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.     

Establishment of Elymus natans improves soil quality of a heavily degraded alpine meadow in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

Elymus natans is a dominant native species widely planted to restore the heavily degraded alpine meadows in Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. The objective of this study was to determine how E. natans establishment affected the quality and fertility of a heavily degraded soil. Soil samples (at depths of 0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm) were collected from the 3- and 7-year-old E. natans re-vegetated grasslands, and in the heavily degraded alpine meadow (control). The establishment of E. natans promoted plant cover and aboveground biomass. Compared to the non-reseeded meadow, the concentration of total organic C increased by 13% in the soil under 3-year-old reseeded E. natans grassland at 0–10 cm, and by 7–33% in the soil under 7-year-old reseeded E. natans grassland at 0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm depths. Rapid increases in total and available N were also observed in two E. natans re-vegetated grasslands, especially in the 0–10 cm soil layer. Across three sampling depths, total P concentration was increased by 17–35% and 18–54% in 3- and 7-year-old reseeded soil respectively, compared to the soil of control. After 3 years of E. natans growth, microbial biomass C increased by 13–58% at 0–10 and 10–20 cm layers; while it increased by 43–87% in 7-year-old reseeded treatment at 0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm depths relative to control. A similar increasing trend was observed for microbial biomass N and P generally. Significant increase in neutral phosphatase, urease, catalase and dehydrogenase was also found in 3- and 7-year-old re-vegetated grasslands compared with heavily degraded meadow. Our results suggest a significant positive impact of E. natans establishment on soil quality. Thus, E. natans establishment could be an effective and applicable measure in restoring heavily degraded alpine meadow in the region of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.     

青藏高原多年冻土区不同水分条件的高寒草甸根系功能性状对增温的响应

在青藏高原多年冻土广泛分布的风火山地区,选择小嵩草（Kobresia pygmea）草甸和藏嵩草（Kobresia tibetica）沼泽化草甸为研究对象,采用开顶增温室（Open top chambers, OTCs）模拟气候变暖,探讨模拟增温对土壤水分差异的两种草甸地下生物量及根系功能性状的影响。结果显示,（1）增温显著增加小嵩草草甸0—20 cm根系生物量,主要是由于表层（0—10 cm）根系生物量显著增加,而对藏嵩草沼泽化草甸根系生物量无影响。（2）增温显著增加了小嵩草草甸根组织密度,同时提高了藏嵩草沼泽化草甸10—20 cm的比根长和比根面积（3）增温降低了小嵩草草甸的根系碳含量及10—20 cm根系氮含量,增加了藏嵩草沼泽化草甸的碳含量及10—20 cm根系氮含量,显著提高了小嵩草草甸和藏嵩草沼泽化草甸深层（10—20 cm）根系碳氮比。这些结果预示着增温使得土壤水分较低的小嵩草草甸朝着资源保守的慢速生长型发展,以适应暖干化的环境;土壤水分较高的藏嵩草沼泽化草甸朝着资源获取的快速生长型发展,加速利用土壤中的养分满足植物生长需要。可见,土壤水分可以调节高寒草甸对气候变暖的演变趋势,强调了水分的重要性。     

高寒矮嵩草群落退化演替系列氮、磷生态化学计量学特征

运用历史资料与实地调查相结合的方法,以多元数量统计为手段确定采样地点,以空间尺度代替时间尺度,确定演替系列,以生态化学计量学为基础探讨了高寒矮嵩草草甸退化演替系列氮(N)磷(P)含量及化学计量学特征,发现:1)高寒矮嵩草草甸土壤全量N、P含量随退化演替程度的加深而呈倒"V"字形变化趋势,速效N、P含量随退化程度的加深呈降低趋势,但土壤草甸全量及速效N/P化学计量学特征则呈现降低趋势;2)地上植物N/P化学计量学特征在整个退化演替过程没有明显的差异。说明高寒矮嵩草群落退化改变了土壤中全量及速效N、P的积累和分解速率,打破了土壤系统养分平衡模式,但并没有明显改变植物地上部分整体的N/P化学计量学特征,因此在退化演替过程中植物N/P比为草地退化诊断的惰性指标;土壤N/P化学计量学特征变化同草地退化演替过程具有较好的同步性,其对草地退化演替的敏感性较高,有可能成为未来草地退化诊断的生态指示指标。     

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.     

