Soil organic carbon pools in alpine to nival zones along an altitudinal gradient (4400-5300 m) on the Tibetan Plateau

• Ohtsuka Toshiyuki

  Institute for Basin Ecosystem Study, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagito, Gifu, Gifu 501-1193, Japan

• Hirota Mitsuru

  Sugadaira Montane Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 1278-294 Sugadaira, Ueda, Nagano 386-2204, Japan

• Zhang Xianzhou

  Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Daduanlu Jia 10, Zhaoyang, Beijing 100101, China

• Shimono Ayako

  Environmental Biology Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan

• Senga Yukiko

  Faculty of Geo-Environmental Science, Rissho University, 1700 Magechi, Kumagaya, Saitama 360-0194, Japan

• Du Minguan

  Agro-Meteorology Division, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, 3-1-3 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8604, Japan

• Yonemura Seiichiro

  Agro-Meteorology Division, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, 3-1-3 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8604, Japan

• Kawashima Shigeto

  Agro-Meteorology Division, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, 3-1-3 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8604, Japan

• Tang Yanhong

  Environmental Biology Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan

Abstract

To accurately estimate soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in upper alpine to nival zones on the Tibetan Plateau, we inventoried SOC pools in 0-0.3 m profiles along an altitudinal gradient (4400-5300 m asl). We also studied vegetation properties and decomposition activity along the gradient to provide insight into the mechanisms of SOC storage. The vegetation cover and belowground root biomass showed a gradual increased with altitude, reaching a peak in the upper alpine zone at 4800-4950 m before decreasing in the nival zone at 5200-5300 m.Decomposition activity was invariant along the altitudinal gradient except in the nival zone. SOC pools at lower sites were relatively small (2.6 kg C m^<-2> at 4400 m), but increased sharply with altitude, reaching a peak in the upper alpine zone (4950 m; 13.7 kg C m^<-2>) before decreasing (1.0 kg C m^<-2> at 5300 m) with altitude in the nival zone. SOC pool varied greatly within individual alpine meadows by a factor of five or more, as did bulk density, partly due to the effect of grazing. Inventory data for both carbon density and bulk density along altitudinal gradients in alpine ecosystems are of crucial importance in estimating global tundra SOC storage.

Journal

• Polar science

  Polar science 2 (4), 277-285, 2008-12

  National Institute of Polar Research

Keywords

• Soil organic carbon
• Alpine ecosystems
• Tibetan Plateau
• Altitudinal gradient

Details

• CRID: 1573387452398361728
• NII Article ID: 110007089159
• NII Book ID: AA12240481
• ISSN: 18739652
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • CiNii Articles