Li, Yuqiang

Zhao, Halin

Zhou, Ruilian

English

University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky UKnowledge International Grassland Congress Proceedings 21st International Grassland Congress / 8th International Rangeland Congress Effects of Desertification on C and N Contents and Storages in Horqin Sandy Grassland, Northern China Halin Zhao Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Yuqiang Li Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Ruilian Zhou Ludong University, China Follow this and additional works at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc  Part of the Plant Sciences Commons, and the Soil Science Commons This document is available at https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/21/6-2/23 The 21st International Grassland Congress / 8th International Rangeland Congress took place in Hohhot, China from June 29 through July 5, 2008. Proceedings edited by Organizing Committee of 2008 IGC/IRC Conference Published by Guangdong People's Publishing House This Event is brought to you for free and open access by the Plant and Soil Sciences at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in International Grassland Congress Proceedings by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact UKnowledge@lsv.uky.edu. 瞯 ]796　 瞯 　 Multifunctional Grasslands in a Changing World 　 Volume Ⅰ 　Grasslands/Rangelands Resources and Ecology ——— Reclamation of Grasslands/RangelandsEffects of desertification on C and N contents and storages in Horqin sandy grassland , northernChinaHa‐L in Zhao1 , Y u‐Qiang L i1 , Rui‐L ian Zhou21 Cold and A rid Regions Env ironment and Engineering Institute , Chinese A cademy o f Sciences , L anz hou , 730000 , China2 Faculty o f L i f e Sciences , L udong University , Y antai , 264025 , ChinaKey words : desertification ; carbon and nitrogen ; content and storage ; sandy grassland ; northern ChinaIntroduction Sandy grasslands are widespread in northern China , where desertification of grassland is very common because ofovergrazing and wind erosion . However , very little is known about the effects of desertification on grassland C and N contentsand storages in this region .Materials and methods A field experiment was conducted in the Horqin sandy grassland during ２００３ to ２００４ , where degree ofdesertification gradients could be utilized to evaluate C and N contents and storages in plant , litter , and soil components relativeto the degree of desertification .Results The results showed that that ( １ ) land desertification could result in significant decreases in soil carbon and nitrogencontents , but the decrease of carbon and nitrogen contents in the plant and litter was not significant in the desertificationprocesses ; (２) the carbon and nitrogen storages decreased significantly with increase of grassland desertification degrees ; thecarbon and nitrogen storages lost by the desertification reached up to １０７ .５３Mt and ９畅９７Mt in Horqin Sand Land during thelast one century , and the average amounts lost per unit area were ３ .６ kg /m２ and ０ .３ kg /m２ ; ( ３ ) the ９２‐９６％ carbon storageand ９６‐９７％ of the nitrogen lost by desertification came from soil organic C and total N ; the carbon and nitrogen storages lost inplants and litter accounted only for ３‐７％ and ２‐３％ of total lost carbon and nitrogen storage ; ( ４ ) most of the carbon andnitrogen in the grassland are lost in early stages of the desertification process ( in the light and moderate desertified stages) , theamount of carbon and nitrogen lost was less in later desertification stages ( in the heavy and severe stages) ; (５ ) the loss of soilorganic C and N storages results mainly from decrease of nutrients‐rich soil fine particles eroded by wind . The decrease of plantand litter carbon and nitrogen storages results mainly from loss of soil potential productivity .

Effects of Desertification on C and N Contents and Storages in Horqin Sandy Grassland, Northern China

https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3132&amp;context=igc

Effects of Desertification on C and N Contents and Storages in Horqin Sandy Grassland, Northern China

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