Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2017, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (1): 14-21.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2016.0201

Special Issue: 中国灌丛生态系统碳储量的研究

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Storage of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in temperate shrubland ecosystems across Northern China

Yan-Pei GUO1, Xian YANG1, Anwar MOHHAMOT2, Hong-Yan LIU1, Wen-Hong MA3, Shun-Li YU4, Zhi-Yao TANG1,*()   

  1. 1College of Urban and Environmental Science, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

    2Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ürümqi 830011, China;

    3College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China

    4State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
  • Received:2016-06-14 Accepted:2016-11-10 Online:2017-01-10 Published:2017-01-23
  • Contact: Zhi-Yao TANG
  • About author:KANG Jing-yao(1991-), E-mail: kangjingyao_nj@163.com

Abstract:

Aims Studying storage of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in ecosystems is of significance in understanding carbon and nutrient cycling. Previous researches in ecosystem C, N and P storage have biased towards forests and grasslands. Shrubland ecosystems encompass a wide gradient in precipitation and soil conditions, providing a unique opportunity to explore the patterns of ecosystem C, N and P storage in relation to climate and soil properties.
Methods We estimated densities and storage of organic C, N and P of shrubland ecosystems in Northern China based on data from 433 shrubland sites.
Important findings The main results are summarized as follows: the average organic C, N and P densities in temperate shrubland ecosystems across Northern China were 69.8 Mg·hm-2, 7.3 Mg·hm-2 and 4.2 Mg·hm-2, respectively. The average plant C, N and P densities were 5.1 Mg·hm-2, 11.5 × 10-2 Mg·hm-2 and 8.6 × 10-3 Mg·hm-2, respectively, and were significantly correlated with precipitation and soil nutrient concentrations. The average litter C, N and P densities were 1.4 Mg·hm-2, 3.8 ×10-2 Mg·hm-2, 2.5 ×10-3 Mg·hm-2 and were significantly correlated with temperature and precipitation. The average soil organic C, N and P densities in the top 1 m were 64.0 Mg·hm-2, 7.1 Mg·hm-2 and 4.2 Mg·hm-2, respectively and the former two were significantly correlated with temperature and precipitation. The total organic C, N and P storage of shrublands in Northern China were 1.7 Pg, 164.9 Tg and 124.8 Tg, respectively. The plant C, N and P storage were 128.4 Tg, 3.1 Tg and 0.2 Tg, respectively. The litter C, N and P storage were 8.4 Tg, 0.45 Tg, 0.027 Tg, respectively. Soil is the largest C, N and P pool in the studied area. The soil organic C, N and P storage in the top 1 meter were 1.6 Pg, 161.3 Tg and 124.6 Tg, respectively.

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Key words: carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, storage, density, shrublands, Northern China