北方农牧交错带草地生物多样性与草地生产力和土壤状况的关系

于2010年选择内蒙古多伦和河北的围场、沽源3个旗县10个样地的草甸草原和典型草原,探讨了北方农牧交错带草地生物多样性与草地生产力和土壤状况的关系.结果表明:3个地区的草地均匀度指数与物种丰富度指数呈显著正相关(P＜0.05),且草地生物多样性指数(H)和均匀度指数与草地生产力之间呈极显著正相关(P＜0.01),而与土壤含水量(0 ～30 cm)的相关性不显著(P＞0.05);草地生物多样性指数和均匀度指数与土壤全氮呈负相关(P＜0.05),且与中上层土壤全氮(10 ～20 cm)呈极显著负相关(P＜0.01),而与土壤有机质之间的相关性不显著(P＞0.05).表明提高草地多样性可以增加草地生态系统的生产力和稳定性.     

内蒙古典型草原主要土壤类型和植物硫状况的研究（英文）

通过对内蒙古典型草原4种主要土壤类型及122种主要植物硫含量的分析,并与主要放牧家畜的营养需要相结合,综合评价了内蒙古典型草原硫的营养状况.研究表明4种主要土壤类型不同层次(0.2～0.4m,0.1～0.2m和0～0.1m)的土壤中有机硫的含量变化很大,为17～397μg*g-1,有机硫的含量与土壤中有机碳和全氮含量呈高度正相关.土壤中平均无机硫含量低于10μg*g-1,但黑钙土土壤中无机硫的含量较高,达20μg*g-1左右.土壤中微生物硫含量占土壤中全硫含量的1.78%～2.80%.所测定的122种主要植物中有75%的植物体内硫含量低于0.16%,氮/硫比大于14∶1;与主要放牧家畜的营养需要相比,有约80%的植物缺硫.植物体中硫的含量与土壤中有效硫的含量显著正相关.     

中国草地样带不同功能群植物叶片氮磷含量随水热因子的变化规律

中国草地样带贯穿我国主要草原区域,具有规律性的草地类型转换和气候条件变化,探究其不同功能群植物氮磷含量随水热因子(温度和降水)的变化规律,对于揭示区域植物N、P元素特征对气候变化的响应机制具有重要意义。本文以中国草地样带为平台,共设置132个样地,采集329份植物叶片样品,基于生态化学计量学理论,对中国草地样带青藏高原高寒区域和内蒙古温性草原区域植物群落功能群组成(豆科、禾本科、莎草科、杂类草)进行N、P元素组分分析,揭示青藏高原高寒区域和内蒙古温性草原区域植物N、P元素含量随温度和降水的变化规律。结果显示:1)青藏高原高寒区域的植物N、P元素含量显著高于内蒙古温性草原区域;2)豆科植物N、P元素含量最高,禾草类植物N、P元素含量最低;3)总体上,随年降水量和年均温度变化,不同功能群中仅杂类草与莎草科植物叶片N、P元素含量变化显著。研究表明,物种组成会影响到草地植被N、P元素生态化学计量学特征,不同功能群植物N、P元素含量对温度和降水变化的响应不同,杂类草和莎草科植物元素含量对中国草地样带植物整体水平N、P元素含量随水热因子的变化规律有重要贡献。     

青藏高原高寒草原生态系统土壤氮磷比的分布特征

采用野外调查和室内分析相结合的方法,研究了青藏高原高寒草原生态系统土壤N/P的分布特征.结果表明: 青藏高原高寒草原生态系统土壤N/P总体上呈现出西高东低、斑块状交错分布的格局,N/P的高值区主要集中在藏北高原腹地和喜马拉雅北麓湖盆区,不同草地类型和不同自然地带土壤N/P差异显著.不同草地类型土壤N/P自上而下可分为低 高 低 高型、低-高-低型、低-高型、高-低-高-低型和高-低-高型等5个类型,表土层与底土层N/P差异显著.土壤N/P与0～20 cm土壤容重、20～30 cm土壤含水量、速效钾、全氮含量显著正相关,与20~30 cm土壤容重、土壤速效磷和全磷含量显著负相关.     

