Effects of land degradation on soil and microbial stoichiometry in Qingzang Plateau alpine grasslands

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2021.0339

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Grassland is an important component of the terrestrial ecosystems in China, and plays a vital role in ecosystem productivity and functioning. During the past decades, 90% of natural grasslands have been degraded as a result of climate change and anthropogenic activities. Grassland degradation altered soil nutrient balance, exerting substantial impacts on ecosystem structure and functions. Our objective was to explore the responses of soil and microbial carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry to grassland degradation across the Qingzang Plateau alpine grasslands.

Methods We collected soil samples (0-10 cm) along the degradation sequence (i.e., non-degradation, moderate degradation and heavy degradation) from five sites across the “Three-River Source” region. By determination of soil and microbial C, N and P, we examined the changes in their contents and stoichiometric ratios with grassland degradation. We further synthesized data from the whole Qingzang Plateau alpine grasslands to validate the measured results using a meta-analytical approach.

Important findings Grassland degradation significantly reduced soil organic C, total N and total P contents and their stoichiometric ratios. Although microbial C and N content declined with degradation, change in microbial P content was limited along the degradation gradient. The microbial C:N:P ratios showed minimal responses to degradation. No obvious relationships were observed among soil and microbial C:N:P ratios. The above results indicate that soil microbes have the ability to maintain a given elemental composition despite variation in soil elemental composition following grassland degradation. From a long-term perspective, the nutrient-balance based soil quality promotion technology is able to effectively enhance grassland restoration and improve ecosystem service.

Key words: grassland degradation, nutrient limitation, stoichiometric homoeostasis, soil microorganisms, Qingzang Plateau

WU Zan, PENG Yun-Feng, YANG Gui-Biao, LI Qin-Lu, LIU Yang, MA Li-Hua, YANG Yuan-He, JIANG Xian-Jun. Effects of land degradation on soil and microbial stoichiometry in Qingzang Plateau alpine grasslands[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2022, 46(4): 461-472.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2021.0339

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2022/V46/I4/461

Figures/Tables 7

References 42

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草地类型 Grassland type	采样地点 Sampling site	经纬度 Longitude, latitude	年平均气温 MAT (℃)	年降水量 MAP (mm)	退化程度 Degradation level	植被盖度 Vegetation cover (%)	地表状况 Soil surface condition	优势种 Dominant species
高寒草甸 Alpine meadow	玛查理镇 Machali Town	97.84° E, 34.24° N	-5.5	504.8	未退化 Non-degradation	100	无裸斑、无砾石 No bare patches and gravels	矮生嵩草、西藏嵩草、高山嵩草等 Kobresia humilis, Kobresia tibetica, Kobresia pygmaea, et al.
					中度退化 Moderate degradation	55	少量裸斑、无砾石 Few bare patches, no gravels	矮生嵩草、西藏嵩草、唐古特虎耳草等 Kobresia humilis, Kobresia tibetica, Saxifraga tangutica, et al.
					重度退化 Heavy degradation	40	大面积裸斑、少量砾石 Numerous bare patches, few gravels	唐古特虎耳草、星舌紫菀、紫红假龙胆等 Saxifraga tangutica, Aster asteroides, Gentianella arenaria, et al.
	花石峡镇 Huashixia Town	98.85° E, 35.04° N	-3.4	414.4	未退化 Non-degradation	99	无裸斑、无砾石 No bare patches and gravels	西藏嵩草、矮生嵩草、暗褐薹草等 Kobresia tibetica, Kobresia humilis, Carex atrofusca, et al.
					中度退化 Moderate degradation	55	少量裸斑、无砾石 Few bare patches, no gravels	西藏嵩草、矮生嵩草、细叶亚菊等 Kobresia tibetica, Kobresia humilis, Ajania tenuifolia, et al.
					重度退化 Heavy degradation	30	大面积裸斑、较多砾石、零星鼠洞 Numerous bare patches and gravels, scattered rodent burrows	细叶亚菊、西伯利亚蓼、美丽风毛菊等 Ajania tenuifolia, Polygonum sibiricum, Saussurea pulchra, et al.
	上贡麻乡 Shanggongma Town	99.93° E, 33.93° N	-3.0	588.0	未退化 Non-degradation	100	无裸斑、无砾石 No bare patches and gravels	矮生嵩草、高山嵩草、暗褐薹草等 Kobresia humilis, Kobresia pygmaea, Carex atrofusca, et al.
					中度退化 Moderate degradation	55	少量裸斑、无砾石 Few bare patches, no gravels	矮生嵩草、高山嵩草、乳白香青等 Kobresia humilis, Kobresia pygmaea, Anaphalis lactea, et al.
					重度退化 Heavy degradation	40	大面积裸斑、少量砾石、零星鼠洞 Numerous bare patches, few gravels, scattered rodent burrows	阿尔泰狗娃花、细叶亚菊、鹅绒委陵菜等 Aster altaicus, Ajania tenuifolia, Potentilla anserina, et al.
	阿多乡 Adoi Town	95.20° E, 32.91° N	-3.0	566.7	未退化 Non-degradation	100	无裸斑、无砾石 No bare patches and gravels	高山嵩草、矮生嵩草、紫花针茅等 Kobresia pygmaea, Kobresia humilis, Stipa purpurea, et al.
					中度退化 Moderate degradation	66	少量裸斑、零星砾石 Few bare patches, scattered gravels	高山嵩草、矮生嵩草、矮火绒草等 Kobresia pygmaea, Kobresia humilis, Leontopodium nanum, et al.
					重度退化 Heavy degradation	42	大面积裸斑、少量砾石 Numerous bare patches, few gravels	阿尔泰狗娃花、细叶亚菊、鹅绒委陵菜等 Aster altaicus, Ajania tenuifolia, Potentilla anserina, et al.
高寒草原 Alpine steppe	曲麻河乡 Qumahe Town	94.99° E, 34.82° N	-5.0	357.1	未退化 Non-degradation	75	少量裸斑、少量砾石 Few bare patches and gravels	紫花针茅、草地早熟禾、线叶嵩草等 Stipa purpurea, Poa pratensis, Kobresia capillifolia, et al.
					中度退化 Moderate degradation	45	较多裸斑、较多砾石 Several bare patches and gravels	紫花针茅、线叶嵩草、沙生风毛菊等 Stipa purpurea, Kobresia capillifolia, Saussurea arenaria, et al.
					重度退化 Heavy degradation	15	大面积裸斑、大量砾石 Numerous bare patches and gravels	沙生风毛菊、细叶亚菊、阿尔泰狗娃花等 Saussurea arenaria, Ajania tenuifolia, Aster altaicus, et al.

