was evaluated by using traditional statistic method combines with GIS technique

based on the data of topsoil total N and alkali-hydrolyzable N in soil testing and recommended fertilization program during 2005—2013. Moreover

the historic changing trend of topsoil N status was also discussed by compared with the data obtained during the second national soil survey. Results showed that the total N content in topsoil ranged between 0.4 and 3.9 g/kg with a mean of（1.62±0.60）g/kg

and the alkali-hydrolyzable N content ranged between 15 and 360 mg/kg with a mean of（145.0±59.5）mg/kg in the present Jilin province. The total N and alkali-hydrolyzable N contents in topsoil showed same oeders among the various soil types

these were highest in dark brown soil with the values of（2.02±0.57）g/kg and（190.2±72.8）mg/kg

and followed by albic soil

paddy soil

black soil

meadow soil

chernozem

and aeolian sandy soil. In view of the province as a whole

the spatial distribution of N status in topsoil was characterized by being high in the east and low in the west

and a positive and significant correlation was shown between the total N content and the alkali-hydrolyzable N content in the county scale. Compared with the second soil survey

the total N and the alkali-hydrolyzable N contents in topsoil showed obviously ascending trends in the scale of whole Jilin province

the change magnitude of topsoil N status were mostly significant in the central region but relatively low in the west region. The great discrepancies were also observed in the change trends of topsoil N status among various soil types. Of which

black soil

chernozem

meadow soil

and aeolian sandy soil showed increasing trends

while dark brown soil

albic soil

and paddy soil showed decreasing trends. Compared with other soil types

the increasing magnitude was significant in aeolian sandy soil

and the decreasing magnitude was significant in dark brown soil. In conclusion

there were enormous differences in spatial distribution and historic change in the N status of cropland topsoil in Jilin province. Based on the temporal and spatial characteristics of topsoil N status between regions and soil types

we suggested that N fertilizer rate in crop production should be strictly controlled in the major grain producing areas of the central region to improve N use efficiency and reduce environmental risk

and crop N fertilizer management should be improved according to local conditions in the east and west regions to enhance soil fertility and to achieve high yield and high efficiency.