Effects of plateau zokor burrowing activity on soil nutrient spatial heterogeneity in alpine grassland

doi:10.11686/cyxb2015560

Abstract

Abstract: Burrowing activity of Myospalax baileyi influences nutrient cycling, soil texture and soil microbial activity of grasslands, and has an effect on the spatial heterogeneity of soil nutrients. However, there is limited information about the soil nutrient distribution vertically within or across the sloping surface of the coniform-shaped mounds formed due to the burrowing activity of Myospalax baileyi. In this experiment, mounds of differing age (1 year, 3 years and 5 years old) were selected for study in an alpine grassland located in Qinghai Province. Samples were collected from 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm soil depth at the summit of each mound, and for 0-10 cm soil depth at 10 cm intervals across the sloping surface from summit to base. Samples for 0-10 cm soil depth were also collected 10 cm away from the base of the mounds (controls). Soil nutrient contents, including total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), total phosphorus (TP), available phosphorus (AP) and organic matter (OM), were determined for all samples. In younger mounds soil nutrient status differed little with vertical depth below the summit of the mound, but in 5-year-old mounds and especially for control samples collected 10 cm from mounds, soil nutrient levels were high in the surface layer and low in the 20-30 cm layer compared to the younger mounds. Soil nutrient levels generally increased from summit to base in the surface layer of younger mounds, and were higher still at 10 cm distance from mound bases. However, 5-year-old mounds generally had higher soil nutrient levels at the summit and lower levels at the base than younger mounds, and therefore exhibited an opposite trend of decreasing nutrient levels from summit to base. This research further confirmed the existence of soil nutrient spatial heterogeneity caused by the burrowing activity of Myospalax baileyi, and also showed that mounds of differing age differ in their soil nutrient spatial heterogeneities. The results of this study will aid understanding of the plant diversity, cover and species distribution patterns in the grasslands.

BAO Gen-Sheng, WANG Hong-Sheng, WANG Yu-Qin, ZENG Hui, MA Ge-Liang, LUO Zang-Ang-Mao. Effects of plateau zokor burrowing activity on soil nutrient spatial heterogeneity in alpine grassland[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2016, 25(7): 95-104.

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