祁连山中部4种典型植被类型土壤细菌群落结构差异

土壤微生物参与土壤生态过程,在土壤生态系统的结构和功能中发挥着重要作用。2013年7月采集了祁连山中段4种典型植被群落(垫状植被、高寒草甸、沼泽草甸和高寒灌丛)的表层土壤,分析了表层土壤微生物生物量碳氮和采用Illumina高通量测序技术研究了土壤细菌群落结构及多样性,并结合土壤因子对土壤细菌群落结构和多样性进行了相关性分析。结果表明:(1)土壤微生物生物量碳氮的大小排序为:沼泽草甸高寒草甸高寒灌丛垫状植被;(2)土壤细菌群落相对丰度在5%以上的优势类群是放线菌门、酸杆菌门、α-变形菌、厚壁菌门和芽单胞菌门5大门类;(3)沼泽草甸土壤细菌α多样性(物种丰富度和系统发育多样性)显著高于其它3种植被类型(P0.05),而垫状植被土壤细菌α多样性最低;(4)冗余分析和Pearson相关性分析表明,土壤pH、土壤含水量、土壤有机碳和总氮是土壤细菌群落结构和α多样性的主要影响因子。研究结果可为祁连山高寒生态系统稳定和保护提供理论依据。     

围封对退化高寒草甸土壤微生物群落多样性及土壤化学计量特征的影响

围封对植被处于近自然恢复状态的退化草地有一定的修复作用,开展轻度退化草地围封过程中生物与非生物因素的协同互作研究是完整地认识草地生态系统结构和功能的基础.本试验对围栏封育10年的轻度退化草地的土壤化学计量特征进行了研究,同时采用高通量基因测序技术并结合Biolog-Eco方法,调查了土壤微生物多样性和功能的变化.结果表明:轻度退化草地实施围封后,土壤铵态氮含量显著升高,全钾含量显著降低,土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、硝态氮、速效磷和速效钾则无明显变化.高寒草甸土壤微生物碳和氮在轻度退化和围栏封育草地间差异不显著;围栏封育后草地土壤微生物碳氮比显著高于轻度退化草地.随培养时间的延长,高寒草甸不同土层土壤微生物碳代谢强度均显著升高,土壤微生物碳代谢指数在轻度退化和围栏封育草地间差异不显著.高寒草甸土壤细菌OTUs显著高于真菌,轻度退化与围栏封育草地土壤微生物相似度为27.0%～32.7%.围封后,土壤真菌子囊菌门、接合菌门和球壶菌门相对丰富度显著升高,担子菌门显著降低,土壤细菌酸杆菌门显著低于轻度退化草地.土壤真菌和细菌群落组成在不同土层间差异较大,在轻度退化和围栏封育草地间仅有表层土壤真菌群落组成表现出较大差异.土壤细菌多样性受土壤全氮和速效钾影响较大,真菌多样性受地上生物量影响较大.土壤微生物对碳源利用能力主要受土壤速效钾影响.综上,长期围封禁牧对轻度退化草地土壤养分和土壤微生物无明显影响,且会造成牧草资源浪费,适度放牧可以保持草地资源的可持续利用.     

长期围封和自由放牧对高寒草甸土壤微生物群落结构及碳源代谢多样性的影响

土壤微生物群落结构和代谢多样性对于维持草地生态系统的功能和稳定性具有重要意义.本研究运用磷脂脂肪酸法(PLFA法)和Biolog微平板技术,研究了青藏高原长期围封和自由放牧2种草地利用方式下的土壤微生物群落结构和群落碳代谢多样性的差异以及影响机制.结果表明: 1)长期围封和自由放牧草地上的土壤微生物群落结构和碳代谢多样性存在显著差异;2)长期围封显著增加了土壤中总PLFA、细菌、真菌和放线菌生物量;3)长期围封草地土壤微生物的碳代谢活性、多样性和丰富度高于自由放牧草地,而均匀度低于放牧草地;4)与自由放牧相比,长期围封显著增加了土壤微生物对聚合物类、糖类、羧酸类、胺类碳源的利用;5)冗余分析表明,植被盖度显著影响了微生物的群落结构和碳代谢多样性.长期围封草地的土壤微生物量、碳代谢多样性指数和丰富度均高于自由放牧土壤,表明长期围封有利于提高草地生态系统中土壤微生物群落及其对碳源代谢的多样性.     

