SOIL CARBON AND NITROGEN CONTENTS ALONG ELEVATION GRADIENTS IN THE SOURCE REGION OF YANGTZE, YELLOW AND LANTSANG RIVERS

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2006.0059

Abstract

Abstract:

Soil is an important component of the terrestrial ecosystem and plays a critical role in global carbon cycle. Better understanding the distribution pattern of soil carbon storage along environmental gradients will facilitate the projection of global change on terrestrial C cycling. This study was conducted to examine soil organic carbon and nitrogen contents in major grassland types along elevation gradients in the source region of Yangtze, Yellow and Lantsang Rivers. Soil organic carbon and nitrogen contents were greater at the highest (5 120 m a.s.l.) and lowest (4 176 m a.s.l.) sites and lower at middle site. Soil organic carbon and nitrogen contents increased with soil moisture along the altitudinal gradient. Partial correlation analysis showed that spatial variability of soil organic carbon and nitrogen contents at 0-30 cm soil layers could be primarily explain by soil moisture with partial correlation coefficients of 0.946 5、0.905 9 (p<0.01), respectively. In addition, soil organic carbon and nitrogen contents showed positive linear correlations with plant cover and productivity and negative correlation trend with soil pH and total salt content.

Key words: The source region of Yangtze, Yellow and Lantsang Rivers, Soil organic carbon, Soil total nitrogen, Grassland, Impact factors

WANG Chang-Ting, LONG Run-Jun, CAO Guang-Min, WANG Qi-Lan, DING Lu-Ming, SHI Jian-Jun. SOIL CARBON AND NITROGEN CONTENTS ALONG ELEVATION GRADIENTS IN THE SOURCE REGION OF YANGTZE, YELLOW AND LANTSANG RIVERS[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2006, 30(3): 441-449.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2006.0059

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2006/V30/I3/441

Figures/Tables 6

References 34

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样地号 Plot No.	植物群落类型 Plant community types	海拔 Elevation (m)	纬度 Latitudes	经度 Longitudes	植被类型 Vegetation type	降水量 Precipitation (mm)	土壤类型 Soil type
1	甘肃苔草+异针茅 Carex kansuensis+Stipa aliena	4 176	32°53.247' N	96°46.526' E	高寒草甸 Alpine meadow	452	高寒草甸土 Alpine meadow soil
2	小嵩草 Kobresia pygmaea	4 218	37°57.357' N	96°35.456' E	高寒草甸 Alpine meadow	400.2	高寒草甸土 Alpine meadow soil
3	小嵩草 Kobresia pygmaea	4 273	33°26.068' N	97°17.296' E	高寒草甸 Alpine meadow	410	高寒草甸土 Alpine meadow soil
4	青藏苔草+紫花针茅 Carex moorcroftii+Stipa purpurea	4 285	35°04.756' N	97°44.003' E	高山草原 Alpine steppe	350	高山草原土 Alpine steppe soil
5	青藏苔草+紫花针茅 Carex moorcroftii+Stipa purpurea	4 298	34°54.911' N	98°12.519' E	高山草原 Alpine steppe	350	高山草原土 Alpine steppe soil
6	线叶嵩草 Kobresia capillifolia	4 435	34°26.154' N	100°22.794' E	高寒草甸 Alpine meadow	404.7	高山寒漠土 Alpine desert soil
7	小嵩草 Kobresia pygmaea	4 601	34°54.279' N	97°31.876' E	高寒草甸 Alpine meadow	503.6	高山寒漠土 Alpine desert soil
8	青藏苔草 Carex moorcroftii	5 120	34°07.632' N	97°39.487' E	高寒草甸 Alpine meadow	542	高山寒漠土 Alpine desert soil

