Distribution of herbaceous community biomass and its relationship with influencing factors in the Loess Hilly Region

doi:10.11686/cyxb2017152

Abstract

Abstract: Grassland is the main vegetation type in arid and semiarid areas of the Loess Plateau. Herbs, as the dominant community in the grassland ecosystem, have an irreplaceable advantage in the restoration of vegetation and in the conservation of soil and water on the Loess Plateau. In this study, we analyzed the spatial distribution characteristics of aboveground and belowground biomass and their influencing factors in herbaceous plant communities at different latitudes in the Loess Hilly Region. In addition, isokinetic growth was statistically analyzed to provide theoretical guidance for the restoration of vegetation and improvement of ecological management strategies for the Loess Hilly Region. The results showed that: (1) in the range of 35.95° to 38.36° N, the aboveground biomass of the herbaceous plant community in the Loess Hilly Region ranged from 54.60 to 204.32 g·m^-2 (average, 156.968 g·m^-2; coefficient of variation, 27.83%). Belowground biomass ranged from 78.88 to 829.64 g·m^-2 (average, 469.21 g·m^-2; coefficient of variation, 48.87%). The change in the belowground/aboveground biomass of the herbaceous plant community was 0.93-4.49 (average, 2.89; coefficient of variation, 39.18%). The communities were ranked, from highest biomass (belowground+aboveground) to lowest, as follows: forest-grassland belt>grassland belt>forest belt>grassland-desert belt. The aboveground and belowground biomass showed a “single peak” trend along the latitudinal gradient, first increasing and then decreasing with increasing latitude. (2) There was a significant positive correlation between belowground biomass and aboveground biomass (P<0.01; coefficient of determination, 0.59), and this relationship was consistent with isokinetic growth. (3) The belowground biomass of the herbaceous plant community was positively correlated with mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, soil organic carbon, soil total nitrogen, and soil total phosphorus. Both climatic factors and soil physico-chemical properties had important effects on belowground biomass. To draw accurate conclusions about the effects of climatic and soil physico-chemical properties on plant communities, further plant biology and eco-physiology research should be undertaken to explore the mechanisms underlying plants’ responses.

CLC Number:

FANG Zhao, ZHANG Shao-kang, LIU Hai-wei, JIAO Feng, ZHANG Jun. Distribution of herbaceous community biomass and its relationship with influencing factors in the Loess Hilly Region[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2018, 27(2): 26-35.

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