沙化草地土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征及其对植被生产力和多样性的影响

沙化草地土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)化学计量特征及其对植被生产力与多样性的影响对于认识草地沙漠化过程中土壤与植被的互馈关系,以及沙漠化发展的生态学机理具有重要的意义。通过对科尔沁沙地75个沙化样地的野外调查,研究了科尔沁沙地不同程度沙化草地的表层土壤C、N、P化学计量特征及其与生产力和多样性的相关关系。结果表明:1)科尔沁沙地沙化草地表层土壤具有较低的有机C、全N、全P含量及C∶N、N∶P和C∶P,平均值分别为1.39 mg/g、0.117 mg/g、0.079 mg/g和7.50、2.22、16.91;草地沙漠化过程中,土壤有机C、全N、全P含量显著降低的同时,C∶N、N∶P和C∶P亦显著降低,表明土壤有机C、全N、全P在沙漠化过程中的损失是不同步的;2)科尔沁沙地沙化草地表层土壤有机C、全N、全P元素间均呈显著正相关,具有一定的耦合关系,且土壤有机C和全P间的耦合关系不随沙漠化的发展而发生改变;3)草地沙化过程中,土壤养分的损失限制着草地生产力,而土壤N∶P较全N、全P含量更能反映土壤养分对生产力的限制作用;4)沙化草地土壤全N含量与物种丰富度间具有显著正相关关系,而土壤全P含量与其无显著相关性;多样性指数与全N、全P含量间均具有显著正相关关系;相对于土壤全N、全P含量,N∶P能更好地反映养分平衡对物种多样性的影响作用。     

放牧与围封对青藏高原草地土壤和植物叶片化学计量学特征的影响

生态化学计量可反映生态系统能量平衡和多种化学元素对生态系统的相互作用。本研究对西藏那曲放牧与围封草地土壤和优势种植物叶片C、N、P含量及化学计量特征进行了调查,以探讨不同草地利用方式对土壤和植物的影响及二者的相互作用。结果显示:放牧草地土壤p H显著高于围封草地,前者为7.30,后者为7.13;放牧草地植物叶片P含量显著高于围封草地,而C∶P显著低于围封草地,前者分别为1.25 g·kg~(-1)、335.21,后者分别为1.05 g·kg~(-1)、434.60;植物叶片C与N、P呈极显著负相关,叶片N与叶片P呈极显著正相关;叶片N含量与土壤全N不相关,叶片P含量与土壤全P含量呈显著负相关;研究区草地植物主要受P元素的限制。该结果可为青藏高原草地可持续发展提供科学依据。     

疏勒河上游土壤磷和钾的分布及其影响因素

土壤中磷和钾是植物不可缺少的营养元素,研究它们的含量及其分布规律对高寒草地的可持续发展和区域土壤碳氮循环的认识均具有重要意义。以疏勒河上游13处生态观测样地(7种土壤类型)为研究对象,结合土壤有机碳、全氮、粒径和pH等理化性质和气象因子,分析了不同土壤类型表层和剖面中土壤磷、钾分布特征及其影响因素。结果表明:0—20 cm表层土壤全磷、有效磷、全钾和有效钾平均含量分别为(0.50±0.14)g/kg、(2.69±1.61)mg/kg、(14.84±0.59)g/kg和(151.03±117.57)mg/kg。表层土壤全磷含量与年均气温和土壤粉粒含量呈显著正相关,而与年均降水量呈显著负相关;表层土壤有效磷含量与有机质、全氮呈显著正相关;表层土壤有效钾含量与土壤粉粒含量和年均气温呈显著正相关。全磷、有效磷、全钾和有效钾密度主要集中在0—40 cm的土壤层,它们均随着土壤深度的增加而逐渐降低。不同深度土壤全磷的总密度与年均气温均呈显著的正相关,其相关系数随着土层深度逐渐增加。温度和降水是影响表层全磷含量和分布的主要环境因子;土壤全钾含量受成土母质影响,变异性不大。该区域土壤中有效磷和有效钾相对缺乏,草地管理措施是影响它们变化的重要因素之一。气温是该区域土壤全磷和全钾密度分布的主控因子。     

