Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2006, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (3): 441-449.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2006.0059

Special Issue: 青藏高原植物生态学:植物-土壤-微生物

• Original article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

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

WANG Chang-Ting1,2, LONG Run-Jun1,3,*(), CAO Guang-Min1, WANG Qi-Lan1, DING Lu-Ming1, SHI Jian-Jun4   

  1. 1Northwest Plateau Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
    2Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
    3Grassland Science College of Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou 730070, China
    4Grassland institute, Qinghai Academy of Animal and Veterinary Science, Xining 810003, China
  • Accepted:2005-12-06 Published:2006-05-30
  • Contact: LONG Run-Jun

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