草地类型 Grassland type	采样地点 Sampling site	经纬度 Longitude, latitude	年平均气温 MAT (℃)	年降水量 MAP (mm)	退化程度 Degradation level	植被盖度 Vegetation cover (%)	地表状况 Soil surface condition	优势种 Dominant species
高寒草甸 Alpine meadow	玛查理镇 Machali Town	97.84° E, 34.24° N	-5.5	504.8	未退化 Non-degradation	100	无裸斑、无砾石 No bare patches and gravels	矮生嵩草、西藏嵩草、高山嵩草等 Kobresia humilis, Kobresia tibetica, Kobresia pygmaea, et al.
					中度退化 Moderate degradation	55	少量裸斑、无砾石 Few bare patches, no gravels	矮生嵩草、西藏嵩草、唐古特虎耳草等 Kobresia humilis, Kobresia tibetica, Saxifraga tangutica, et al.
					重度退化 Heavy degradation	40	大面积裸斑、少量砾石 Numerous bare patches, few gravels	唐古特虎耳草、星舌紫菀、紫红假龙胆等 Saxifraga tangutica, Aster asteroides, Gentianella arenaria, et al.
	花石峡镇 Huashixia Town	98.85° E, 35.04° N	-3.4	414.4	未退化 Non-degradation	99	无裸斑、无砾石 No bare patches and gravels	西藏嵩草、矮生嵩草、暗褐薹草等 Kobresia tibetica, Kobresia humilis, Carex atrofusca, et al.
					中度退化 Moderate degradation	55	少量裸斑、无砾石 Few bare patches, no gravels	西藏嵩草、矮生嵩草、细叶亚菊等 Kobresia tibetica, Kobresia humilis, Ajania tenuifolia, et al.
					重度退化 Heavy degradation	30	大面积裸斑、较多砾石、零星鼠洞 Numerous bare patches and gravels, scattered rodent burrows	细叶亚菊、西伯利亚蓼、美丽风毛菊等 Ajania tenuifolia, Polygonum sibiricum, Saussurea pulchra, et al.
	上贡麻乡 Shanggongma Town	99.93° E, 33.93° N	-3.0	588.0	未退化 Non-degradation	100	无裸斑、无砾石 No bare patches and gravels	矮生嵩草、高山嵩草、暗褐薹草等 Kobresia humilis, Kobresia pygmaea, Carex atrofusca, et al.
					中度退化 Moderate degradation	55	少量裸斑、无砾石 Few bare patches, no gravels	矮生嵩草、高山嵩草、乳白香青等 Kobresia humilis, Kobresia pygmaea, Anaphalis lactea, et al.
					重度退化 Heavy degradation	40	大面积裸斑、少量砾石、零星鼠洞 Numerous bare patches, few gravels, scattered rodent burrows	阿尔泰狗娃花、细叶亚菊、鹅绒委陵菜等 Aster altaicus, Ajania tenuifolia, Potentilla anserina, et al.
	阿多乡 Adoi Town	95.20° E, 32.91° N	-3.0	566.7	未退化 Non-degradation	100	无裸斑、无砾石 No bare patches and gravels	高山嵩草、矮生嵩草、紫花针茅等 Kobresia pygmaea, Kobresia humilis, Stipa purpurea, et al.
					中度退化 Moderate degradation	66	少量裸斑、零星砾石 Few bare patches, scattered gravels	高山嵩草、矮生嵩草、矮火绒草等 Kobresia pygmaea, Kobresia humilis, Leontopodium nanum, et al.
					重度退化 Heavy degradation	42	大面积裸斑、少量砾石 Numerous bare patches, few gravels	阿尔泰狗娃花、细叶亚菊、鹅绒委陵菜等 Aster altaicus, Ajania tenuifolia, Potentilla anserina, et al.
高寒草原 Alpine steppe	曲麻河乡 Qumahe Town	94.99° E, 34.82° N	-5.0	357.1	未退化 Non-degradation	75	少量裸斑、少量砾石 Few bare patches and gravels	紫花针茅、草地早熟禾、线叶嵩草等 Stipa purpurea, Poa pratensis, Kobresia capillifolia, et al.
					中度退化 Moderate degradation	45	较多裸斑、较多砾石 Several bare patches and gravels	紫花针茅、线叶嵩草、沙生风毛菊等 Stipa purpurea, Kobresia capillifolia, Saussurea arenaria, et al.
					重度退化 Heavy degradation	15	大面积裸斑、大量砾石 Numerous bare patches and gravels	沙生风毛菊、细叶亚菊、阿尔泰狗娃花等 Saussurea arenaria, Ajania tenuifolia, Aster altaicus, et al.