青藏高原高寒草原生态系统土壤碳氮比的分布特征

利用67个样点数据,研究了青藏高原高寒草原生态系统土壤碳氮比的分布特征。结果表明:(1)在水平方向上,土壤碳氮比呈现出西北高、东南低的总体态势和斑块状交错分布的格局,碳氮比的高值区主要集中在藏北高原腹地和喜马拉雅山北麓湖盆区,不同草地型和不同自然地带土壤碳氮比差异显著;(2)土壤剖面自上而下,不同草地型碳氮比可分为低-高-低型、由高到低型、由低到高型、高-低-高-低型和高-低-高型等5个类型。表土层(0—20 cm)与底土层(30—40 cm)土壤碳氮比差异显著;(3)土壤碳氮比与与最冷月均气温、年均蒸发量、年均相对湿度和土壤全氮含量呈极显著正相关关系,而与年均日照时数、年均气温、速效钾含量呈极显著负相关关系,这些环境因素对土壤碳氮比影响从大到小的顺序是年均相对湿度年均日照时数最冷月均气温年均气温年均蒸发量土壤全氮含量土壤速效钾含量。     

青藏高原东部山地草地土壤碳、氮、磷元素计量特征

以青藏高原东部山地草地作为研究对象, 分析了0—30 cm 土壤层有机碳(C)、全氮(N)、全磷(P)化学计量特征, 并探讨其与纬度、海拔、年均气温、年降水量、干旱因子之间的关系。结果表明: (1)在土壤垂直剖面上, 土壤C、N含量变异性较大, 表层土壤含量高于底层; 土壤P 含量垂直变异性较小, 各土壤层间没有显著差异; 土壤C:N 变化范围为7.52—18.47、均值为11.62, 比较稳定, 各土壤层间没有显著差异; 土壤C:P 变化范围为22.86—156.76, 均值为62.06, N:P 变化范围 1.02—9.92, 均值为4.85, C:P 和 N:P 比值随土层加深显著降低。(2)土壤C 含量与N 含量极显著正相关(P<0.01), 随海拔、年降水量、干旱指数的增大而增大, 而随年均气温的增加而降低; 土壤P 与环境因子没有显著关系。(3)土壤C、N、P 含量及其比值在纬度梯度上没有规律性变化。土壤C:P 和 N:P 比值随海拔的升高而增大, 说明在青藏高原东部沿纬度分布的山地草地中土壤磷有效性随海拔的升高而降低; C:N 比值相对稳定, 受环境因子的影响较小。     

内蒙古温带草原土壤微生物生物量碳的空间分布及驱动因素

【目的】探索内蒙古温带草原土壤微生物生物量碳的空间分布特征以及驱动因素。【方法】在内蒙古自治区境内沿着年均温、年降水梯度选择17个草原样点,在土壤剖面上分0-10 cm、10-20 cm、20-40 cm、40-60 cm、60-100 cm五层,分别采集土壤样品,测定土壤微生物生物量碳以及主要的环境和生物影响因子,分析不同草地类型以及不同土壤深度土壤微生物生物量碳的差异,探索非生物因子和生物因子对土壤微生物量碳的影响。【结果】草甸草原土壤微生物量碳最高,典型草原次之,荒漠草原最低。在0-10 cm土壤中,草地类型间的微生物量碳变异系数高于草甸草原和典型草原,低于荒漠草原;在0-100 cm土壤中,草甸草原样点间的微生物量碳的变异系数低于典型草原和荒漠草原。土壤微生物量碳与年降水、土壤含水量、粘粒含量、土壤养分元素、地上生物量、地下生物量呈显著正相关,与年均温和土壤p H值呈显著负相关关系。随着土壤深度的增加,土壤微生物量碳显著减少,非生物因子与微生物量碳的相关性减弱,草地类型间以及同一草地类型不同样点间的变异系数增加。0-10 cm土壤微生物量碳与10-40 cm土壤微生物量碳的相关指数高于0.5,与40-100 cm的土壤微生物量碳的相关指数小于0.3。【结论】内蒙古温带草原土壤微生物量碳的垂直分布呈现一定的规律性,且非生物因子对微生物量碳的影响也呈现垂直减弱的规律。     