Linking thaw depth with soil moisture and plant community composition: effects of permafrost degradation on alpine ecosystems on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Background and aims

The warming of the planet in recent decades has caused rapid, widespread permafrost degradation on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. These changes may significantly affect soil moisture content and nutrient supply, thereby affecting ecosystem structure and function. This study aimed to describe the dynamic changes in thaw depth, assess the relationship between thaw depth and soil moisture content, and analyze the changes in species composition and water-use efficiency in response to permafrost degradation.

Methods

We surveyed species composition, thaw depth, ground temperature, soil moisture, nutrient content, and foliar stable carbon isotope compositions to gain insights into the response of alpine grassland ecosystems to permafrost degradation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Results

Moisture content of the surface layer decreased with increasing thaw depth. The correlation between thaw depth and surface soil moisture content was strongest in June and decreased in July and August. The strongest correlation occurred at a depth of 20 cm to 30 cm. The dominant species shifted from Cyperaceae in alpine meadow to mesoxerophytes in alpine steppe before finally shifting to xerophytes in alpine desert steppe. Thaw depth correlation was significantly negative with organic C content (r?=??0.49, P?<?0.05) and with total N content (r?=??0.62, P?<?0.01). The leaf δ¹³C of Carex moorcroftii increased with increasing thaw depth and followed a linear relationship (R ²?=?0.85, P?=?0.008).

Conclusions

Permafrost degradation decreases surface soil moisture and soil nutrient supply capacity. Increasing permafrost degradation decreases the number of plant families and species, with hygrophytes and mesophytes gradually replaced by mesoxerophytes and xerophytes. The water-use efficiency of plants improved in response to increasing water stress as surface layers dried during permafrost degradation. Permafrost on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau is expected to further degrade as global warming worsens. Therefore, more attention should be dedicated to the response of alpine ecosystems during permafrost degradation.     

青藏高原矮嵩草草甸地下和地上生物量分配格局及其与气象因子的关系

基于2006—2015年青海海北站10年生物量及气候因子监测数据,分析了青藏高原高寒矮嵩草草甸生物量的季节及年际动态,并探讨了气候因子对其影响。结果表明:(1)季节尺度上,高寒矮嵩草草甸地上生物量表现为单峰变化曲线,8月为其峰值点,为(345.72±27.01) g/m~2,代表了高寒草甸的地上净初级生产力。而地下根系的现存量变化较为复杂,其中5—7月呈现持续上升趋势,8月快速下降,之后9月份急剧,且各月份之间未达到显著水平(P0.05);年际尺度上,10年间高寒矮嵩草草甸地上生物量整体呈现波动增加趋势,2014年为其峰值点,达(437.12±32.01) g/m~2。地下生物量呈现波动性变化,变异较大,10年间平均值为(2566.99±138.11) g/m~2;(2)高寒草甸光合产物分配主要分布在地下,80%地下根系生物量分布于地表0—10 cm土层,且不同土层根系生物量占总地下生物量的比值在不同月份较为稳定。(3)气候因子中,大气相对湿度是影响高寒草甸地上生物量大小的主要因素;而气候因子对地下根系生物量的影响极为微弱。研究表明,高寒嵩草草甸对环境变化具有较高的自我调节能力,且高寒草甸的演化受制于人类干扰,而非气候变化。     

