青藏高原高寒草甸生态系统碳增汇潜力

为了揭示青藏高原高寒草甸生态系统植被变化对碳储量的影响,以原生矮嵩草草甸、退化草甸、人工草地以及农田为研究对象,对比分析了该4种不同土地格局下生态系统的有机碳现状.以原生矮嵩草草甸土壤碳储量为基准对不同类型高寒生态系统的碳增汇潜力进行了估算.结果表明:不同类型生态系统的碳储量和碳增汇潜力有很大差异,在0-40cm土层中,(1)原生草甸碳储量最高,达到17098 g C/m2,退化草甸、人工草地和农田的有机碳汇增加潜力分别为:5637、3823、1567 g C/m2.(2)对于退化草甸和人工草地,土壤有机碳含量和密度明显低于原生草甸和农田.(3)地下生物量碳储量主要集中在0-20cm,且原生草甸地下生物量的碳储量比其他3个植被类型高3.6-5倍.总体上,青藏高原草地生态系统存在巨大的碳增汇潜力.     

江河源区高山嵩草(Kobresia pygmaea)草甸植物和土壤碳、氮储量对覆被变化的响应

以青海省果洛州藏族自治州甘德县青珍乡高山嵩草Kobresia pygmaea草甸轻度退化草地和重度退化草地为研究对象,通过植物地上部分主要功能群(禾草类、杂类草、莎草类)、植物根系和土壤碳、氮浓度及储量动态研究,结果表明:高寒小嵩草草甸轻度退化草地地上部分主要功能群碳、氮浓度和C ∶ N比值明显高于重度退化草地的浓度.同一草地类型主要功能群比较,碳、氮浓度依次为杂类草>禾草类>莎草类;植物地上部分的碳、氮浓度明显高于地下根系的碳、氮浓度.重度退化草地植物根系碳、氮浓度高于轻度退化草地植物根系碳、氮浓度.重度退化草地土壤总有机碳浓度显著低于轻度退化草地土壤总有机碳浓度,随着土层的加深碳、氮浓度有减少的趋势.江河源区高山嵩草草甸的土壤有机碳、氮储量最大,植物根系碳、氮储量居中,植物地上部分碳、氮储量最小.重度退化草地总有机碳储量(13554.3 g/m2)较轻度退化草地储量(14669.2 g/m2)下降7.60%.其中,0～40cm土壤层碳储量下降4.10%,植物根系碳储量下降59.97%,植物地上部分碳储量下降15.39%;重度退化草地总氮储量(3780.6 g/m2)较轻度退化草地储量(3352.7 g/m2)高12.76%,其中,0～40cm土壤中总氮储量高13.07%,植物根系全氮储量下降55.09%,植物地上部分全氮下降16.00%.由于草地退化损失有机碳11149 kg/hm2,而全氮增加4278 kg/hm2.     

施肥梯度对高寒草甸群落结构、功能和土壤质量的影响

在三江源区研究了不同施肥梯度对高寒矮嵩草草甸群落结构、功能;土壤全量养分、速效养分;土壤有机碳和微生物生物量碳的影响,以揭示矮嵩草草甸群落特征;土壤养分和土壤微生物活性对施肥梯度的响应.结果表明:1)随着施肥量的增加,不同功能群的盖度响应各异,其中禾本科植物的响应较大,而豆科和杂类草植物盖度明显降低,莎草科盖度变化不明显;施肥量增加到一定程度,如施氮40 g/m2时,各功能群植物的盖度逐渐降低.生物量随施肥梯度呈单峰曲线变化,不施肥时生物量最低,施肥20 g/m2或32 g/m2时生物量最高.2)土壤全量养分和速效养分在施肥量为20 g/m2或32 g/m2时较高,施肥量增加到40 g/m2时土壤资源逐渐降低.3)不同施肥梯度矮嵩草草甸土壤有机碳和微生物生物量碳在0-10 cm土层明显较高,且随着施肥量的增加,分布在0-40 cm土层的土壤有机碳含量呈单峰曲线变化.施肥20 g/m2或32 g/m2时土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量最高.4)30 g/m2施肥量可作为高寒草甸最佳施氮水平.施肥梯度下土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量可作为衡量土壤肥力和土壤质量变化的重要指标.高施肥量(≥40 g/m2)视为影响高寒草甸生态系统结构与功能、土壤养分及土壤微生物活性的阈值.     