东祁连山高寒草甸不同退化阶段植被/土壤磷素特征及其与生物量的关系

磷素是高寒草地生态系统的重要支持元素,高寒草甸退化导致较为严重的生态和生产问题,同时也引起了生态系统物质循环的变化。为揭示高寒草甸退化中土壤磷素特征及其对植被特征的效应,以东祁连山轻度(LD)、中度(MD)、重度退化(SD)高寒草甸退化阶段为研究对象,以多年围封高寒草甸(FG)为对照,在春季和夏季分别对不同高寒草甸阶段样地不同土层深度土壤全磷、有效磷、微生物量磷含量及碱性磷酸酶活性等磷素特征进行了研究,并对夏季植被地上生物量和磷素含量等植被特征进行了调查。结果表明：东祁连山高寒草甸退化导致植被地上生物量和磷含量急剧下降,重度退化高寒草甸地上生物量干重仅是围封草地的35.93%,退化高寒草甸地上部磷含量仅为围封草地的60%,且不同退化阶段地上部磷含量没有明显差异。退化导致高寒草甸表层土壤的全磷、有效磷含量升高,相比FG,土壤有效磷含量春季LD、MD和SD分别升高了16.67%、36.67%和3.33%,夏季分别升高了4.35%、26.09%和4.35%,且有效磷含量具有夏季低于春季的季节差异性。退化导致土壤微生物量磷含量明显降低,而对碱性磷酸酶活性影响没有明显的规律性,但围封草地夏季碱性...     

植被与土壤特征对青藏高原不同程度退化草地的响应

高寒草地作为青藏高原高寒生态系统的重要组分之一,其退化已严重影响到高原的可持续发展和草地恢复重建。搜集了2004—2022年间关于青藏高原高寒草地退化的64篇研究结果,包含土壤有机碳、生物量和多样性指数等16个指标的1403组数据,运用meta分析解析了草地退化对土壤理化性质、植被生产力和物种多样性的影响,并对重度退化草地的土壤理化性质和植物生物量进行线性回归分析。结果表明：随着草地退化的加剧,土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、有效氮、有效磷、有效钾、土壤含水量、地上生物量、地下生物量和植被高度显著下降;土壤容重显著上升;土壤pH、全钾在各个退化阶段没有明显差异;Shannon多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数和Margalef丰富度指数整体呈下降趋势。土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、有效氮、有效磷、有效钾和土壤含水量与地上生物量、地下生物量存在显著的正相关;土壤容重与地上生物量、地下生物量呈显著的负相关;土壤pH与地上生物量、地下生物量呈负相关。因此,青藏高原高寒草地退化通过改变土壤理化性质而改变地上群落多样性和生物量,为阐明植被与土壤特征对草地退化的响应机制以及高寒退化草地的恢复提供了科学依据。     

不同放牧与围封高寒灌丛草地土壤微生物群落结构PLFA分析

土壤微生物群落可以指示土壤质量变化,是土壤生态系统变化的预警及敏感指标。采用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)分析方法研究了高寒杜鹃灌丛草地不同强度放牧及围封后,土壤微生物群落结构特征的变化规律和响应。结果显示,高寒杜鹃灌丛草地土壤总PLFA量、细菌生物量、真菌生物量和放线菌生物量均随着放牧强度的增大而显著降低(P0.05)。重牧灌丛草地,围封后的土壤总PLFA量、细菌生物量、放线菌生物量、G~+/G~-和压力指数显著高于放牧处理,而细菌/真菌比显著低于放牧处理;中牧灌丛草地,围封后的土壤总PLFA量、细菌生物量、细菌/真菌比显著高于放牧处理,而真菌生物量和压力指数显著低于放牧处理;轻牧灌丛草地,围封处理的土壤各生物量和生物量比值与放牧处理无显著差异。PLFA主成分分析表明:主成分一(PC1)主要包括14:0、15:0、10Me16:0和18:1ω9c等直链饱和脂肪酸和单不饱和脂肪酸,占PC1的53.68%;主成分二(PC2)主要包括由i16:0、16:1ω7c、i17:0、cy17:0、17:0、18:1ω9t、18:0和cy19:0等支链饱和脂肪酸和环丙烷脂肪酸组成,占PC2的51.34%;各处理样地土壤微生物群落结构相似;围封处理的响应程度大于放牧处理。相关性分析表明,土壤总PLFA量、细菌生物量、真菌生物量和放线菌生物量与土壤有机碳、全氮均呈极显著正相关,细菌/真菌比值与土壤有机碳、全氮呈极显著负相关。以上表明过度放牧降低了高寒灌丛草地土壤微生物活性,显著降低了土壤微生物生物量,适度放牧和围封可维持土壤微生物群落结构的稳定,围封有利于过度放牧草地土壤微生物的恢复。     

