Ecological stoichiometry characteristics of soil aggregates in alpine meadows with differing degrees of degradation

doi:10.11686/cyxb2022483

Abstract

Abstract:

The stability of alpine meadow ecosystems is closely related to soil structural integrity and nutrient retention. This research sought to clarify the effects of degradation on soil nutrient status and nutrient stoichiometric changes of soil aggregates in alpine meadows with differing degrees of degradation. The research was conducted at the Jinqianghe alpine meadow in Tianzhu County， Gansu Province. Soils with four differing degrees of degradation were selected： No degradation （ND）， light degradation （LD）， moderate degradation （MD） and severe degradation （SD）. Soil samples from the 0-30 cm soil layer were used to study the soil aggregate nutrient status and stoichiometric changes in these four degradation categories by the dry-sieving method. It was found that the organic carbon and total nitrogen in soil aggregates in alpine meadow increased initially and then decreased with increasing degradation， while soil aggregate total phosphorus exhibited a ‘V’-shaped distribution with increasing degradation. The highest contents of organic carbon， total nitrogen and total phosphorus in soil aggregates were in peds 0.25-0.50 mm in size. The C∶N of soil aggregates decreased with increasing degradation. C∶P and N∶P of soil aggregates increased initially and then decreased with increasing degree of deterioration. C∶N， C∶P and N∶P of soil aggregates decreased gradually with increase in soil depth. The results reveal the distribution characteristics of soil aggregate nutrient content and ecological stoichiometry in soils with different degrees of degradation， and thus provide information relevant to the restoration and development of alpine meadow. The composition of soil aggregates is the key factor affecting the nutrient content of soil aggregates. From the perspective of ecological stoichiometry， N and P are the main nutrient limiting factors in the process of alpine meadow degradation.

Key words: alpine meadow, degree of degradation, soil aggregates, soil nutrients in aggregates, ecological stoichiometry, particle fraction

Lin-zhi LI, De-gang ZHANG, Yuan MA, Zhu-zhu LUO, Dong LIN, Long HAI, Lan-ge BAI. Ecological stoichiometry characteristics of soil aggregates in alpine meadows with differing degrees of degradation[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2023, 32(8): 48-60.

Figures/Tables 9

References 48

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退化程度 Degradation	海拔 Altitude （m）	纬度 Latitude	经度 Longitude	优势物种 Dominant species	植被盖度Vegetation coverage （%）
未退化Non degraded （ND）	3008.3	37°13′05″ N	102°44′11″ E	珠芽蓼、垂穗披碱草、线叶嵩草Polygonum viviparum，Elymus dahuricus，Kobresia capillifolia	98~100
轻度退化Light degraded （LD）	2940.0	37°11′58″ N	102°46′17″ E	线叶嵩草、矮生嵩草、扁蓿豆K. capillifolia，Kobresia humilus，Trigonella ruthenica	82~85
中度退化Moderate degraded （MD）	2869.8	37°11′42″ N	102°47′01″ E	矮生嵩草、线叶嵩草、扁蓿豆K. humilus，K. capillifolia，T. ruthenica	70~78
重度退化Severely degraded （SD）	2893.6	37°12′05″ N	102°45′59″ E	乳白香青、矮生嵩草Anaphalis lacteal，K. humilus	32~38

退化程度 Degradation	海拔 Altitude （m）	纬度 Latitude	经度 Longitude	优势物种 Dominant species	植被盖度Vegetation coverage （%）
未退化Non degraded （ND）	3008.3	37°13′05″ N	102°44′11″ E	珠芽蓼、垂穗披碱草、线叶嵩草Polygonum viviparum，Elymus dahuricus，Kobresia capillifolia	98~100
轻度退化Light degraded （LD）	2940.0	37°11′58″ N	102°46′17″ E	线叶嵩草、矮生嵩草、扁蓿豆K. capillifolia，Kobresia humilus，Trigonella ruthenica	82~85
中度退化Moderate degraded （MD）	2869.8	37°11′42″ N	102°47′01″ E	矮生嵩草、线叶嵩草、扁蓿豆K. humilus，K. capillifolia，T. ruthenica	70~78
重度退化Severely degraded （SD）	2893.6	37°12′05″ N	102°45′59″ E	乳白香青、矮生嵩草Anaphalis lacteal，K. humilus	32~38

土层 Soil depth	处理 Treatment	粒级Aggregate size
土层 Soil depth	处理 Treatment	>5 mm	2~5 mm	1~2 mm	0.5~1.0 mm	0.25~0.50 mm	<0.25 mm
0~10 cm	ND	38.53±9.40aA	10.54±0.61cA	5.97±0.67cA	10.47±1.29cAB	10.41±1.65cAB	24.09±6.40bC
	LD	19.81±4.37bB	3.92±0.20dB	4.18±0.45dB	15.46±4.81bcA	11.45±2.43cdA	45.18±6.10aB
	MD	8.82±4.45bcBC	10.08±2.20bcA	6.20±0.36cA	9.93±0.50bcB	12.23±1.81bA	52.74±4.69aAB
	SD	7.04±3.03cC	11.97±0.39bA	5.21±0.73cAB	6.79±1.31cB	6.70±1.42cB	62.29±1.17aA
10~20 cm	ND	65.18±4.29aA	6.61±0.08cB	2.82±0.24cC	4.70±0.68cB	4.98±0.61cB	15.72±2.80bB
	LD	45.00±1.97aB	11.90±0.57cA	5.85±0.16eA	8.71±0.54dA	7.84±0.71dA	20.69±0.01bB
	MD	41.70±4.82aB	9.82±1.25cA	3.46±0.31dB	4.50±1.39dB	3.73±0.47dC	18.73±0.47bB
	SD	39.61±3.13aB	9.63±2.45bA	2.96±0.31cBC	3.44±0.16cB	3.38±0.66cC	40.98±5.06aA
20~30 cm	ND	61.11±7.02aA	9.15±0.08cB	3.42±0.53cA	4.95±1.36cA	5.06±1.45cA	16.30±3.61bD
	LD	51.36±4.02aB	10.84±0.01cA	3.51±0.14dA	4.97±0.52dA	4.87±0.58dA	24.45±2.79bC
	MD	45.75±2.08aB	9.40±0.66cB	2.52±0.26dB	3.55±0.23dAB	3.94±0.20dAB	34.84±1.27bB
	SD	45.58±1.58aB	7.59±1.14cC	2.08±0.21dB	2.25±0.29dB	2.55±0.28dB	39.95±0.98bA

土层 Soil depth	处理 Treatment	粒级Aggregate size
土层 Soil depth	处理 Treatment	>5 mm	2~5 mm	1~2 mm	0.5~1.0 mm	0.25~0.50 mm	<0.25 mm
0~10 cm	ND	38.53±9.40aA	10.54±0.61cA	5.97±0.67cA	10.47±1.29cAB	10.41±1.65cAB	24.09±6.40bC
	LD	19.81±4.37bB	3.92±0.20dB	4.18±0.45dB	15.46±4.81bcA	11.45±2.43cdA	45.18±6.10aB
	MD	8.82±4.45bcBC	10.08±2.20bcA	6.20±0.36cA	9.93±0.50bcB	12.23±1.81bA	52.74±4.69aAB
	SD	7.04±3.03cC	11.97±0.39bA	5.21±0.73cAB	6.79±1.31cB	6.70±1.42cB	62.29±1.17aA
10~20 cm	ND	65.18±4.29aA	6.61±0.08cB	2.82±0.24cC	4.70±0.68cB	4.98±0.61cB	15.72±2.80bB
	LD	45.00±1.97aB	11.90±0.57cA	5.85±0.16eA	8.71±0.54dA	7.84±0.71dA	20.69±0.01bB
	MD	41.70±4.82aB	9.82±1.25cA	3.46±0.31dB	4.50±1.39dB	3.73±0.47dC	18.73±0.47bB
	SD	39.61±3.13aB	9.63±2.45bA	2.96±0.31cBC	3.44±0.16cB	3.38±0.66cC	40.98±5.06aA
20~30 cm	ND	61.11±7.02aA	9.15±0.08cB	3.42±0.53cA	4.95±1.36cA	5.06±1.45cA	16.30±3.61bD
	LD	51.36±4.02aB	10.84±0.01cA	3.51±0.14dA	4.97±0.52dA	4.87±0.58dA	24.45±2.79bC
	MD	45.75±2.08aB	9.40±0.66cB	2.52±0.26dB	3.55±0.23dAB	3.94±0.20dAB	34.84±1.27bB
	SD	45.58±1.58aB	7.59±1.14cC	2.08±0.21dB	2.25±0.29dB	2.55±0.28dB	39.95±0.98bA

因素 Variation source	自由度 Degree of freedom	土壤有机碳 Soil organic carbon	全氮 Total nitrogen	全磷 Total phosphorus	C/N	C/P	N/P
粒级Aggregate size （A）	5	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001
退化程度Degree of degradation （D）	3	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001
土壤深度Soil depth （L）	2	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001
粒级×退化程度A×D	15	<0.001	0.477	0.014	0.349	0.017	0.320
退化程度×土壤深度D×L	6	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001
粒级×土壤深度A×L	10	<0.001	<0.001	0.230	0.149	<0.001	<0.001
粒级×土壤深度×退化程度A×L×D	30	<0.001	0.520	<0.001	0.258	0.027	0.029