江河源区高山嵩草(Kobresia pygmaea)草甸植物和土壤碳、氮储量对覆被变化的响应

以青海省果洛州藏族自治州甘德县青珍乡高山嵩草Kobresia pygmaea草甸轻度退化草地和重度退化草地为研究对象，通过植物地上部分主要功能群（禾草类、杂类草、莎草类）、植物根系和土壤碳、氮浓度及储量动态研究，结果表明：高寒小嵩草草甸轻度退化草地地上部分主要功能群碳、氮浓度和C∶N比值明显高于重度退化草地的浓度。同一草地类型主要功能群比较，碳、氮浓度依次为杂类草>禾草类>莎草类；植物地上部分的碳、氮浓度明显高于地下根系的碳、氮浓度。重度退化草地植物根系碳、氮浓度高于轻度退化草地植物根系碳、氮浓度。重度退化草地土壤总有机碳浓度显著低于轻度退化草地土壤总有机碳浓度，随着土层的加深碳、氮浓度有减少的趋势。江河源区高山嵩草草甸的土壤有机碳、氮储量最大，植物根系碳、氮储量居中，植物地上部分碳、氮储量最小。重度退化草地总有机碳储量（13554.3 g/m2）较轻度退化草地储量（14669.2 g/m2）下降7.60%。其中，0～40cm土壤层碳储量下降4.10%，植物根系碳储量下降59.97%，植物地上部分碳储量下降15.39%；重度退化草地总氮储量（3780.6 g/m2）较轻度退化草地储量（3352.7 g/m2）高12.76%，其中，0～40cm土壤中总氮储量高13.07%，植物根系全氮储量下降5509%，植物地上部分全氮下降16.00%。由于草地退化损失有机碳11149 kg/hm2，而全氮增加4278 kg/hm2。     

人类活动对青藏高原高寒矮嵩草草甸碳过程的影响

随着人类活动干扰(放牧)的增加,青藏高原高寒嵩草甸的退化演替过程依次为禾草-矮嵩草群落、矮嵩草群落、小嵩草群落和杂类草-黑土滩4个阶。其中小嵩草群落又可划分为草毡表层加厚、开裂与塌陷3个子阶段。采用时空转换的方法,研究了人类活动对青藏高原高寒矮嵩草草甸碳过程的影响。结果表明,随着人类干扰强度的增加,植物群落地上部分有机碳储量逐渐降低,由禾草-矮嵩草群落的(134.7±17.3)gC/m2逐渐降低到杂类草-黑土滩次生裸地(18.96±6.18)gC·m-2。土壤、植物地下部分有机碳贮量呈单峰曲线变化,草毡表层开裂子阶段最高,分别为(49.7±0.83)gC·kg-1和(3596.7±179.8)gC·m-2。;杂类草-黑土滩阶段最低,分别为(19.2±1.13)gC·kg-1和(121.6±6.1)gC·m-2。受植物地下部贮碳的影响,土壤-植被系统呈现逐渐降低的变化特征。随人类活动干扰的加强,高寒嵩草草地植物有机碳地下/地上分配比发生巨大改变,草地草毡表层厚度不高于4.3cm是保证草地生产与生态服功能双赢的重要指标。     

不同退化阶段高寒草甸土壤化学计量特征

为了阐明不同退化阶段高寒草甸土壤的化学计量特征,沿着高寒草甸退化的梯度选取了原生嵩草草甸、轻度退化草甸和严重沙化草甸,测定了高寒草甸退化过程中不同深度土壤的有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾含量。结果表明:随着高寒草甸的退化,0～100cm土壤的有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾含量以及碳氮比、碳磷比、碳钾比、氮磷比、氮钾比和磷钾比均呈降低趋势,且土壤有机碳对高寒草甸退化的敏感性最高,全氮、全磷和全钾的敏感性依次降低,表层20cm的土壤有机碳和全氮可作为表征高寒草甸退化程度最敏感的土壤养分指标。另外,随着草甸的退化,土壤的有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾含量及其化学计量比的垂直分布明显不同:随着土壤深度的增加,原生嵩草草甸和轻度退化草甸的土壤有机碳、全氮和全磷含量以及碳氮比、碳磷比、碳钾比、氮磷比、氮钾比和磷钾比在0～40cm范围内锐减,在40cm以下缓慢降低并趋于稳定;而沙化草甸土壤的有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾及其化学计量比随着土壤深度的增加保持不变。     