植被退化对滇西北高寒草地土壤微生物群落的影响

【目的】在同尺度下比较我国滇西北高寒草地土壤(GS)及其退化土壤(DGS)中细菌和真菌群落,研究植被退化对高寒草地土壤微生物群落的影响,并探索其环境驱动因子。【方法】分别以16SrRNA基因和ITS基因作为细菌和真菌分子生态学分析的靶标基因,采用定量PCR法测定基因数量来表征微生物群落丰度,采用Illumina Hiseq测序及生物信息学分析研究土壤微生物群落组成和群落结构。【结果】草地退化后,土壤pH值显著上升0.65个单位,土壤水分、总有机碳、可溶性氮含量和C/N比分别显著下降了18.4%、67.5%、47.2%和71.2%;草地退化显著降低了土壤细菌和真菌群落丰度,降低幅度分别为92.4%和94.9%;草地退化没有影响土壤细菌和真菌群落α-多样性,但显著改变了细菌和真菌群落β-多样性(群落结构);草地退化改变了土壤细菌和真菌在OTU水平上的物种组成,土壤真菌OTU种类变化更为显著;草地退化没有影响土壤细菌在门水平上的群落组成,但改变了细菌在纲水平上的群落组成(如Acidimicrobiia、Betaproteobacteria、Chloroplast等);草地退化没有影响土壤真菌在门水平和纲水平上的群落组成。【结论】本研究发现植被退化后滇西北高寒草地土壤质量显著降低,寄居在土壤中的微生物群落丰度也显著降低、微生物群落结构明显改变。     

模拟氮沉降对土壤酶活性和微生物组成的影响

氮沉降改变了草地生态系统的氮(N)素循环过程,由此带来的生态学效应已成为当前研究的热点。以乌鲁木齐周边短期围封草地为研究对象,通过模拟氮沉降实验,分析了自由放牧地和围封草地土壤酶活性和微生物组成,结合土壤养分及化学计量特征,探讨了氮沉降对短期围封草地土壤微生物组成及酶活性的影响,为该地区放牧草地的保护、恢复及管理提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)含量随围封年限的增加总体呈升高趋势,表明围封有利于提高土壤养分含量。与中国草地平均值相比,该草地土壤碳氮比(C/N)相对较高,碳磷比(C/P)、氮磷比(N/P)相对较低,表明该草地土壤有机质分解良好,有利于土壤碳(C)、磷(P)的释放,而土壤N素较为缺乏。(2)就不同围封年限而言,围封3年草地5-20cm层土壤真菌数量高于其它样地;围封3年草地表层土壤蔗糖酶与过氧化氢酶活性最高;围封7年草地放线菌数量最多,说明围封能够促进土壤微生物生长及酶活性的提高。(3)氮素添加对土壤真菌具有抑制作用,N5(4.6gN m^-2 a^-1)、N10(9.8gN m^-2 a^-1)处理显著增加了各样地土壤细菌数量,氮素添加对围封7年草地0-10cm层土壤放线菌无显著影响,而氮沉降显著增加了其它样地5-20cm层土壤放线菌数量,其中N5、N10处理下促进作用最明显;氮素添加对该草地土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶均具有促进作用,N5、N10处理促进作用最明显。综合分析表明,氮沉降可直接或间接影响土壤微生物及酶活性,短期围封作为一种草地管理手段,对退化草地生态系统的修复具有一定作用,并可通过改善土壤理化性质、调节养分含量及其化学计量比来加速退化草地的恢复。     