青藏高原高寒草甸植被特征与温度、水分因子关系

以广布于青藏高原的高寒草甸为研究对象,进行模拟增温实验,探讨高寒草甸植被特征与温度、水分因子关系,并试图论证高寒草甸植被是否符合生物多样性代谢理论.结果表明:①高寒草甸植被物种多样性的对数与绝对温度的倒数呈显著线性递减关系,空气-地表-浅层土壤(0-20 cm)温度(R2 ＞0.6,P＜0.01)较深层土壤(40-100 cm)温度(R2＜0.5,P＜0.05)对物种多样性影响大;其植被新陈代谢平均活化能为0.998-1.85 eV,高于生物多样性代谢理论预测值0.6-0.7 eV,这是高寒草甸植被对长期低温环境适应进化的结果.②除趋势对应分析和冗余分析显示,温度对植被地上部分影响较大,而土壤水分对全株影响均较大,适当的增温与降水均可极显著促进高寒草甸植被生长.③逐步回归和通径分析显示,40 cm、60 cm深度土壤水分对植被地上部分产生直接影响,20 cm高度空气相对湿度和40 cm深度土壤温度对其产生间接影响;40 cm深度土壤温度和60 cm深度土壤水分对植被地下部分产生直接影响,红外地表温度对其产生间接影响.深层土壤温度和水分对高寒草甸植被具有影响作用,这可能与增温后冻土的融化有关,但其机理尚待进一步研究.     

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.     

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。     

Nitrogen deposition and carbon sequestration in alpine meadows

Nitrogen deposition experiments were carried out in alpine meadow ecosystems in Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in China, in order to explore the contribution of nitrogen deposition to carbon sequestration in alpine meadows. Two methods were used in this respect. First, we used the allocation of ¹⁵N tracer to soil and plant pools. Second, we used increased root biomass observed in the nitrogen-amended plots. Calculating enhanced carbon storage, we considered the net soil CO₂ emissions exposed to nitrogen deposition in alpine meadows. Our results show that nitrogen deposition can enhance the net soil CO₂ emissions, and thus offset part of carbon uptake by vegetation and soils. It means that we have to be cautious to draw a conclusion when we estimate the contribution of nitrogen deposition to carbon sequestration based on the partitioning of ¹⁵N tracer in terrestrial ecosystems, in particular in N-limited ecosystems. Even if we assess the contribution of nitrogen deposition to carbon sequestration based on increased biomass exposed to nitrogen deposition in terrestrial ecosystems, likewise, we have to consider the effects of nitrogen deposition on the soil CO₂ emissions.     

Biomass Partitioning and Its Relationship with the Environmental Factors at the Alpine Steppe in Northern Tibet

Alpine steppe is considered to be the largest grassland type on the Tibetan Plateau. This grassland contributes to the global carbon cycle and is sensitive to climate changes. The allocation of biomass in an ecosystem affects plant growth and the overall functioning of the ecosystem. However, the mechanism by which plant biomass is allocated on the alpine steppe remains unclear. In this study, biomass allocation and its relationship to environmental factors on the alpine grassland were studied by a meta-analysis of 32 field sites across the alpine steppe of the northern Tibetan Plateau. We found that there is less above-ground biomass (M_A) and below-ground biomass (M_B) in the alpine steppe than there is in alpine meadows and temperate grasslands. By contrast, the root-to-shoot ratio (R:S) in the alpine steppe is higher than it is in alpine meadows and temperate grasslands. Although temperature maintained the biomass in the alpine steppe, precipitation was found to considerably influence M_A, M_B, and R:S, as shown by ordination space partitioning. After standardized major axis (SMA) analysis, we found that allocation of biomass on the alpine steppe is supported by the allometric biomass partitioning hypothesis rather than the isometric allocation hypothesis. Based on these results, we believe that M_A and M_B will decrease as a result of the increased aridity expected to occur in the future, which will reduce the landscape’s capacity for carbon storage.     