青海省高寒草甸不同退化阶段土壤无机碳分异特征

采用时空转换的方法,选取青海省高寒草甸退化演替过程中典型退化阶段,探讨高寒草甸不同退化阶段土壤无机碳(SIC)含量及储量分异特征。结果表明:禾草-矮嵩草群落、小嵩草群落、小嵩草剥蚀期和黑土滩型退化草地0~50 cm土层SIC总储量分别为0.45、0.10、0.13和1.10 kg C·m-2;0~50 cm土层范围内,禾草-矮嵩草群落与黑土滩型退化草地存在明显的碳酸盐淀积层(主要在30 cm土层以下),而小嵩草群落和小嵩草剥蚀期在剖面内无明显的碳酸盐淀积层;草甸草毡表层特征(厚度、破碎度等)以及土壤容重、pH值与SIC变化特征存在某种协同演化关系;高寒草甸退化与无机碳储量之间没有明显的耦合作用,只有当草甸极度退化(黑土型退化草地)时,草甸SIC分层及总储量特征才表现出明显的差异。     

高寒草毡层基本属性与固碳能力沿水分和海拔梯度的变化

高寒草毡层是高原寒区自然植被下形成的松软而坚韧且耐搬运的表土层,认识其生态功能是促进草牧业生产休养保护和工程施工主动利用的前提。通过对青藏高原东部若尔盖高原植被的广泛调查,在布设沼泽、退化沼泽、沼泽化草甸、湿草甸、干草甸和退化草甸水分梯度群落样地,以及亚高山草甸、亚高山灌丛草甸、高山灌丛草甸和高山草甸海拔梯度群落样地的基础上,通过对不同类型群落样地草毡层容重、土壤颗粒组成和土壤有机碳(SOC)含量的测定分析,比较了水分和海拔梯度下草毡层固碳能力。结果表明,草毡层厚度平均为30cm,沼泽湿地草毡层容重最小,SOC含量在300g/kg以上;退化草甸容重最高,SOC含量显著下降。不同群落草毡层SOC密度在10—24kg C/m~2之间,随着土壤水分有效性的降低而降低;高山灌丛草甸草毡层SOC密度比草甸高15%。研究得出,保持草毡层稳定的质量含水量阈值为30%,SOC含量阈值为30g/kg;高寒植被草毡层在沼泽到草甸的退化演替中,容重、紧实度变大,有机碳含量减少,碳密度和碳储量下降;灌丛草甸的固碳能力大于草甸,但灌丛草甸的生产功能降低;保持可持续发展的草地生产能力,维护固碳生态功能,需要防止草毡层退化,抑制草甸向灌丛草甸演替。     

青藏高原高寒草甸退化对矮嵩草有关生理特性的影响

该研究采用空间分布代替时间演替的方法,选取青藏高原青海省果洛藏族自治州玛沁县境内典型的未退化草甸和退化草甸样地,分别设置3个5m×5m的样方,于6至9月下旬上午进行植株和土壤采样,测定矮嵩草生理指标,探讨高寒草甸退化所导致的环境变化对自然生长状态下矮嵩草生理特性的影响机制。结果表明:(1)与未退化草甸相比,退化导致土壤表层速效氮含量极显著降低,而速效磷和速效钾含量显著升高;全氮、全磷和全钾的含量总体上表现为未退化草甸低于退化草甸。(2)与未退化草甸相比,退化草甸矮嵩草叶中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性在生长前期高而后期低(低4%),谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量在两个样地的变化趋势基本一致。(3)退化草甸矮嵩草叶片可溶糖和可溶蛋白含量在生长后期分别比未退化草甸降低17.6%和34.9%,且9月份降低达极显著水平。(4)生长中期以后,退化草甸矮嵩草叶片叶绿素a、b含量比未退化草甸的下降速度快、含量分别低18.84%和20.68%。(5)退化草甸矮嵩草叶片超氧阴离子自由基(O_2~)的产生速率在9月份极显著高于未退化草甸。研究表明,在非生物胁迫下未退化草甸的矮嵩草具有更高的ROS清除能力和渗透调节能力,退化导致的环境变化可能是矮嵩草在生长后期抗氧化能力降低、衰老早的内在原因。     

