EFFECTS ON CARBON FLUX OF CONVERSION OF GRASSLAND STEPPE TO CROPLAND IN CHINA

doi:10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2008.06.011

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims In light of increasing interest in understanding carbon fluxes of terrestrial ecosystems under changing climate and escalating human influences, our study examined the dependence of carbon fluxes on abiotic and biotic factors and explored the effects of conversion of grassland to cropland on ecosystem C fluxes.

Methods Our study was carried out in Duolun (42^o02′ N, 116^o17′ E; 1 350 m asl), a semiarid agriculture-pasture transition region in southeastern Inner Mongolia, China. We used the chamber method during the growing season.

Important findings There was no difference in net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide (NEE) between wheat field and steppe at the beginning of the growing season. NEE of wheat field became higher than that of steppe in late June. No differences were found between the two ecosystems from mid-July to August 1st. NEE of wheat field became significantly lower than that of steppe starting in mid-August. During the growing season, the maximum of NEE in steppe was -11.26 µmol CO ₂·m^-2·s^-1, while that in wheat field was -12.29 µmol CO ₂·m^-2·s^-1. Mean NEE in steppe (-5.33 µmol CO ₂·m^-2·s^-1) was a little lower than that in wheat field (-7.66 µmol CO ₂·m^-2·s^-1). Leaf area index (LAI) was the main factor controlling NEE of the two ecosystems. Poor soil nutrient levels also might limit NEE in these ecosystems. Because of characteristics of wheat, the sensitivity of NEE response to LAIwas lower in wheat field than steppe in the middle and late growing season. Lower soil volume water content (10 cm depth) in wheat field limited total ecosystem respiration (TER) and decreased the sensitivity of TER to temperature.

Key words: chamber method, net ecosystem gas exchange, total ecosystem respiration, leaf area index

ZHANG Wen-Li, CHEN Shi-Ping, MIAO Hai-Xia, LIN Guang-Hui. EFFECTS ON CARBON FLUX OF CONVERSION OF GRASSLAND STEPPE TO CROPLAND IN CHINA[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2008, 32(6): 1301-1311.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2008.06.011

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2008/V32/I6/1301

Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1 Seasonal changes of the main environments in steppe and wheat field during the growing season in 2006

Fig 2 Seasonal changes of leaf area index (LAI) and aboveground biomass (BA) in steppe and wheat field during the growing season in 2006

Table 1 Seasonal changes of biomass of different parts of aboveground in steppe and wheat field (g·m-2)(Mean±SE)

天DOY	地上生物量 Aboveground biomass (g)	绿叶 Green leaf (g)		枯叶 Withered leaf (g)		茎 Sterm (g)		生殖穗 Spike (g)
天DOY	地上生物量 Aboveground biomass (g)	草地 Steppe	小麦田 Wheat	草地 Steppe	小麦田 Wheat	草地 Steppe	小麦田 Wheat	草地 Steppe	小麦田 Wheat
192	189.1±13.6	86.3±3.4				102.8±11.3
193	319.8±26.4		65.3±7.0		12.7±1.0		193.3±13.8		45.0±6.1
200	460±32.5		58.4±8.4		22.2±2.6		315.9±30.8		84.2±2.6
206	197.4±17.2	91.2±5.7				98.6±12.8
207	806.5±16.8		78.2±8.0		45.8±4.2		521.9±32.0		160.5±13.6
214	643.5±36.4		38.0±1.8		48.6±2.3		401.3±15.8		155.6±20.2
221	213.7±25.4	82.0±4.0		18.3±3.3		112.8±27.4		21.0±6.0
221	870.7±47.7		21.2±0.9		82.9±4.0		464.0±19.0		302.7±24.5
228	837.7±45.4		4.1±0.4		88.0±2.6		364.6±26.0		381.1±22.6
234	197.2±11.9	68.2±4.2		20.2±4.1		98.3±14.3		10.4±2.4
235	753.7±33.5		1.4±0.9		61.1±5.1		299.3±12.0		391.9±22.4
253	174.5±20.0	47.4±7.6		34.0±2.7		76.3±16.7		16.7±3.8
266	140.4±6.9	36.9±3.2		34.7±3.2		67.1±4.4		1.57±0.3

Fig 3 Seasonal changes of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) (a) and total ecosystem respiration (TER) (b) of steppe and wheat field during the growing season in 2006 Negative indicates carbon uptake, positive indicates carbon release *: p <0.05 **: p <0.01

Fig. 4 Diel variations of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) (a), primary assimilation (PA) (b) and total ecosystem respiration (TER) (c) on 18 June, 2006 in steppe and wheat field Negative means carbon uptake

Fig. 5 Linear relationships between net ecosystem exchange (NEE) with leaf area index (LAI) in steppe and wheat field during the growing season Negative means carbon uptake

Fig. 6 Linear relationships between total ecosystem respiration (TER) and soil temperature at 10 cm depth (Ts) in the steppe and wheat field during the growing season

Fig. 7 Linear relationships between total ecosystem respiration (TER) and soil volume water content at 10 cm depth (VWC) in the steppe and wheat field during the growing season

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