草地类型 Grassland type	采样地点 Sampling sites	退化程度 Degradation level	pH	质量含水率 SM (%)	砂粒含量 Sand content (%)	无机氮含量 SIN content (mg·kg^-1)	速效磷含量 AP content (mg·kg^-1)
高寒草甸 Alpine meadow	玛查理镇 Machali Town	未退化 ND	6.6 ± 0.1^b	65.6 ± 6.9^a	49.2 ± 1.8^a	62.4 ± 2.2^a	18.6 ± 1.6^b
		中度退化 MD	6.6 ± 0.1^b	38.5 ± 1.7^b	51.6 ± 1.5^a	38.0 ± 5.5^b	25.7 ± 2.6^a
		重度退化 HD	7.0 ± 0.1^a	46.6 ± 5.4^ab	50.4 ± 0.9^a	40.8 ± 8.8^ab	17.4 ± 3.3^b
	花石峡镇 Huashixia Town	未退化 ND	7.7 ± 0.0^b	30.2 ± 2.8^ab	54.2 ± 1.2^a	64.9 ± 5.3^a	19.5 ± 3.6^ab
		中度退化 MD	7.7 ± 0.0^b	32.8 ± 3.8^a	51.1 ± 1.7^a	45.4 ± 6.3^b	16.2 ± 4.7^b
		重度退化 HD	8.0 ± 0.0^a	20.4 ± 0.9^b	52.2 ± 2.2^a	42.1 ± 2.0^b	25.9 ± 2.1^a
	上贡麻乡 Shanggongma Town	未退化 ND	6.5 ± 0.1^b	31.6 ± 1.5^a	57.1 ± 1.0^a	69.1 ± 1.7^a	32.3 ± 1.3^a
		中度退化 MD	6.8 ± 0.1^b	30.9 ± 1.1^a	60.4 ± 0.7^a	80.5 ± 7.5^a	9.3 ± 1.4^b
		重度退化 HD	7.7 ± 0.2^a	24.0 ± 2.4^b	58.0 ± 1.2^a	23.7 ± 3.2^b	8.3 ± 0.8^b
	阿多乡 Adoi Town	未退化 ND	7.9 ± 0.0^b	24.0 ± 1.8^a	43.1 ± 4.2^a	46.2 ± 4.1^a	28.0 ± 3.3^a
		中度退化 MD	8.0 ± 0.0^a	20.2 ± 0.8^a	41.7 ± 2.6^a	38.8 ± 4.1^a	20.3 ± 0.7^b
		重度退化 HD	8.0 ± 0.0^a	23.4 ± 1.0^a	40.6 ± 2.6^a	42.3 ± 4.2^a	30.2 ± 2.8^a
高寒草原 Alpine steppe	曲麻河乡 Qumahe Town	未退化 ND	8.6 ± 0.1^a	2.6 ± 0.7^a	89.9 ± 0.1^a	9.7 ± 1.4^a	1.8 ± 0.1^a
		中度退化 MD	8.8 ± 0.0^a	3.5 ± 0.8^a	85.8 ± 1.5^ab	5.1 ± 0.3^b	1.6 ± 0.2^a
		重度退化 HD	8.7 ± 0.0^a	4.2 ± 0.3^a	79.4 ± 2.3^b	4.2 ± 0.2^b	1.9 ± 0.2^a