样地号 Plot No.	植物群落类型 Plant community types	海拔 Elevation (m)	纬度 Latitudes	经度 Longitudes	植被类型 Vegetation type	降水量 Precipitation (mm)	土壤类型 Soil type
1	甘肃苔草+异针茅 Carex kansuensis+Stipa aliena	4 176	32°53.247' N	96°46.526' E	高寒草甸 Alpine meadow	452	高寒草甸土 Alpine meadow soil
2	小嵩草 Kobresia pygmaea	4 218	37°57.357' N	96°35.456' E	高寒草甸 Alpine meadow	400.2	高寒草甸土 Alpine meadow soil
3	小嵩草 Kobresia pygmaea	4 273	33°26.068' N	97°17.296' E	高寒草甸 Alpine meadow	410	高寒草甸土 Alpine meadow soil
4	青藏苔草+紫花针茅 Carex moorcroftii+Stipa purpurea	4 285	35°04.756' N	97°44.003' E	高山草原 Alpine steppe	350	高山草原土 Alpine steppe soil
5	青藏苔草+紫花针茅 Carex moorcroftii+Stipa purpurea	4 298	34°54.911' N	98°12.519' E	高山草原 Alpine steppe	350	高山草原土 Alpine steppe soil
6	线叶嵩草 Kobresia capillifolia	4 435	34°26.154' N	100°22.794' E	高寒草甸 Alpine meadow	404.7	高山寒漠土 Alpine desert soil
7	小嵩草 Kobresia pygmaea	4 601	34°54.279' N	97°31.876' E	高寒草甸 Alpine meadow	503.6	高山寒漠土 Alpine desert soil
8	青藏苔草 Carex moorcroftii	5 120	34°07.632' N	97°39.487' E	高寒草甸 Alpine meadow	542	高山寒漠土 Alpine desert soil

样地号 Plot No.	植被类型 Vegetation type	土壤有机碳 Soil organic C (%)	土壤全氮 Soil total N (%)
1	甘肃苔草+异针茅Carex kansuensis+Stipa aliena	7.72±0.18^a	1.15±0.06^a
2	小嵩草 Kobresia pygmaea	7.46±0.20^a	0.43±0.02^a
3	小嵩草 Kobresia pygmaea	5.02±0.14^a	0.35±0.01^a
4	青藏苔草+紫花针茅Carex moorcroftii+Stipapurpurea	2.08±0.13^b	0.19±0.01^b
5	青藏苔草+紫花针茅Carex moorcroftii+Stipapurpurea	1.87±0.04^b	0.13±0.01^b
6	线叶嵩草 Kobresia capillifolia	3.99±0.02^a	0.37±0.01^a
7	小嵩草 Kobresia pygmaea	5.52±0.02^a	0.50±0.01^a
8	青藏苔草 Carex moorcroftii	6.48±0.10^a	1.02±0.01^a

样地号 Plot No.	植被类型 Vegetation type	土壤有机碳 Soil organic C (%)	土壤全氮 Soil total N (%)
1	甘肃苔草+异针茅Carex kansuensis+Stipa aliena	7.72±0.18^a	1.15±0.06^a
2	小嵩草 Kobresia pygmaea	7.46±0.20^a	0.43±0.02^a
3	小嵩草 Kobresia pygmaea	5.02±0.14^a	0.35±0.01^a
4	青藏苔草+紫花针茅Carex moorcroftii+Stipapurpurea	2.08±0.13^b	0.19±0.01^b
5	青藏苔草+紫花针茅Carex moorcroftii+Stipapurpurea	1.87±0.04^b	0.13±0.01^b
6	线叶嵩草 Kobresia capillifolia	3.99±0.02^a	0.37±0.01^a
7	小嵩草 Kobresia pygmaea	5.52±0.02^a	0.50±0.01^a
8	青藏苔草 Carex moorcroftii	6.48±0.10^a	1.02±0.01^a

	全N Total N (%)	有机碳 Organic C (%)	pH	全盐量 Total salt (%)	C/N
全N Total N (%)	1.000
有机碳 Organic C (%)	0.905^**	1.000
pH	-0.366	-0.244	1.000
全盐量 Total salt (%)	-0.515	-0.407	0.773^*	1.000
C/N	-0.571	-0.262	0.098	0.132	1.000