高寒草甸退化对祁连山土壤微生物生物量和氮矿化速率的影响

为深入了解高寒草甸退化对草原生态系统中土壤微生物碳氮量、土壤氮矿化及土壤微生物相关酶的变化特征,以祁连山东缘4个不同退化程度(未退化、轻度退化、中度退化和极度退化)的高寒草甸为研究对象,采集了深度为0—10 cm的土壤样品,并对不同退化程度高寒草甸中植物因子、土壤理化性质、土壤氨化速率、土壤硝化速率、土壤净氮矿化速率以及转化氮素的相关酶和微生物进行了相关研究。结果表明:(1)随退化程度的加剧,高寒草甸土壤中氨化速率和净氮矿化速率逐渐降低,硝化速率逐渐升高;(2)高寒草甸的退化降低了有关氮素转化相关酶,如土壤蛋白酶、脲酶、亮氨酸氨基肽酶的活性,而β-乙酰葡糖胺糖苷酶的活性呈先下降后上升趋势,且在极度退化草地活性最高;(3)随退化程度的加剧,高寒草甸土壤中微生物生物量碳和氮的含量逐渐降低,同时土壤基础呼吸、土壤微生物熵和代谢熵的指数也呈下降趋势。RDA分析表明,高寒草甸中氨化速率和净氮矿化速率与微生物生物量碳、微生物生物量氮、土壤基础呼吸、植物高度、植被盖度、地上生物量、蛋白酶、脲酶以及亮氨酸氨基肽酶呈显著正相关,而硝化速率则表现为负相关性。因此,高寒草甸退化对土壤微生物特性以及氮素转化和循环具有重要影响。     

退化高寒草原土壤生物学性质的变化

对藏北退化高寒草原的土壤生物学性质研究表明:轻度退化草地2~10cm土层微生物(细菌、真菌、放线菌)数量与生物量(碳、氮)、土壤酶(纤维素酶、脲酶、碱性磷酸酶)活性和有机质总体上高于正常草地,中度、严重退化草地则均呈显著降低趋势.微生物生物量碳氮比(BC/BN)与土壤全碳、全氮比(TC/TN)呈极显著正相关(r=0.9088,P≤0.01;n=4);与正常草地相比,轻度、中度退化草地BC/TC、BN/TN值均呈上升趋势,而严重退化草地则呈明显下降趋势.土壤微生物生物量与土壤酶活性呈极显著或显著正相关,但二者均与土壤放线菌数量呈不同程度的负相关;2~10cm土层有机质与土壤微生物生物量、土壤酶活性均呈极显著或显著正相关;随草地退化的加剧,2~10cm和11~20cm土层腐殖质碳占土壤有机碳比重,以及胡敏酸碳占土壤腐殖质碳比重均较正常草地明显上升.     

Effects of different fencing regimes on community structure of degraded desert grasslands on Mu Us desert,China

Grazing is one of the major anthropogenic driving factors influencing community structure and ecological function of grasslands. Fencing has been proved to be one of the main measures for rehabilitating degraded grasslands in northwestern China. However, data from combined empirical studies on the effects of different management regimes in desert grasslands are lacking. So we selected long‐term fencing (fenced since 1991), mid‐term fencing and seasonal fencing (fenced since 2002), and adjacent free‐grazing grasslands to investigate vegetation and soil properties on southwest Mu Us desert. Our results showed that fencing increased plant cover, height, aboveground biomass (AGB) of different plant life‐form groups, Shannon–Wiener diversity index, Evenness index, Simpson index, total soil nitrogen, total soil phosphorus, and soil organic matter, but decreased plant density, species richness, Richness index, soil bulk density, water content, and pH. However, 22–24 years of long‐term complete fencing might cause redegradation of vegetation and soil nutrients, characterized by the reduction of some vegetation properties, biodiversity, total AGB, and some soil properties. Seasonal fencing with 11–13 year was more beneficial to vegetation restoration than that with completely fencing measures. Our study suggests that appropriate artificial disturbances, such as seasonal fencing (winter grazing and summer fencing), should be used after long‐term fencing in order to maintain grassland productivity and biodiversity. These findings will help to provide theoretical support for vegetation restoration and sustainable management in grassland under grazing prohibition at Mu Us desert.     