Intensified plant N and C pool with more available nitrogen under experimental warming in an alpine meadow ecosystem

Nitrogen (N) availability is projected to increase in a warming climate. But whether the more available N is immobilized by microbes (thus stimulates soil carbon (C) decomposition), or is absorbed by plants (thus intensifies C uptake) remains unknown in the alpine meadow ecosystem. Infrared heaters were used to simulate climate warming with a paired experimental design. Soil ammonification, nitrification, and net mineralization were obtained by in situ incubation in a permafrost region of the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP). Available N significantly increased due to the stimulation of net nitrification and mineralization in 0–30 cm soil layer. Microbes immobilized N in the end of growing season in both warming and control plots. The magnitude of immobilized N was lower in the warming plots. The root N concentration significantly reduced, but root N pool intensified due to the significant increase in root biomass in the warming treatment. Our results suggest that a warming‐induced increase in biomass is the major N sink and will continue to stimulate plant growth until plant N saturation, which could sustain the positive warming effect on ecosystem productivity.     

新疆天山中段巴音布鲁克高山草地碳含量及其垂直分布

对新疆天山中段巴音布鲁克高山草地(高山草原和高山草甸)的生物量和土壤有机碳进行了测定。结果表明积分和分层两种估算方法得到的土壤有机碳含量没有显著差异,但积分算法的优势在于能推算不同深度的土壤有机碳含量,便于与以往的研究进行比较;高山草甸的生物量和土壤有机碳含量均大于高山草原;其地上生物量分别为71.4和94.9 g C·m^-2,地下生物量分别为1 033.5和1 285.2 g C·m^-2; 1 m深度的土壤有机碳含量分别为25.7和38.8 kg·m^-2;地上生物量呈现较为明显的垂直分布格局,即随着海拔的增加,地上生物量先呈增加趋势,但当海拔超过一定界限后生物量突然下降;土壤含水率是导致南坡(阳坡)土壤有机碳含量空间分异的重要因素,但北坡(阴坡) 土壤有机碳含量还可能与地形、土壤质地等其它因素有关;两种高山草地(高山草原和高山草甸)的根系集中分布在40 cm以内,0~20 cm根系分别占其总量的76%和80%;土壤有机碳集中分布在60 cm以内,0~20 cm土壤有机碳分别占其总量的55%和49%;高山草原根系分布比高山草甸深,但较低的地下/地上比使得其有机碳分布比高山草甸浅。     

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。     

草地退化对三江源国家公园高寒草甸表层土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷的空间驱动

草地退化显著削弱了三江源高寒草甸的土壤肥力及生态承载功能,但空间尺度上的驱动强度和环境调控尚不清晰。在2020年7—8月,基于三江源国家公园高寒草甸典型分布区原生植被和退化植被的60个配对采样,研究表层(0—30 cm)土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)和全磷(TP)含量对草地退化的空间响应特征。三江源国家公园高寒草甸原生植被SOC和TN含量分别为(2.45±2.05)%(平均值±标准差,下同)和(0.25±0.20)%,配对样本t-检验的结果表明草地退化导致SOC和TN分别极显著(P<0.001)下降了44.0%和35.6%。TP对草地退化无显著响应(P=0.22)。原生植被的土壤C∶N∶P平均为59.6∶6.2∶1.0,草地退化导致化学计量值平均下降28.3%。一般线性模型的结果表明草地退化对SOC和TN及土壤生态化学计量特征的空间降低强度主要取决于纬度和海拔(P<0.01),与经度和土壤深度关系较弱(P>0.30),即低纬度高海拔的高寒草甸响应相对强烈。草地退化导致三江源国家公园高寒草甸土壤碳氮损失严重,降低了土壤生态化学计量。研究结果可为三江源退化高寒草甸土壤...     

黄河源园区高寒草地碳储量估算及其影响因素

高寒草地碳储量及其影响因素研究是认识青藏高原草地生态系统乃至陆地生态系统碳循环和气候变化的关键之一。利用2021年8月上旬地面调查数据与同期高分6号遥感数据建立回归关系,在反演研究区植被地上、地下生物量碳密度和0—40cm土壤层有机碳密度基础上,估算了黄河源园区高寒草地有机碳储量,并通过路径分析探讨了土壤理化性质对碳密度的影响驱动机制。结果表明：(1)2021年黄河源园区地上生物量、地下生物量、0—40cm土壤层碳密度分别为37.65g/m²、1305.28g/m²、4769.11g/m²;总碳储量为100.44Tg(1Tg=10¹²g),植被层和土壤层碳储量分别分为22.06Tg、78.38Tg,占总碳密度的21.96%、78.04%。(2)黄河源园区高寒草甸和高寒草原两种草地类型地上生物量碳密度分别为41.27g/m²、30.76g/m²;地下生物量碳密度分别为1661.41g/m²、618.74g/m²;0...     