高寒矮嵩草草甸大气-土壤-植被-动物系统碳素储量及碳素循环

对高寒矮嵩草草甸生态系统中大气 -土壤 -植被 -动物分室碳素储量及碳素循环进行了研究 ,结果表明 ,草毡寒冻雏形土土壤库 0～ 30 cm碳素储量为 2 4 7.30 t C/ hm2 。土壤 CO2 平均释放速率 70 .94± 54.76kg/ (hm2· d) ,年释放量为 6.630 t C/ (hm2·a) ,比退化草地 4.62 0 t C/ (hm2·a)释放量高。植物包括根系总固碳量为 4.648t C/ (hm2· a) ,动物亚系统中 ,藏系绵羊个体同化的碳素为 7.562 kg C/ (hm2· a) (成年羊 ) ,作为畜产品迁出生态系统。生态系统初级生产固碳量占每年土壤 CO2 释放量的 70 .1 6% ,占生长季土壤 CO2 释放量的 96.43% ,退化草地土壤 CO2 释放量比初级生产固碳量要低。认为高寒矮嵩草草甸生态系统土壤是大气温室气体 CO2 的小的排放源。     

Relations between carbon dioxide fluxes and environmental factors of Kobresia humilis meadows and Potentilla fruticosa meadows

Carbon dioxide fluxes of Kobresia humilis and Potentilla fruticosa shrub meadows, two typical ecosystems in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, were measured by eddy covariance technology and the data collected in August 2003 were employed to analyze the relations between carbon dioxide fluxes and environmental factors of the ecosystems. August is the time when the two ecosystems reach their peak leaf area indexes and stay stable, and also the period when the net carbon absorptions of Kobresia humilis and Potentilla fruticosa shrub meadows reach 56.2 g C·m⁻² and 32.6 g C·m⁻², with their highest daily carbon dioxide absorptions standing at 12.7 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ and 9.3 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, and their highest carbon discharges at 5.1 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ and 5.7 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, respectively. At the same photosynthetic photo flux densities (PPFD), the carbon dioxide-uptake rate of the Kobresia humilis meadow is higher than that of the Potentilla fruticosa shrub meadow; where the PPFD are higher than 1,200 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹. The carbon dioxide uptake rates of the two ecosystems declined as air temperature increased, but the carbon dioxide uptake rate of the Kobresia humilis meadow decreased more quickly (−0.086) than that of the Potentilla fruticosa shrub meadow (−0.016). Soil moistures exert influence on the soil respirations and this varies with the vegetation type. The daily carbon dioxide absorptions of the ecosystems increase with increased diurnal temperature differences and higher diurnal temperature differences result in higher carbon dioxide exchanges. There exists a negative correlation between the vegetation albedos and the carbon dioxide fluxes. Translated from Acta Bot Boreal—Occident Sin, 2006, 26(1): 133–142 [译自: 西北植物学报]     

Comprehensive assessments of root biomass and production in a Kobresia humilis meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Alpine meadow covers ca. 700,000 km² with an extreme altitude range from 3200 m to 5200 m. It is the most widely distributed vegetation on the vast Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Previous studies suggest that meadow ecosystems play the most important role in both uptake and storage of carbon in the plateau. The ecosystem has been considered currently as an active “CO₂ sink”, in which roots may contribute a very important part, because of the large root biomass, for storage and translocation of carbon to soil. To bridge the gap between the potential importance and few experimental data, root systems, root biomass, turnover rate, and net primary production were investigated in a Kobresia humilis meadow on the plateau during the growing season from May to September in 2008 and 2009. We hypothesized that BNPP/NPP of the alpine meadow would be more than 50%, and that small diameter roots sampled in ingrowth cores have a shorter lifespan than the lager diameter roots, moreover we expected that roots in surface soils would turn over more quickly than those in deeper soil layers. The mean root mass in the 0–20 cm soil layer, investigated by the sequential coring method, was 1995?±?479 g?m^?2 and 1595?±?254 g?m^?2 in growing season of 2008 and 2009, respectively. And the mean fine root biomass in ingrowth cores of the same soil layer was 119?±?37 g?m^?2 and 196?±?45 g?m^?2 in the 2 years. Annual total NPP was 12387 kg?ha^?1?year^?1, in which 53% was allocated to roots. In addition, fine roots accounted for 33% of belowground NPP and 18% of the total NPP, respectively. Root turnover rate was 0.52 year^?1 for bulk roots and 0.74 year^?1 for fine roots. Furthermore, roots turnover was faster in surface than in deeper soil layers. The results confirmed the important role of roots in carbon storage and turnover in the alpine meadow ecosystem. It also suggested the necessity of separating fine roots from the whole root system for a better understanding of root turnover rate and its response to environmental factors.     

