Soil organic carbon in semiarid alpine regions: the spatial distribution, stock estimation, and environmental controls

Zhu, Meng; Feng, Qi; Zhang, Mengxu; Liu, Wei; Deo, Ravinesh C.; Zhang, Chengqi; Yang, Linshan

doi:10.1007/s11368-019-02295-6

Cited by 15 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Notably, nutrient concentrations are not only relevant to microbial communities, but are also related to bulk density when they are presented as nutrient pools (concentration times bulk density) [58][59][60]. In this case, soil bulk density might change the relationship between soil nutrients and leaf stoichiometry, because it varies widely with elevation in the study area [61,62], but this needs further exploration. LC:LN increased with SOC:STN, suggesting high SOC:STN can limit growth of P. crassifolia as available soil N is mainly used by soil microbes [63].…”

Section: Effects Of Soil Ph and Soc:stn On Leaf Stoichiometry Of P Crassifoliamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, nutrient limitations based on LN:LP are more speculative, and actual soil stoichiometry may be more useful [71]. Previous studies found that an SOC:STN below 25 indicated sufficient N for plant growth [62]. Since the SOC:STN in the study area was 14.06, it was inferred that the growth of P. crassifolia may not be limited by N. Coupled with global warming and N deposition, the rate of net N mineralization would be accelerated [71], and N available for P. crassifolia growth will further increase.…”

Section: Nutrient Limitations Of P Crassifolia In the Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Elevation Alone Alters Leaf N and Leaf C to N Ratio of Picea crassifolia Kom. in China’s Qilian Mountains

Niu

Kang

et al. 2021

Forests

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Leaf stoichiometry of plants can respond to variation in environments such as elevation ranging from low to high and success in establishing itself in a given montane ecosystem. An evaluation of the leaf stoichiometry of Qinghai Spruce (Picea crassifolia Kom.) growing at different elevations (2400 m, 2600 m, 2800 m, 3000 m, and 3200 m) in eastern China’s Qilian Mountains, showed that leaf carbon (LC) and leaf phosphorus (LP) were similar among elevations, with ranges of 502.76–518.02 g·kg−1, and 1.00–1.43 g·kg−1, respectively. Leaf nitrogen (LN) varied with changes of elevation, with a maxima of 12.82 g·kg−1 at 2600 m and a minima of 10.74 g·kg−1 at 2800 m. The LC:LN under 2400 m and 2600 m was lower than that under other elevations, while LC:LP and LN:LP were not different among these elevations. Except for LN and LC:LN, P. crassifolia’s other leaf stoichiometries remained relatively stable across elevations, partly supporting the homeostasis hypothesis. Variations in leaf stoichiometry across elevations were mainly linked to mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, soil pH, and the soil organic C to soil total N ratio. P. crassifolia growth within the study area was more susceptible to P limitation.

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Section: Effects Of Soil Ph and Soc:stn On Leaf Stoichiometry Of P Crassifoliamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Nutrient Limitations Of P Crassifolia In the Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevation Alone Alters Leaf N and Leaf C to N Ratio of Picea crassifolia Kom. in China’s Qilian Mountains

Niu

Kang

et al. 2021

Forests

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“…Thus, a comprehensive evaluation of the spatio-temporal patterns of SOC stocks in alpine regions may enable us to better understand the carbon-climate feedback [9][10][11]. This knowledge will help us to take dedicated adaptive measures to improve the soil carbon stock in alpine regions under future climate change [12,13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Soil Organic Carbon Stock Dynamics under Future Climate Change Scenarios in the Middle Qilian Mountains