草地类型 Grassland type	采样地点 Sampling sites	退化程度 Degradation level	pH	质量含水率 SM (%)	砂粒含量 Sand content (%)	无机氮含量 SIN content (mg·kg^-1)	速效磷含量 AP content (mg·kg^-1)
高寒草甸 Alpine meadow	玛查理镇 Machali Town	未退化 ND	6.6 ± 0.1^b	65.6 ± 6.9^a	49.2 ± 1.8^a	62.4 ± 2.2^a	18.6 ± 1.6^b
		中度退化 MD	6.6 ± 0.1^b	38.5 ± 1.7^b	51.6 ± 1.5^a	38.0 ± 5.5^b	25.7 ± 2.6^a
		重度退化 HD	7.0 ± 0.1^a	46.6 ± 5.4^ab	50.4 ± 0.9^a	40.8 ± 8.8^ab	17.4 ± 3.3^b
	花石峡镇 Huashixia Town	未退化 ND	7.7 ± 0.0^b	30.2 ± 2.8^ab	54.2 ± 1.2^a	64.9 ± 5.3^a	19.5 ± 3.6^ab
		中度退化 MD	7.7 ± 0.0^b	32.8 ± 3.8^a	51.1 ± 1.7^a	45.4 ± 6.3^b	16.2 ± 4.7^b
		重度退化 HD	8.0 ± 0.0^a	20.4 ± 0.9^b	52.2 ± 2.2^a	42.1 ± 2.0^b	25.9 ± 2.1^a
	上贡麻乡 Shanggongma Town	未退化 ND	6.5 ± 0.1^b	31.6 ± 1.5^a	57.1 ± 1.0^a	69.1 ± 1.7^a	32.3 ± 1.3^a
		中度退化 MD	6.8 ± 0.1^b	30.9 ± 1.1^a	60.4 ± 0.7^a	80.5 ± 7.5^a	9.3 ± 1.4^b
		重度退化 HD	7.7 ± 0.2^a	24.0 ± 2.4^b	58.0 ± 1.2^a	23.7 ± 3.2^b	8.3 ± 0.8^b
	阿多乡 Adoi Town	未退化 ND	7.9 ± 0.0^b	24.0 ± 1.8^a	43.1 ± 4.2^a	46.2 ± 4.1^a	28.0 ± 3.3^a
		中度退化 MD	8.0 ± 0.0^a	20.2 ± 0.8^a	41.7 ± 2.6^a	38.8 ± 4.1^a	20.3 ± 0.7^b
		重度退化 HD	8.0 ± 0.0^a	23.4 ± 1.0^a	40.6 ± 2.6^a	42.3 ± 4.2^a	30.2 ± 2.8^a
高寒草原 Alpine steppe	曲麻河乡 Qumahe Town	未退化 ND	8.6 ± 0.1^a	2.6 ± 0.7^a	89.9 ± 0.1^a	9.7 ± 1.4^a	1.8 ± 0.1^a
		中度退化 MD	8.8 ± 0.0^a	3.5 ± 0.8^a	85.8 ± 1.5^ab	5.1 ± 0.3^b	1.6 ± 0.2^a
		重度退化 HD	8.7 ± 0.0^a	4.2 ± 0.3^a	79.4 ± 2.3^b	4.2 ± 0.2^b	1.9 ± 0.2^a