Impact factors and relationships between biodiversity and biomass of different communities in the desert steppe of Ningxia, China

doi:10.11686/cyxb2014438

Abstract

Abstract: Impact factors and relationships between plant biodiversity and biomass of different communities of desert steppe in an unmodified condition were determined using biodiversity indices, soil physical and chemical factors and assessment of aboveground and underground biomass. The results showed that species richness and diversity varied similarly in different communities. Exponential relationships between aboveground biomass and underground biomass showed that the desert steppe community displayed allometric growth patterns. The response of community richness to aboveground biomass was unimodal, while that to underground biomass was linear. Underground biomass was positively correlated with surface litter. Soil moisture, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and available nutrients also contributed to underground biomass while soil moisture and soil organic carbon greatly contributed to aboveground biomass. Soil microbial biomass, soil carbon and nitrogen had a significant influence on community diversity indices.

YANG Yang, LIU Bing-Ru. Impact factors and relationships between biodiversity and biomass of different communities in the desert steppe of Ningxia, China[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2015, 24(10): 48-57.

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