Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2007, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (5): 892-896.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2007.0112

Special Issue: 碳水能量通量

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

NEW METHOD FOR MEASURING EVAPOTRANSPIRATION AND CO2 ABSORPTION IN GRASSLAND COMMUNITIES USING LI-6262 CO2H2O ANALYSER

LIU Fang1,2, WANG Wei1,*(), PIAO Shun-Ji1, WANG Yong-Li3, HAN Fang3   

  1. 1Department of Ecology and Environment Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Huhhot 010021, China
    2Department of Environment Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Huhhot 010051, China
    3Inner Mongolia Meteorological Administration, Huhhot 010051, China
  • Received:2006-03-14 Accepted:2006-10-19 Online:2007-03-14 Published:2007-09-30
  • Contact: WANG Wei

Abstract:

Aims Our objective was to develop a new method for simultaneously measuring evapotranspiration and CO2 absorption in plant communities using the LI-6262 CO2/H2O analyzer for regional integration of water and CO2 dynamics.

Methods We measured evapotranspiration and CO2 absorption of some plant communities in the typical steppe of the Xilin River Basin, China.

Important findings Our method enabled us to concurrently measure evapotranspiration, photosynthesis and respiration, the important ecological processes of communities and therefore obtain a series of valuable measurements of community characteristics. Our method is precise, the instruments are easily portable, and the method is adaptable for plant communities of steppe, sand lands and wetlands. The method has important practical value for study of the impacts of global change on ecological functions of steppe.

Key words: evapotranspiration, CO2 absorption, LI-6262 CO2/H2O analyzer, typical steppe