Post-wildfire soil and plant foliar nutrient ratios and soil fungi : bacterial ratios in alpine meadows on the southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Zhang ◽  
Lijuan Liu ◽  
Kaiwen Pan ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Yanjie Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Soil Fungi ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Nutrient Ratios ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Alpine Meadows ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Foliar N ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Qinghai Tibet Plateau

Wildfire is increasingly considered as a common ecological phenomenon in grassland. However, little is known about its effects on soil and plant nutrient ratios, especially in alpine ecosystems where wildfires are common. In the present study, nutrient ratios of the post-wildfire surface soil (0–5 cm) and nine dominant plant species leaves, in addition to soil fungi : bacterial ratios (F : B ratios), were investigated in the alpine meadows on the south-eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, approximately 20 months after a high-severity wildfire. The results indicated that the burned sites had lower soil nitrogen : phosphorus (N : P) and nitrogen : potassium (N : K) ratios compared with unburned sites. Moreover, foliar N concentrations were lower on burned than unburned sites, but foliar N : P ratios were not different. Compared with the unburned sites, greater foliar K concentrations and lower N : K ratios were observed in burned sites. The idiosyncratic responses of foliar nutrient ratios to wildfire varied greatly, especially N and related nutrient ratios with plant species. Soil F : B ratios were positively correlated with soil C : N and C : P ratios, whereas they were negatively correlated with soil N : P and N : K ratios. The results of the present study suggest that there is reduced supply capacity of soil N for plants relative to soil P and K in the post-fire alpine meadow, which could have potential ecological implications in this region.

scholarly journals Homegarden agroecosystems managed by Salar people on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingjing Zhu ◽  
Binsheng Luo ◽  
Ben La ◽  
Ruijie Chen ◽  
Fenggui Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Services Research ◽  
Qinghai Tibet Plateau

Abstract Background Salar is a Turkic-speaking Islamic ethnic group in China living mainly in Xunhua Salar Autonomous County (Xunhua or Xunhua County), Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Salar people are skilled in horticulture and their homegarden (HG) management. They are regarded as the first people on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to practice horticulture, especially manage their HGs, traditional farming systems, and supplementary food production systems. Traditional knowledge of Salar people associated with their HGs always contributes significantly to the local livelihood, food security, ornamental value, and biodiversity conservation. The cultivation of different plants in HGs for self-sufficiency has a long tradition in China’s rural areas, especially in some mountainous areas. However, Salar traditional HGs have not been described. The present paper aims to report the features of Salar HGs mostly based on agrobiodiversity and its ecosystem services. Methods The methods used in this work included semi-structured interviews and participatory observation. A total of 60 households in three townships, 9 villages were surveyed. There are 4–12 family members in each household, aged from 20 to 86 years old. The homestead size is between 200 and 1200 m2. Plant species cultivated in Salar HGs were identified according to Flora of China. Based on a comprehensive survey of Salar HGs and related to background data, we identified and characterized the most important services and functions provided by Salar HGs. Results According to primary production systems, there are 4 different types of Salar HGs, including ornamental focus, product focus, dual-purpose and multi-purpose. In total, 108 (excluding weeds and bonsai) plant species were recorded in Salar HGs, within 43 plant families. The most important and frequently used plants are Rosa chinensis, Armeniaca vulgar, Prunus salicina, and Ziziphus jujuba. About 4 to 32 plant species were recorded in each homegarden. We found that the Salar HGs, as a typical agroecosyste, prossess multiple servcices and functions that directly benefit households according to the field investigation. Conclusion This paper reveals the floristic diversity of Salar HGs. It presents useful information in the homegarden agroecosystem of Salar people, such as HG types and species diversity in Salar HGs. Ecosystem functions and services research suggested that the Salar HG agroecosystem provides agroecosystem services mainly related to supply and culture services. Salar HGs are important as food supplement resources, aesthetics symbol, and cultural spaces.

scholarly journals Reduced microbial stability in the active layer is associated with carbon loss under alpine permafrost degradation

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (25) ◽  
pp. e2025321118
Author(s):  
Ming-Hui Wu ◽  
Sheng-Yun Chen ◽  
Jian-Wei Chen ◽  
Kai Xue ◽  
Shi-Long Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Layer ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Permafrost Degradation ◽  
Soil C ◽  
C Cycling ◽  
Microbial Stability ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Qinghai Tibet Plateau ◽  
Permafrost Regions

Permafrost degradation may induce soil carbon (C) loss, critical for global C cycling, and be mediated by microbes. Despite larger C stored within the active layer of permafrost regions, which are more affected by warming, and the critical roles of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in C cycling, most previous studies focused on the permafrost layer and in high-latitude areas. We demonstrate in situ that permafrost degradation alters the diversity and potentially decreases the stability of active layer microbial communities. These changes are associated with soil C loss and potentially a positive C feedback. This study provides insights into microbial-mediated mechanisms responsible for C loss within the active layer in degraded permafrost, aiding in the modeling of C emission under future scenarios.

scholarly journals Productive Overcompensation of Alpine Meadows in Response to Yak Grazing in the Eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tserang-Donko Mipam ◽  
Lin-Ling Zhong ◽  
Jian-Quan Liu ◽  
Georg Miehe ◽  
Li-Ming Tian
Keyword(s):  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Alpine Meadows ◽  
Qinghai Tibet Plateau

scholarly journals Accumulation of Potentially Toxic Trace Elements (PTEs) by Native Plant Species Growing in a Typical Gold Mining Area Located in the Northeast of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Wang ◽  
Xiaorong Xie ◽  
Qifeng Li ◽  
Zhifeng Yu ◽  
Guangde Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Toxic Trace Elements ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Potentially Toxic Trace Elements ◽  
Qinghai Tibet Plateau

Abstract Though gold mines provide significant economic benefits to local governments, mining causes soil pollution by potentially toxic trace elements (PTEs) in mining areas, especially in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Screening of native plant species from mining areas is now an effective, inexpensive, and eco-friendly method for the remediation of PTEs in situ. In the present study, we conducted experiments to assess the accumulation of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn in 12 native plant species growing on a typical gold mining area in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Our results showed that rhizosphere soils have high soil organic matter content, high levels of As, and moderate levels of Cd. G. pylzowianum accumulated relatively higher As in its shoots and exhibited TF higher than 1 for As (4.65), Cd (1.87), and Pb (1.36). P. saundersiana had BCF-S higher than 1 for Cd (4.52) and Pb (1.70), whereas its TF was higher than 1 for As, Cd, Pb, and Zn. These plant species also exhibit strong tolerance to these PTEs. Furthermore, E. nutans accumulated low levels of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn in their shoots and exhibited TF values lower than 1 for the four PTEs. Therefore, G. pylzowianum could be used for the in situ phytoextraction of As, and P. saundersiana can be used as an effective plant for Cd and Pb phytoextraction. E. nutans is better suited for the phytostabilisation of multiple PTEs. Our study is of significant importance for introducing native plant species to remediate PTE-contaminated soils, particularly As and Cd, and has a good potential for developing PTE phytoremediation strategies at mining sites.

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