Comparative analyses of leaf anatomy of dicotyledonous species in Tibetan and Inner Mongolian grasslands

Knowledge of the leaf anatomy of grassland plants is crucial for understanding how these plants adapt to the environment. Tibetan alpine grasslands and Inner Mongolian temperate grasslands are two major grassland types in northern China. Tibetan alpine grasslands occur in high-altitude regions where the low temperatures limit plant growth. Inner Mongolian temperate grasslands are found in arid regions where moisture is the limiting factor. Few comparative studies concerning the leaf anatomy of grassland plants of the Tibetan Plateau and Inner Mongolian Plateau have been conducted. We examined leaf characteristics at 71 sites and among 65 species, across the alpine grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau and the temperate grasslands of the Inner Mongolian Plateau. We compared the leaf structures of plants with different life forms and taxonomies, and their adaptation to arid or cold environments. We explored relationships among leaf features and the effects of climatic factors (i.e., growing season temperature and precipitation) on leaf characteristics. Our results showed that (i) there were significant differences in leaf anatomy between Tibetan alpine and Inner Mongolian temperate grasslands. Except for mesophyll cell density, the values obtained for thickness of leaf tissue, surface area and volume of mesophyll cells were larger on the Tibetan Plateau than on the Inner Mongolian Plateau. (ii) Within the same family or genus, leaf anatomy showed significant differences between two regions, and trends were consistent with those of whole species. (iii) Leaf anatomy of woody and herbaceous plants also showed significant differences between the regions. Except for mesophyll cell density, the values obtained for the thickness of leaf tissue, and the surface area and volume of mesophyll cells were larger in herbaceous than in woody plants. (iv) Leaf anatomical traits changed accordingly. Total leaf thickness, thicknesses of lower and upper epidermal cells, and surface area and volume of mesophyll cells were positively correlated, while mesophyll cell density was negatively associated with those traits. (v) Growing season temperature had stronger effects on leaf anatomy than growing season precipitation. Although the communities in Tibetan and Inner Mongolian grasslands were similar in appearance, leaf anatomy differed; this was probably due to the combined effects of evolutionary adaptation of plants to environment and environmental stress induced by climatic factors.     

UV radiation is the primary factor driving the variation in leaf phenolics across Chinese grasslands

Due to the role leaf phenolics in defending against ultraviolet B (UVB) under previously controlled conditions, we hypothesize that ultraviolet radiation (UVR) could be a primary factor driving the variation in leaf phenolics in plants over a large geographic scale. We measured leaf total phenolics, ultraviolet‐absorbing compounds (UVAC), and corresponding leaf N, P, and specific leaf area (SLA) in 151 common species. These species were from 84 sites across the Tibetan Plateau and Inner Mongolian grasslands of China with contrasting UVR (354 vs. 161 mW/cm² on average). Overall, leaf phenolics and UVAC were all significantly higher on the Tibetan Plateau than in the Inner Mongolian grasslands, independent of phylogenetic relationships between species. Regression analyses showed that the variation in leaf phenolics was strongly affected by climatic factors, particularly UVR, and soil attributes across all sites. Structural equation modeling (SEM) identified the primary role of UVR in determining leaf phenolic concentrations, after accounting for colinearities with altitude, climatic, and edaphic factors. In addition, phenolics correlated positively with UVAC and SLA, and negatively with leaf N and N: P. These relationships were steeper in the lower‐elevation Inner Mongolian than on the Tibetan Plateau grasslands. Our data support that the variation in leaf phenolics is controlled mainly by UV radiation, implying high leaf phenolics facilitates the adaptation of plants to strong irradiation via its UV‐screening and/or antioxidation functions, particularly on the Tibetan Plateau. Importantly, our results also suggest that leaf phenolics may influence on vegetation attributes and indirectly affect ecosystem processes by covarying with leaf functional traits.     