植物残体对青藏高原高寒草甸土壤、微生物和胞外酶C∶N∶P化学计量特征的影响

植物残体是引起土壤、微生物和胞外酶C∶N∶P改变的关键因素,但是其作用机理尚不明确。本研究以青藏高原东缘高寒草甸为对象,通过测定土壤、微生物生物量和胞外酶活性等指标,探究移除地上植物或根系及植物残体添加对土壤、微生物和胞外酶C∶N∶P的影响。结果表明: 与无人为扰动草甸相比,移除地上植物显著降低了土壤C∶N(变幅为-23.7%,下同)、C∶P(-14.7%)、微生物生物生物量C∶P、N∶P,显著提高了微生物生物量C∶N、胞外酶C∶N∶P。与移除地上植物相比,移除地上植物和根系显著降低了土壤C∶N(-11.6%)、C∶P(-24.0%)、N∶P(-23.3%)和微生物生物量C∶N,显著提高了微生物生物量N∶P和胞外酶N∶P;移除地上植物后添加植物残体显著提高了微生物生物量C∶N、C∶P和胞外酶C∶N,显著降低了胞外酶N∶P。与移除地上植物和根系相比,移除地上植物和根系后添加植物残体显著降低了土壤C∶N(-16.4%)、微生物生物量C∶P、N∶P和胞外酶N∶P,显著提高了胞外酶C∶N。综上可知,去除植物显著影响土壤、微生物和胞外酶的C∶N∶P,微生物生物量和胞外酶C∶N∶P对植物残体的响应更为敏感。有无根系是添加植物残体时土壤、微生物和胞外酶的生态化学计量稳定性强弱的关键所在。添加植物残体的措施适用于植物根系尚且完好的草甸,有利于高寒草甸土壤碳固存,对没有根系的草甸土壤可能不适用,会增加土壤CO₂排放。     

Nitrogen economy of alpine plants on the north Tibetan Plateau: Nitrogen conservation by resorption rather than open sources through biological symbiotic fixation

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important factors limiting plant productivity, and N fixation by legume species is an important source of N input into ecosystems. Meanwhile, N resorption from senescent plant tissues conserves nutrients taken up in the current season, which may alleviate ecosystem N limitation. N fixation was assessed by the ¹⁵N dilution technique in four types of alpine grasslands along the precipitation and soil nutrient gradients. The N resorption efficiency (NRE) was also measured in these alpine grasslands. The aboveground biomass in the alpine meadow was 4–6 times higher than in the alpine meadow steppe, alpine steppe, and alpine desert steppe. However, the proportion of legume species to community biomass in the alpine steppe and the alpine desert steppe was significantly higher than the proportion in the alpine meadow. N fixation by the legume plants in the alpine meadow was 0.236 g N/m², which was significantly higher than N fixation in other alpine grasslands (0.041 to 0.089 g N/m²). The NRE in the alpine meadows was lower than in the other three alpine grasslands. Both the aboveground biomass and N fixation of the legume plants showed decreasing trends with the decline of precipitation and soil N gradients from east to west, while the NRE of alpine plants showed increasing trends along the gradients, which indicates that alpine plants enhance the NRE to adapt to the increasing droughts and nutrient‐poor environments. The opposite trends of N fixation and NRE along the precipitation and soil nutrient gradients indicate that alpine plants adapt to precipitation and soil nutrient limitation by promoting NRE (conservative nutrient use by alpine plants) rather than biological N fixation (open sources by legume plants) on the north Tibetan Plateau.