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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2013, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (5): 44-51.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb20130506

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Belowground biomass and features of environmental factors in the degree of grassland desertification

JIN Yun-xiang, XU Bin, YANG Xiu-chun, LI Jin-ya, MA Hai-long, GAO Tian, YU Hai-da   

  1. Key Laboratory of Agri-informatics, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
  • Online:2013-10-20 Published:2013-10-20

Abstract: Belowground biomass is the important component of carbon accumulation on grassland, and the main link to relate aboveground with belowground ecosystem process. In order to discuss variation of belowground biomass in succession process of grassland desertification, taking grassland on Zhenglan Banner of Inner Mongolia as example, we analyzed its distribution pattern and soil environment features in different desertification grassland by the sample-plot survey method. We proceed with significance testing by one-way variance analysis (One-way ANOVA) and Scheffe method. The results showed that: 1) Belowground biomass decreased with soil depth and with a ‘T’ shape distribution. Belowground biomass in 0-30 cm soil layer occupied more than 80% of the total and then was significantly declined with the aggravation of grassland desertification (P<0.05). Belowground biomass of non-desertified grassland was the highest (2 598.67 g/m2), and was followed by slight desertified grassland (2 318.45 g/m2), moderate desertified grassland (390.26 g/m2) and severe desertified grassland (117.25 g/m2). 2) Soil temperature decreased with soil depth and remained stable under 30 cm soil layer. Soil moisture content of grassland desertification in deep soil layer was a little more than soil moisture content in surface layer. Water retaining capacity of non-desertified grassland preceded its desertified grassland. 3) Following succession process of grassland desertification, soil physicochemical properties occurred a series of variation. Sand content increased significantly compared with non-desertified grassland and occupied more than 90%. In general, pH value of soil on temperate grassland belonged to neutral. There was non-significant difference of pH value between the various types of desertified grassland (P>0.05). Following the aggravation of grassland desertification, soil organic matter, total nitrogen and available nitrogen content of desertified grassland were significantly lower than non-desertified grassland (P<0.05). The others nutrient content were non-significant difference. Through researching distribution pattern and soil environment features in different desertification grassland, this paper has provided effective data foundation and reference value with accuracy estimation of belowground biomass. Meanwhile, it has been the important significance to research distribution and gross of roots and enhance accuracy root module in model application.

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