Significant soil acidification across northern China's grasslands during 1980s–2000s

Anthropogenic acid deposition may lead to soil acidification, with soil buffering capacity regulating the magnitude of any soil pH change. However, little evidence is available from large‐scale observations. Here, we evaluated changes in soil pH across northern China's grasslands over the last two decades using soil profiles obtained from China's Second National Soil Inventory during the 1980s and a more recent regional soil survey during 2001–2005. A transect from the central‐southern Tibetan Plateau to the eastern Inner Mongolian Plateau, where Kriging interpolation provided robust predictions of the spatial distribution of soil pH, was then selected to examine pH changes during the survey period. Our results showed that soil pH in the surface layer had declined significantly over the last two decades, with an overall decrease of 0.63 units (95% confidence interval = 0.54–0.73 units). The decline of soil pH was observed in both alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau and temperate grasslands on the Inner Mongolian Plateau. Soil pH decreased more intensively in low soil carbonate regions, while changes of soil pH showed no significant associations with soil cation exchange capacity. These results suggest that grassland soils across northern China have experienced significant acidification from the 1980s to 2000s, with soil carbonates buffering the increase in soil acidity. The buffering process may induce a large loss of carbon from soil carbonates and thus alter the carbon balance in these globally important ecosystems.     

Biomass and Its Allocation in Relation to Temperature,Precipitation, and Soil Nutrients in Inner Mongolia Grasslands,China

Aim

Understanding and predicting ecosystem functioning such as biomass accumulation requires an accurate assessment of large-scale patterns of biomass distribution and partitioning in relation to climatic and soil environments.

Methods

We sampled above- and belowground biomass from 26 sites spanning 1500 km in Inner Mongolian grasslands, compared the difference in aboveground, belowground biomass and below-aboveground biomass ratio (AGB, BGB, and B/A, respectively) among meadow steppe, typical steppe, and desert steppe types. The relationships between AGB, BGB, B/A and climatic and soil environments were then examined.

Results

We found that AGB and BGB differed significantly among three types of grasslands while B/A did not differ. Structural equation model analyses indicated that mean annual precipitation was the strongest positive driver for AGB and BGB. AGB was also positively associated with soil organic carbon, whereas B/A was positively associated with total soil nitrogen.

Conclusions

These results indicated that precipitation positively influence plant production in Inner Mongolian grasslands. Contrary to the prediction from the optimal partitioning hypothesis, biomass allocation to belowground increased with soil total nitrogen, suggesting that more productive sites may increase belowground allocation as an adaptive strategy to potentially high fire frequencies.     

围栏对青藏高原不同类型草地土壤原核微生物多样性的影响

草地退化是草地植被的倒退演替,导致生物多样性丧失和生态系统功能退化,围栏是恢复退化草地生态系统功能的有效管理措施。微生物是土壤中的重要组成部分,在维持草地生态系统稳定性和功能方面发挥着重要作用。然而,目前尚不清楚围栏如何影响不同类型草地土壤微生物群落。以青藏高原草甸、草原和荒漠草地三种草地类型的退化草地为研究对象,设置围栏和放牧两种处理,采用Illumina HiSeq高通量测序技术研究了围栏对土壤原核微生物群落多样性和群落结构的影响。结果表明：围栏未显著影响草甸土壤原核微生物的丰富度、Shannon多样性和均匀度,但显著增加了草原土壤的原核微生物的丰富度、Shannon多样性和均匀度（P<0.05）,稍降低了荒漠草地土壤原核微生物的丰富度、Shannon多样性和均匀度（P=0.086、0.072和0.099）。在围栏处理的草地中,土壤原核微生物丰富度、Shannon多样性和均匀度与年均温、干旱度和pH显著负相关（P<0.01）,与年平均降水量、溶解性有机碳、地上生物量和植物多样性显著正相关（P<0.01）。在放牧处理的草地中,土壤原核微生物丰富度、Shannon多样性和均匀度与年均温和干旱度显著负相关（P<0.05）,但原核微生物丰富度和Shannon多样性与所有土壤理化和植被因素均无显著相关性。冗余分析（RDA）表明,不同类型草地土壤原核微生物群落结构发生了显著的变化,并沿草甸、草原和荒漠草地的过渡逐渐转变（P<0.001）。方差分解分析（VPA）进一步表明,原核微生物群落结构变化主要受年均温、年平均降水量、干旱度和pH的驱动。围栏显著改变了不同类型草地中部分样点土壤原核微生物群落结构。三种草地类型的主要原核微生物优势门均为放线菌门（Actinobacteria）、变形菌门（Proteobacteria）和酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria）。放线菌门（Actinobacteria）的相对丰度在荒漠草地土壤中最高,而变形菌门（Proteobacteria）和酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria）的相对丰度在草甸土壤中最高。此外,不同类型围栏和放牧草地土壤原核微生物类群的相对丰度均无显著差异。研究表明不同类型草地土壤原核微生物群落对围栏的响应不同,这为因地制宜制定草地管理措施提供了数据支持,为草地退化的防治提供了理论支持。     

