Xin Wang1,2, Yanbin Wen1,2,
Weiwei Pei1,2, Yangong Du1*
1Northwest
Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining,
China, 810008
2 University of
Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China, 100049
Correspondence E-mail: ygdu@nwipb.cas.cn, ckl7813@163.com
Abstract:Clarifying
the spatial distribution of soil
organic carbon (SOC) can provide a theoretical basis for mitigating
carbon emissions. The characteristics of SOC and soil organic carbon
density (SOCD) change in different vegetation and soil types, and the
response mechanism of SOC content to environmental factors are unclear.
Thus, 131 sites were selected for sampling from the 0‒30 cm soil layer
to study regional SOC and SOCD spatial distribution. The results showed
that the SOCD in the northwestern region was lower than that in the
southeastern in the northeast of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateaue. Both SOC
and SOCD were affected by the
vegetation type. The order of
vegetation types was swamp > meadow > steppe
> desert. Furthermore, SOC content decreased with
increasing soil depth in the 0‒30 cm soil layer. The SOC and SOCD
contents also differed among the different soil types. The order of SOC
from largest to smallest was alpine meadow soil > bog soil
> chestnut soil > saline-alkali soil
> alpine steppe soil > grey-brown desert. The
path analysis showed that TN significantly positively affected SOC
(P < 0.001). This study aimed to provide a scientific
basis for grassland carbon sink management in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Keywords: SOC; SOCD; spatial
distribution; vegetation types; soil types