Effect of fencing and grazing on a Kobresia-dominated meadow in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Grazing is one of the most important factors influencing community structure and productivity in natural grasslands. Fencing to exclude grazers is one of the main management practices used to protect grasslands. Can fencing improve grassland community status by restraining grazing? We conducted a field community study and indoor soil analyses to determine the long-term effects of fencing and grazing on the above-ground community and soil in a Kobresia-dominated meadow in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, NW China. Our results showed that fencing significantly improved above-ground vegetation productivity but reduced plant density and species diversity. Long-term fencing favored the improvement of forage grass functional groups and restrained the development noxious weed functional groups. There were significant positive effects of fencing on below-ground organic matter, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, total phosphorus and available phosphorus. The productivity of grazed meadow showed a weak decrease over time. There were long-term decreasing trends for plant density both in fenced and grazed meadows. Our study suggests that grazing can be considered as a useful management practice to improve species diversity and plant density in long-term fenced grasslands and that periodic grazing and fencing is beneficial in grassland management.     

Carbon,nitrogen, and phosphorus storage in alpine grassland ecosystems of Tibet: effects of grazing exclusion

In recent decades, alpine grasslands have been seriously degraded on the Tibetan Plateau and grazing exclusion by fencing has been widely adopted to restore degraded grasslands since 2004. To elucidate how alpine grasslands carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) storage responds to this management strategy, three types of alpine grassland in nine counties in Tibet were selected to investigate C, N, and P storage in the environment by comparing free grazing (FG) and grazing exclusion (GE) treatments, which had run for 6–8 years. The results revealed that there were no significant differences in total ecosystem C, N, and P storage, as well as the C, N, and P stored in both total biomass and soil (0–30 cm) fractions between FG and GE grasslands. However, precipitation played a key role in controlling C, N, and P storage and distribution. With grazing exclusion, C and N stored in aboveground biomass significantly increased by 5.7 g m⁻² and 0.1 g m⁻², respectively, whereas the C and P stored in the soil surface layer (0–15 cm) significantly decreased by 862.9 g m⁻² and 13.6 g m⁻², respectively. Furthermore, the storage of the aboveground biomass C, N, and P was positively correlated with vegetation cover and negatively correlated with the biodiversity index, including Pielou evenness index, Shannon–Wiener diversity index, and Simpson dominance index. The storage of soil surface layer C, N, and P was positively correlated with soil silt content and negatively correlated with soil sand content. Our results demonstrated that grazing exclusion had no impact on total C, N, and P storage, as well as C, N, and P in both total biomass and soil (0–30 cm) fractions in the alpine grassland ecosystem. However, grazing exclusion could result in increased aboveground biomass C and N pools and decreased soil surface layer (0–15 cm) C and P pools.     

不同强度牦牛放牧对青藏高原高寒草地土壤和植物生物量的影响

放牧作为家畜饲养方式之一,是草地最简单、有效的利用方式,放牧中的家畜对草地生态系统的影响是全球畜牧生态学研究的焦点。过度放牧导致草地退化严重,虽然在青藏高原地区已有较多放牧对草地影响的研究,但探究连续4年放牧对高寒草地生态系统影响的定位实验却鲜见报道。本研究在青藏高原东缘选取典型高寒草地,使用高原特有且分布最广的牦牛作为大型草食放牧家畜,设置了4个牦牛放牧强度（禁牧：无放牧、轻牧：1头/hm²、中牧：2头/hm²和重牧：3头/hm²）以研究其对高寒草地土壤和植物功能的影响。开展4年试验后的结果表明：放牧条件下土壤含水率显著增加;而土壤容重、全磷和有机质含量对放牧强度均无显著性响应;土壤全氮和pH的响应主要在表层0-20 cm,其中全氮为轻牧和重牧处理分别显著高于中牧,中牧处理下的土壤pH为显著高于轻牧;土壤全钾含量在禁牧处理中显著高于放牧处理;而土壤有效氮和速效钾均为中牧处理显著高于禁牧;放牧可以显著降低植物地上生物量。牦牛放牧强度显著影响土壤含水率、有效养分和植物地上生物量,而对其它土壤理化性质影响较弱。本研究结果揭示放牧对高寒草地土壤理化性质和植物地上生物量的影响,为青藏高原高寒草甸生态系统保护、可持续管理和合理放牧率提供理论依据。     

Effects of fencing and grazing on the temporal dynamic of soil organic carbon content in two temperate grasslands in Inner Mongolia,China