Changes in plant biomass and species composition of alpine Kobresia meadows along altitudinal gradient on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Alpine Kobresia meadows are major vegetation types on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. There is growing concern over their relationships among biodiversity, productivity and environments. Despite the im-portance of species composition, species richness, the type of different growth forms, and plant bio-mass structure for Kobresia meadow ecosystems, few studies have been focused on the relationship between biomass and environmental gradient in the Kobresia meadow plant communities, particularly in relation to soil moisture and edaphic gradients. We measured the plant species composition, her-baceous litter, aboveground and belowground biomass in three Kobresia meadow plant communities in Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station from 2001 to 2004. Community differences in plant species composition were reflected in biomass distribution. The total biomass showed a de-crease from 13196.96±719.69 g/m2 in the sedge-dominated K. tibetica swamp to 2869.58±147.52 g/m2 in the forb and sedge dominated K. pygmaea meadow, and to 2153.08±141.95 g/m2 in the forbs and grasses dominated K. humilis along with the increase of altitude. The vertical distribution of below-ground biomass is distinct in the three meadow communities, and the belowground biomass at the depth of 0-10 cm in K. tibetica swamp meadow was significantly higher than that in K. humilis and K. pygmaea meadows (P<0.01). The herbaceous litter in K. tibetica swamp was significantly higher than those in K. pygnaeca and K. humilis meadows. The effects of plant litter are enhanced when ground water and soil moisture levels are raised. The relative importance of litter and vegetation may vary with soil water availability. In the K. tibetica swamp, total biomass was negatively correlated to species richness (P<0.05); aboveground biomass was positively correlated to soil organic matter, soil moisture, and plant cover (P<0.05); belowground biomass was positively correlated with soil moisture (P<0.05). However, in the K. pygnaeca and K. humilis meadow communities, aboveground biomass was posi-tively correlated to soil organic matter and soil total nitrogen (P<0.05). This suggests that the distribu-tion of biomass coincided with soil moisture and edaphic gradient in alpine meadows.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from two alpine meadows in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission was measured in a Kobresia humilis meadow and a Potentilla fruticosa meadow in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau from June 2003 to July 2006. Five treatments were setup in the two alpine meadows. Two bare soil treatments were setup in the K. humilis meadow (BSK) and in the P. fruticosa meadow (BSP) by removing the above- and belowground plant biomass. Three plant community treatments were setup with one in the K. humilis meadow (herbaceous community in the K. humilis meadow-HCK) and two in the P. fruticosa meadow (herbaceous community in the P. fruticosa meadow-HCP, and shrub community in the P. fruticosa meadow-SCP). Nitrous oxide emission from BSP was estimated to be 38.1?±?3.6 μg m^?2 h^?1, significantly higher than from BSK (30.2?±?2.8 μg m^?2 h^?1) during the whole experiment period. Rates from the two herbaceous blocks (HCK and HCP) were close to 39.5 μg m^?2 h^?1 during the whole experimental period whereas shrub community (SCP) showed significant high emission rates of N₂O. Annual rate of N₂O emission was estimated to be 356.7?±?8.3 and 295.0?±?11.6 mg m^?2 year^?1 from the alpine P. fruticosa meadow and from the alpine K. humilis meadow, respectively. These results suggest that alpine meadows in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau are an important source of N₂O, contributing an average of 0.3 Tg N₂O year^?1. We concluded that N₂O emission will decrease, due to a predicted vegetation shift from shrubs to grasses imposed by overgrazing.     

