Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2025, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (1): 159-172.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2024.0208  cstr: 32100.14.cjpe.2024.0208

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of microbial fertilizer and nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer backfilling on soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities in degraded alpine meadows

XU Jia-Xin1, XIAO Yuan-Ming2,3, WANG Xiao-Yun4, WANG Wen-Ying1, MA Yu-Hua1, LI Qiang-Feng1, ZHOU Guo-Ying2,3,*()()   

  1. 1College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
    2Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
    3Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
    4Academy of Animal Science and Veterinary, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
  • Received:2024-06-28 Accepted:2024-12-24 Online:2025-01-20 Published:2025-03-08
  • Contact: ZHOU Guo-Ying
  • Supported by:
    Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA26020201);Natural Science Foundation of Qinghai Province(2023-ZJ-902T)

Abstract:

Aims Declining soil quality is one of the key limiting factors for recovery in moderately degraded alpine meadows. Furthermore, the irrational application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers has a significant negative effect on the biodiversity of the Qingzang Plateau. However, there have been limited studies on the soil quality improvement techniques for moderately degraded alpine meadows on the Qingzang Plateau from a systematic perspective. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers and microbial fertilizers on soil chemical properties and enzyme activities in moderately degraded alpine meadows.

Methods This study investigated the plant community characteristics, soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities of different treatments under different treatments, including nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers coupled with microbial fertilizers, in moderately degraded alpine meadows on the Qingzang Plateau.

Important findings The results indicated that both nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, when coupled with microbial fertilizers, significantly increased aboveground biomass. A significant interaction was observed in the effects on soil nutrient-related indexes, conductivity, and enzyme activities associated with carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycling. Overall, the application of both nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, in combination with microbial fertilizers, demonstrated clear restoration effects on moderately degraded alpine meadows. Microbial fungal fertilizers were found to enhance soil multifunctionality, and the combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and microbial fertilizers yielded better results than the application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers alone. The optimal physiological response was observed with the application of 45 kg·hm-2nitrogen, 20 kg·hm-2 phosphorus, and 225 kg·hm-2microbial fertilizers. These findings provide a scientific basis for promoting the restoration of moderately degraded alpine degraded meadows on the Qingzang Plateau and enhancing ecosystem service functions.

Key words: soil fertility, enzyme activity, soil versatility, microbial fertilizer, alpine meadow