Liu

Zhu

et al. 2021

Forests

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Soil organic carbon (SOC) simply cannot be managed if its amounts, changes and locations are not well known. Thus, evaluations of the spatio-temporal dynamics of SOC stock under future climate change are crucial for the adaptive management of regional carbon sequestration. Here, we evaluated the dynamics of SOC stock to a 60 cm depth in the middle Qilian Mountains (1755–5051 m a.s.l.) by combining systematic measurements from 138 sampling sites with a machine learning model. Our results reveal that the combination of systematic measurements with the machine learning model allowed spatially explicit estimates of SOC change to be made. The average SOC stock in the middle Qilian Mountains was expected to decrease under future climate change, while the size and direction of SOC stock changes seemed to be elevation-dependent. Specifically, in comparison with the 2000s, the mean annual precipitation was projected to increase by 18.37, 19.80 and 30.80 mm, and the mean annual temperature was projected to increase by 1.9, 2.4 and 2.9 °C under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6 (low-emissions pathway), RCP4.5 (low-to-moderate-emissions pathway), and RCP8.5 (high-emissions pathway) scenarios by the 2050s, respectively. Accordingly, the area-weighted SOC stock and total storage for the whole study area were estimated to decrease by 0.43, 0.63 and 1.01 kg m–2 and 4.55, 6.66 and 10.62 Tg under the RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, respectively. In addition, the mid-elevation zones (3100–3900 m), especially the subalpine shrub-meadow Mollic Leptosols, were projected to experience the most intense carbon loss. However, the higher elevation zones (>3900 m), especially the alpine desert zone, were characterized by significant carbon accumulation. As for the low-elevation zones (<2900 m), SOC was projected to be less varied under future climate change scenarios. Thus, the mid-elevation zones, especially the subalpine shrub-meadows and Mollic Leptosols, should be given priority in terms of reducing CO2 emissions in the Qilian Mountains.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reasons for variation in soil properties and leaf stoichiometry of P. fruticosa with elevation Elevation regulates temperature and precipitation (Lozano-García et al, 2014;Zhu et al, 2019), and by their in uences the distribution of vegetation. For example, in the Qilian Mountains, temperature decreases and precipitation increases with elevation (Chang et al, 2014) result in shifting vegetation types: < 2400 m, steppe desert; 2,400 m to 3,300 m, forest steppe; 3,300 m to 3,600 m, subalpine scrub and grassland ; 3,600 m to 3,900 m, alpine scrubs and meadow; > 3,900 m, ice and snow (Zhu et al, 2019). Likewise, different elevations differ in vegetation types, biomass, quantity and quality of litter, roots and soil microbial communities (Macinnis-Ng and Schwendenmann, 2015; Bargali et al, 2018;Yang et al, 2018), which in turn affect soil physical and chemical properties (Table 1, 2) (Zhou et al, 2013;Cherubin et al, 2018, Qin et al, 2019.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaf Stoichiometry of Potentilla Fruticosa Across Elevations Ranging from 2400 m to 3800 m in China’s Qilian Mountains (Northeast Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau)

Liu

Qin

Zhang

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: Plant species have developed their individual leaf stoichiometries to adapt to changes in the environment. Changes in plant leaf stoichiometry with elevation are largely undocumented, but could provide information critical to protecting or enhancing a species’ growth and development and manage the ecosystem housing it. We investigate the leaf stoichiometry of Potentilla fruticosa L. along with different elevations in China’s Qilian mountains (Northeast Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau). This study aims to reveal how elevations effect of the leaf stoichiometry of Potentilla fruticosa L. along with various soil properties in China’s Qilian mountains .Results: In our study, we selected seven elevations 2,400 m, 2,600 m, 2,800 m, 3,000 m, 3,200 m, 3,500 m, and 3,800 m elevation. We sampled leaves at top and middle of P. fruticosa from each of seven elevations. Maximum and minimum leaf carbon (C) concentrations ([C]leaf) of 523.59 g kg-1 and 402.56 g kg-1 were measured at 2,600 m and 3,500 m, respectively. Showing a generally increasing trend with elevation, leaf nitrogen (N) concentration ([N]leaf) peaked at 3,500 m (27.33 g kg-1). Leaf phosphorus (P) concentration ([P]leaf) varied slightly over elevations of 2,400 m to 3,200 m, then dropped to a minimum (0.60 g kg-1) at 3800 m. While [C]leaf:[N]leaf, [C]leaf:[P]leaf and [N]leaf:[P]leaf varied little between 2,400 m and 3,000 m, at higher elevations they fluctuated somewhat, the latter two showing a decrease at 3,200 m followed by an increase at higher elevations. The soil organic C, pH, and soil total P were the main factors influencing P. fruticosa leaf stoichiometry. The limiting nutrients were P. Conclusions: We highlight the dependency of leaf stoichiometry on slope aspect and elevation. As P. fruticosa is a major alpine shrub in this region and plays an important role in maintaining ecological functions and services on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, measures should be adopted to improve P. fruticosa growth by preventing P loss, especially at higher elevations where significant P losses occur due to high precipitation and sparse vegetation.

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Soil organic carbon in semiarid alpine regions: the spatial distribution, stock estimation, and environmental controls

Cited by 15 publications

References 58 publications

Elevation Alone Alters Leaf N and Leaf C to N Ratio of Picea crassifolia Kom. in China’s Qilian Mountains

Elevation Alone Alters Leaf N and Leaf C to N Ratio of Picea crassifolia Kom. in China’s Qilian Mountains

Assessing Soil Organic Carbon Stock Dynamics under Future Climate Change Scenarios in the Middle Qilian Mountains

Leaf Stoichiometry of Potentilla Fruticosa Across Elevations Ranging from 2400 m to 3800 m in China’s Qilian Mountains (Northeast Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau)

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