青藏高原高寒灌丛生态系统草本层生物量分配格局

青藏高原高寒灌丛生态系统生物量分配的研究相对较少,尤其是其草本层。为了探究高寒灌丛生态系统草本层生物量分配特征及其影响因素,分析了青藏高原东北部灌丛生态系统的49个高寒灌丛样地的草本层地上与地下生物量特征及其气候因子之间的关系。结果表明1)草本层地上生物量与地下生物量分别为121.1,342.8 g/m2均大于高寒草地的地上生物量与地下生物量。2)草本层的根冠比为3.6低于高寒草地的根冠比。3)地上生物量与地下生物量之间呈现幂函数的关系y=8.0x0.83(R2=0.48,P0.001)。4)根冠比与年均温度、年均降雨量之间没有显著的相关关系。     

Patterns of above- and belowground biomass allocation in China’s grasslands: Evidence from individual-level observations

Above- and belowground biomass allocation not only influences growth of individual plants, but also influences vegetation structures and functions, and consequently impacts soil carbon input as well as terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycling. However, due to sampling difficulties, a considerable amount of uncertainty remains about the root: shoot ratio (R/S), a key parameter for models of terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycling. We investigated biomass allocation patterns across a broad spatial scale. We collected data on individual plant biomass and systematically sampled along a transect across the temperate grasslands in Inner Mongolia as well as in the alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau. Our results indicated that the median of R/S for herbaceous species was 0.78 in China’s grasslands as a whole. R/S was significantly higher in temperate grasslands than in alpine grasslands (0.84 vs. 0.65). The slope of the allometric relationship between above- and belowground biomass was steeper for temperate grasslands than for alpine. Our results did not support the hypothesis that aboveground biomass scales isometrically with belowground biomass. The R/S in China’s grasslands was not significantly correlated with mean annual temperature (MAT) or mean annual precipitation (MAP). Moreover, comparisons of our results with previous findings indicated a large difference between R/S data from individual plants and communities. This might be mainly caused by the underestimation of R/S at the individual level as a result of an inevitable loss of fine roots and the overestimation of R/S in community-level surveys due to grazing and difficulties in identifying dead roots. Our findings suggest that root biomass in grasslands tended to have been overestimated in previous reports of R/S.     