青藏高原两种植被类型净初级生产力与气候因素的关系及周转值分析

基于2008—2016年青海海北站9年净初级生产力及气候因子监测数据,分析了青藏高原高寒小嵩草草甸和高寒金露梅灌丛两种植被净初级生产力年际动态,并探讨了气候因子对其影响及其不同土层深度根系周转值特征。结果表明:(1)年际尺度上,小嵩草草甸地上净初级生产力表现为显著增加趋势,增幅为7.02 g m~(-2) a~(-1),而金露梅灌丛地上净初级生产力相对较为稳定;对于其地下净初级生产力和总生产力,小嵩草草甸和金露梅灌丛均表现为增加趋势(P0.05),9年间小嵩草草甸地上、地下和总净初级生产力平均值分别为(217.55±9.95)、(1882.75±161.33) g m~(-2) a~(-1)和(2100.30±163.38) g m~(-2) a~(-1),金露梅灌丛地上、地下和总净初级生产力9年间平均值分别为(256.27±11.4)、(1614.31±173.03) g m~(-2) a~(-1)和(1870.58±177.93) g m~(-2) a~(-1)。(2)不同植被类型地上净初级生产力对气候因素响应不同,金露梅灌丛地上净初级生产力主要受温度影响,而温度对小嵩草草甸地上净初级生产力无显著影响。此外,降水不是限制高寒生态系统草地地上净初级生产力主要因子,相比于降水影响,高寒生态系统地上净初级生产力更受温度调控。(3)年均温和年降水对金露梅灌丛和小嵩草草甸地下净初级生产力均无显著影响(P0.05),表明高寒生态系统,其地下生产力受外界气候条件变化影响微弱,是一个稳定的碳库。(4)两种植被类型其根系周转值均随着土壤深度的增加呈逐渐增加趋势,且高寒灌丛根系周转值明显高于高寒草甸根系周转值。研究表明,在全球气候变暖背景下将会增加金露梅灌丛地上净初级生产力,而对小嵩草草甸地上净初级生产力无显著影响。     

Changes in plant biomass and species composition of alpine <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kobresia</Emphasis> meadows along altitudinal gradient on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Alpine Kobresia meadows are major vegetation types on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. There is growing concern over their relationships among biodiversity, productivity and environments. Despite the importance of species composition, species richness, the type of different growth forms, and plant biomass structure for Kobresia meadow ecosystems, few studies have been focused on the relationship between biomass and environmental gradient in the Kobresia meadow plant communities, particularly in relation to soil moisture and edaphic gradients. We measured the plant species composition, herbaceous litter, aboveground and belowground biomass in three Kobresia meadow plant communities in Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station from 2001 to 2004. Community differences in plant species composition were reflected in biomass distribution. The total biomass showed a decrease from 13196.96±719.69 g/m2 in the sedge-dominated K. tibetica swamp to 2869.58±147.52 g/m2 in the forb and sedge dominated K. pygmaea meadow, and to 2153.08±141.95 g/m2 in the forbs and grasses dominated K. humilis along with the increase of altitude. The vertical distribution of belowground biomass is distinct in the three meadow communities, and the belowground biomass at the depth of 0-10 cm in K. tibetica swamp meadow was significantly higher than that in K. humilis and K. pygmaea meadows (P＜0.01). The herbaceous litter in K. tibetica swamp was significantly higher than those in K. pygnaeca and K. humilis meadows. The effects of plant litter are enhanced when ground water and soil moisture levels are raised. The relative importance of litter and vegetation may vary with soil water availability. In the K. tibetica swamp, total biomass was negatively correlated to species richness (P＜0.05); aboveground biomass was positively correlated to soil organic matter, soil moisture, and plant cover (P＜0.05); belowground biomass was positively correlated with soil moisture (P＜0.05). However, in the K. pygnaeca and K. humilis meadow communities, aboveground biomass was positively correlated to soil organic matter and soil total nitrogen (P＜0.05). This suggests that the distribution of biomass coincided with soil moisture and edaphic gradient in alpine meadows.     

Response of carbon and nitrogen content in plants and soils to vegetation cover change in alpine Kobresia meadow of the source region of Lantsang, Yellow and Yangtze Rivers

