Effects of the Conversion of a Degraded Alpine Kobresia Meadow on the Organic Carbon and Nitrogen of Soil and Plants

• Autorzy: Qiao Y. , Duan Z. , Li X. , Quan X. , Liang H.

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.3161/15052249PJE2015.63.4.003

• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Three sites with both degraded alpine Kobresia meadow (DM) and adjacent mix-seeded perennial grasses pastures (MSP) in the headwater region of the Yellow River, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, were selected to investigate plant and soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and their isotope composition. The SOC and TN in the top soil layer to a depth of 10 cm were significantly affected by ploughing and planting mix-seeded perennial grasses. The SOC content in 0–10 cm soil layer of MSPs was 25.6%, 5.5% and 12.9% lower than those of DMs at the I-III sites, respectively, and the rate of OC density loss was 23.8, 14.5 and 18.2%, respectively. The soil TN content in 0–10 cm soil layer of MSPs was 16.6%, 2.2% and 9.4% lower than those of the DMs at three sites, respectively, and the TN density was 15.6, 10.6 and 15.3% lower than those of DMs, respectively. The plant and soil ¹³C values (-27.03‰, -25.16‰, respectively) suggest that the vegetation of both DMs and MSPs are C₃ plant communities. The 15 N value in the soil (>4‰) was significantly greater than in plants (<2‰). No differences of either ¹³C or ¹⁵N abundance between MSPs and DMs at Site I and II, but were found at Site III, indicating that the effects were site specific. The rehabilitation of a degraded Kobresia meadow has a significant influence on the soil properties, SOC and TN. Caution should be taken in site selection before performing conversion.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

conversion; alpine meadow; stable carbon isotope; stable nitrogen isotope; Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

PL

konwersja; alpejskie łąki; trwałe izotopy węgla; stabilny izotop azotu; Wyżyna Tybetańska

• Wydawca: Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Czasopismo: Polish Journal of Ecology
• Rocznik: 2015
• Tom: Vol. 63, nr 4
• Strony: 500--511
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 38 poz., rys., tab.

Twórcy

autor

Qiao Y.

• College of Eco-Environment and Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, P.R. China

autor

Duan Z.

• College of Eco-Environment and Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, P.R. China

autor

Li X.

• College of Eco-Environment and Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, P.R. China

autor

Quan X.

• College of Eco-Environment and Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, P.R. China

autor

Liang H.

• College of Eco-Environment and Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, P.R. China

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