SOC storage and potential of grasslands from 2000 to 2012 in central and eastern Inner Mongolia, China

Abstract

Abstract:Grassland ecosystem is an important component of the terrestrial carbon cycle system. Clear comprehension of soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and potential of grasslands is very important for the effective management of grassland ecosystems. Grasslands in Inner Mongolia have undergone evident impacts from human activities and natural factors in recent decades. To explore the changes of carbon sequestration capacity of grasslands from 2000 to 2012, we carried out studies on the estimation of SOC storage and potential of grasslands in central and eastern Inner Mongolia, China based on field investigations and MODIS image data. First, we calculated vegetation cover using the dimidiate pixel model based on MODIS-EVI images. Following field investigations of aboveground biomass and plant height, we used a grassland quality evaluation model to get the grassland evaluation index, which is typically used to represent grassland quality. Second, a correlation regression model was established between grassland evaluation index and SOC density. Finally, by this regression model, we calculated the SOC storage and potential of the studied grasslands. Results indicated that SOC storage increased with fluctuations in the study area, and the annual changes varied among different sub-regions. The SOC storage of grasslands in 2012 increased by 0. kg C. This study will contribute to researches on related methods and fundamental database, as well as provide a reference for the protection of grassland ecosystems and the formulation of local policies on sustainable grassland development.

Structural variability and niche differentiation of the rhizosphere and endosphere fungal microbiome of Casuarina equisetifolia at different ages

“…Li et al [40] and Wang et al [41] have proposed that the content of nitrogen in the soil decreases gradually with the growth of the age of C. equisetifolia, and we got the same result. Organic matter is closely related to soil structure, aeration, permeability, and absorbability, and is one of the indexes of soil fertility [42,43]. Carter [44] reported that increasing soil organic matter content could significantly influence soil microbial diversity.…”

Mechanism and Evolution of Soil Organic Carbon Coupling with Rocky Desertification in South China Karst

“…Karst landforms are unique ecosystems that differ from non-karst areas and are characterized by low stability, poor self-regulation and low environmental capacity. The spatial distribution of SOC in karst areas is highly heterogeneous [17,18]. The spatial heterogeneity of SOC and the ecological environment in karst areas is much greater than in non-karst areas [19].…”

The Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Soil Organic Carbon and Its Effects on Topsoil under Different Karst Landforms

“…Karst areas are unique ecosystems that differ from non-karst areas in terms of terrain and landforms because of the special geological and climatic conditions that lead to karst mountainous areas exhibiting low environmental capacity, low stability and poor self-regulation [12,13]. In different karst regions of Guizhou, the soil environment is coupled with a high rate of rock exposure and a noncontinuous soil layer, and the microtopography is complex, which leads to the development of noncontinuous shallow soil with varying thickness.…”