We conducted this study in lightly and severely degraded Kobresia pygmaea meadow in Gande County, Qinghai Province of China. The purpose of this research was to compare carbon and nitrogen concentrations, content and dynamics of aboveground tissue, belowground roots and soil (0-40 cm) between lightly and severely degraded Kobresia meadow. The results showed that C and N concentrations and C:N ratio of the aboveground tissue were significantly higher in lightly degraded grassland than in severely degraded grassland. In addition, total carbon and nitrogen concentrations of the aboveground tissue were ranked in order of forbs > grasses > sedges in the same grassland type. Total carbon and nitrogen concentrations of belowground roots were significantly higher in severely degraded grassland than in lightly degraded grassland. Total carbon and nitrogen concentrations were higher in the aboveground tissue than in the belowground roots. Total soil organic carbon concentration in severely degraded grassland was significantly lower than that in lightly degraded grassland, and decreased with depth. C and N content per unit area was ranked in order of 0-40 cm soil depth > belowground roots > aboveground issue in the same grassland type. The total carbon content per unit area of aboveground tissue, roots and 0-40 cm soil depth declined by 7.60% after degradation from lightly (14669.2 g m⁻²) to severely degraded grassland (13554.3 g m⁻²), i.e., 0-40 cm soil depth declined by 4.10%, belowground roots declined by 59.97% and aboveground tissue declined by 15.39%. The nitrogen content per unit area of aboveground tissue, roots and 0-40 cm soil depth increased after degradation by 12.76% from lightly (3352.7 g m⁻²) to severely degraded grassland (3780.6 g m⁻²), i.e., 0-40 cm soil depth increased by 13.07%, belowground roots declined by 55.09% and aboveground tissue declined by 16.00%. As a result of grassland degradation, the total carbon lost by 11149 kg hm⁻², and the total nitrogen increased by 4278 kg hm⁻².     

三江源国家公园表层土壤有机碳和全氮密度的特征评估和等级区划

三江源国家公园是青藏高原生态屏障的核心单元,准确评估其土壤碳氮特征是区域生态功能认知和分区管理的重要基础。基于54个样点调查数据,结合高程、坡度、坡向及2000—2018年的年均气温、降水、归一化植被指数等生态因子,采用增强回归树模型研究了三江源国家公园表层(0—30 cm)土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)密度的空间格局和等级区划及储量特征。结果表明三江源国家公园SOC密度和TN密度分别为(5.41±3.12)kg/m~2(平均值±标准差,下同)和(0.57±0.27)kg/m~2,其空间变异均主要受降水和归一化植被指数影响。澜沧江源园区和黄河源园区SOC和TN密度分别为(9.39±0.89) kg/m~2和(0.92±0.09)kg/m~2、(8.26±2.33) kg/m~2和(0.80±0.20)kg/m~2,约为长江源园区的2倍。SOC和TN密度等级在澜沧江源园区呈现出中心高周围低的特征,在黄河源园区和长江源园区分别表现出从北到南和从东南到西北逐渐降低的格局。三江源国家公园SOC储量和TN储量分别为0.60 Pg和0.06 Pg,其中澜沧江源园区、黄河源园区、长江源园区的储量...     

A water-centred framework to assess the effects of salinity on the growth and yield of wheat and barley

We conducted a field experiment in two alpine meadows to investigate the short-term effects of nitrogen enrichment and plant litter biomass on plant species richness, the percent cover of functional groups, soil microbial biomass, and enzyme activity in two alpine meadow communities. The addition of nitrogen fertilizer to experimental plots over two growing seasons increased plant production, as indicated by increases in both the living plant biomass and litter biomass in the Kobresia humilis meadow community. In contrast, fertilization had no significant effect on the amounts of living biomass and litter biomass in the K. tibetica meadow. The litter treatment results indicate that litter removal significantly increased the living biomass and decreased the litter biomass in the K. humilis meadow; however, litter-removal and litter-intact treatments had no impact on the amounts of living biomass and litter biomass in the K. tibetica meadow. Litter production depended on the degree of grass cover and was also influenced by nitrogen enrichment. The increase in plant biomass reflects a strong positive effect of nitrogen enrichment and litter removal on grasses in the K. humilis meadow. Neither fertilization nor litter removal had any impact on the grass biomass in the K. tibetica meadow. Sedge biomass was not significantly affected by either nutrient enrichment or litter removal in either alpine meadow community. The plant species richness decreased in the K. humilis meadow following nitrogen addition. In the K. humilis meadow, microbial biomass C increased significantly in response to the nitrogen enrichment and litter removal treatments. Enzyme activities differed depending on the enzyme and the different alpine meadow communities; in general, enzyme activities were higher in the upper soil layers (0–10 cm and 10–20 cm) than in the lower soil layers (20–40 cm). The amounts of living plant biomass and plant litter biomass in response to the different treatments of the two alpine meadow communities affected the soil microbial biomass C, soil organic C, and soil fertility. These results suggest that the original soil conditions, plant community composition, and community productivity are very important in regulating plant community productivity and microbial biomass and activity.