蒙古高原草地不同深度土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征对气候因子的响应

研究不同深度土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量及其化学计量比对气候因子(年降水量(MAP)和年平均气温(MAT))的响应差异,对于理解气候变化如何影响生态系统功能具有重要意义。通过对蒙古高原干旱半干旱草地44个样点的野外调查,探讨了不同深度(0–20、20–40、40–60、60–80 cm)土壤C、N、P含量及其化学计量比与MAP和MAT的关系。主要结果:(1)随土壤深度的增加,土壤C和N含量逐渐减少,土壤P含量不变;土壤C:P和N:P逐渐降低,土壤C:N相对稳定。(2)土壤C、N、P含量以及土壤C:P、N:P与MAP显著正相关,与MAT显著负相关,土壤C:N与MAP显著负相关,与MAT无相关性;随着土壤深度的增加,土壤C、N、P含量及其化学计量比与气候因子的相关性均逐渐减弱。(3) MAP和MAT对不同深度土壤C、N、P含量和化学计量比的影响存在显著差异;随着土壤深度的增加, MAP和MAT对土壤C、N、P含量及其化学计量特征变化的总解释度逐渐减少。该研究表明气候因子对土壤元素化学计量特征具有自上而下的调控作用,蒙古高原草地土壤表层C、N、P含量及其化学计量比与MAP和MAT的关...     

羌塘高原降水梯度带紫花针茅叶片氮回收特征及影响因素

植物回收衰老叶片的氮是植物重要的养分保持和环境适应机制,在寒旱贫瘠的生境更是如此。为了理解降水梯度上植物对高寒贫瘠环境的养分适应特征,研究了羌塘高寒草原优势物种紫花针茅叶片氮回收策略及其与环境因子的关系。结果表明,降水梯度带上紫花针茅叶片具有较高的叶氮水平和氮回收能力。生长季盛期紫花针茅绿叶平均氮含量为(23.87±3.92)g/kg,高于中国草地平均水平(20.9 g/kg)及全球平均值(20.1 g/kg);绿叶氮含量与年降水量(MAP)呈显著负相关,干旱端(西部)绿叶中氮含量明显高于湿润端(东部)。枯叶养分回收后的氮水平(NRP)很低,平均为(6.76±1.42)g/kg,叶片平均氮回收效率(NRE)为(71.25±6.46)%,明显高于中国温带草原和全球的平均水平(46.9%—58.5%)。枯叶中氮回收水平对叶片氮回收效率起决定作用,是维持高养分回收效率的物质基础。NRE与MAP、土壤全氮(TN)和土壤无机氮呈显著负相关;NRP与TN相关性不显著,但与土壤无机氮显著负相关。尽管NRE与NRP呈显著负相关,但二者与绿叶氮含量均没有显著相关性。年均气温、海拔对NRE和NRP影响均不显著。因此,紫花针茅叶片极高的NRE和低NRP反映了它对极端干旱贫瘠环境的养分保持能力,通过内部氮循环来降低养分流失。土壤氮的有效性是影响紫花针茅叶片氮回收能力的关键因子,降水通过影响土壤氮的有效性以及绿叶中氮含量间接影响紫花针茅叶片氮回收效率。     

Precipitation‐use efficiency along a 4500‐km grassland transect

Aims Clarifying the spatiotemporal variations in precipitation‐use efficiency (PUE), the ratio of vegetation above‐ground productivity to annual precipitation, will advance our understanding of how ecosystems' carbon and water cycles respond to climate change. Our goal is to investigate the variations in PUE at both regional and site scales along a 4500‐km climate‐related grassland transect. Location The Inner Mongolian Plateau in northern China and the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau. Methods We collected data on 580 sites from four data sources. The data were acquired through field surveys and long‐term in situ observations. We investigated the relationships between precipitation and PUE at both regional and site scales, and we evaluated the effects of the main biotic and climatic factors on PUE at both spatial scales. Results PUE decreased with decreasing mean annual precipitation (MAP), except for a slight rise toward the dry end of the gradient. The maximum PUE showed large site‐to‐site variation along the transect. Vegetation cover significantly affected the spatial variations in PUE, and this probably accounts for the positive relationship between PUE and MAP. However, there was no significant relationship between inter‐annual variations in precipitation or vegetation cover and PUE within given ecosystems along the transect. Conclusions The findings of this research contradict the prevailing view that a convergent maximum PUE exists among diverse ecosystems, as presented in previous reports. Our findings also suggest the action of distinct mechanisms in controlling PUE at different spatial scales. We propose the use of a conceptual model for predicting vegetation productivity at continental and global scales with a sigmoid function, which illustrates an increasing PUE with MAP in arid regions. Our approach may represent an improvement over use of the popular Miami model.