This study aimed to investigate the impact of long-term grassland management on the temporal dynamic of SOC density in two temperate grasslands. The top soil SOC density, soil total nitrogen density and soil bulk density (0–20 cm) under long-term fencing and grazing treatments, the aboveground net primary productivity of fenced plots and the associated climatic factors of Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis grasslands in Inner Mongolia were collected from literatures and analyzed. The results showed that the SOC density increased linearly with fenced duration but was insensitive to grazed duration in both grasslands. Compared with long-term grazing, fenced plots had larger potential for carbon sequestration, and the accumulation rate of SOC density was 29 and 35 g Cm^–2y^–1 for L. chinensis and S. grandis grasslands. Fenced duration and mean annual temperature jointly contributed large effect on temporal pattern of SOC density. Climate change and grazed duration had little influence on the inter-annual variance of SOC density in grazed plots. Our results confirmed the enhancement effect of long-term fencing on soil carbon sequestration in degraded temperate grassland, and long-term permanent plot observation is essential and effective for accurately and comprehensively understanding the temporal dynamic of SOC storage.     

Ecosystem carbon stocks and their changes in China’s grasslands

The knowledge of carbon (C) stock and its dynamics is crucial for understanding the role of grassland ecosystems in China’s terrestrial C cycle. To date, a comprehensive assessment on C balance in China’s grasslands is still lacking. By reviewing published literature, this study aims to evaluate ecosystem C stocks (both vegetation biomass and soil organic C) and their changes in China’s grasslands. Our results are summarized as follows: (1) biomass C density (C stock per area) of China’s grasslands differed greatly among previous studies, ranging from 215.8 to 348.1 g C m⁻² with an average of 300.2 g C m⁻². Likewise, soil C density also varied greatly between 8.5 and 15.1 kg C m⁻². In total, ecosystem C stock in China’s grasslands was estimated at 29.1 Pg C. (2) Both the magnitude and direction of ecosystem C changes in China’s grasslands differed greatly among previous studies. According to recent reports, neither biomass nor soil C stock in China’s grasslands showed a significant change during the past 20 years, indicating that grassland ecosystems are C neutral. (3) Spatial patterns and temporal dynamics of grassland biomass were closely correlated with precipitation, while changes in soil C stocks exhibited close associations with soil moisture and soil texture. Human activities, such as livestock grazing and fencing could also affect ecosystem C dynamics in China’s grasslands.     

西藏河谷地区人工种草的投入产出比较分析

分析了西藏河谷地区六种草地的经济投入、产出和生态系统服务价值,模拟了投入增加下村落草地利用结构的改变与经济、生态产出的响应。结果表明:草地恢复管理中,围栏草地成本最低,为67元/hm~2,是一年生人工刈割草地的0.9%。围栏等草地恢复管理的经济产出为772元/hm~2,其中补贴收入占14.6%,另85.4%来自打工收入;而多年生人工放牧和一年生人工刈割草地的经济产出为4250元/hm~2与13135元/hm~2。相比经济产出,不同草地管理方式下生态系统服务价值差距有限,最大仅为27%。草地投入增加下,天然放牧草地转变为围栏草地及一年生人工刈割草地,并最终保持约1∶1的面积比。合理配置围栏草地与一年生人工刈割草地,可以实现区域较大的经济收入增长和生态系统服务的保障。     

Long-term fencing improved soil properties and soil organic carbon storage in an alpine swamp meadow of western China

Overgrazing significantly affects alpine meadows in ways similar to grasslands in other areas. Fencing to exclude grazers is one of the main management practices used to protect alpine meadows. However, it is not known if fencing can improve soil properties and soil organic carbon storage by restraining grazing in alpine meadows. We studied the long-term (nine-year) effects of fencing on soil properties, soil organic carbon and nitrogen storage compared with continued grazing in an alpine swamp meadow of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, NW China. Our results showed that fencing significantly improved vegetation cover and aboveground biomass. There were significant effects of fencing on pH value, soil bulk density, and soil moisture. Long-term fencing favored the increase of soil total nitrogen, soil organic matter, soil organic carbon, soil microbial biomass carbon and soil carbon storage compared with grazed meadows. Our study suggests that long-term fencing to prevent disturbance could greatly affect soil organic carbon and nitrogen storage with regard to grazed meadows. Therefore, it is apparent from this study that fencing is an effective restoration approach of with regard to the soil’s storage ability for carbon and nitrogen in alpine meadow of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau.