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Soil N/P ratio distribution characteristics of alpine grassland ecosystem in QinghaiTibet Plateau. 

WANG Jian-lin1, ZHONG Zhi-ming2, WANG Zhong-hong1, CHEN Bao-xiong2, ZHANG Xian-zhou2, SHEN Zhen-xi2, HU Xing-xiang1, Dacizhuoga1   

  1. (1College of Plant Science, Tibet Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Linzhi 860000, Tibet, China; 2Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)
  • Online:2013-12-18 Published:2013-12-18

Abstract: The distribution characteristics of soil N/P ratio in alpine grassland ecosystem of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were surveyed by field investigation and laboratory analysis. Horizontally, soil N/P ratio was generally higher in west and lower in east in a manner of staggered patch distribution, with higher N/P ratios mainly centralized in the hinterland of northern part of Tibet Plateau and in the lake basin area of the northern foot of Himalayas. Significant differences in soil N/P ratio were observed among grassland types and natural transects. Vertically, the distribution of N/P ratio along the soil profile from aboveground to underground among different grass types could be categorized into five patterns, including low-high-low-high, low-high-low, low-high, high-low-high-low, and high-low-high. The N/P ratio showed a significant positive correlation with soil bulk density at 0-20 cm depth, soil water content at 20-30 cm depth, contents of soil available K and total nitrogen, respectively. However, it showed significant negative correlation with soil bulk density at 20-30 cm depth, contents of soil available P and total P, respectively.