Distribution Characteristics of Carbon Density in Plant–Soil System of Temperate Steppe and Temperate Desert in the Longzhong Loess Plateau

Yali Li, Guoxing He, Xiaoni Liu (), Heguang Xu, Tong Ji, Dong Lin and Jiachang Jiang
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Yali Li: Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou 730070, China
Guoxing He: Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou 730070, China
Xiaoni Liu: Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou 730070, China
Heguang Xu: Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou 730070, China
Tong Ji: Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou 730070, China
Dong Lin: Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou 730070, China
Jiachang Jiang: Grassland Technique Extension Station of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: Grassland, as a key component of the carbon cycle in terrestrial ecosystems, is vital in confronting global climate change. Characterising the carbon density of grassland ecosystems in the Longzhong Loess Plateau is important for accurately assessing the contribution of grasslands to global climate change and achieving the goal of “peak carbon” and “carbon neutral”. In this study, the Longzhong Loess Plateau was used as the research object to explore changes in the plant–soil system carbon density in two grassland types by analysing the aboveground vegetation biomass carbon density, belowground vegetation biomass carbon density, 0–100 cm soil carbon density, and ecosystem carbon density of temperate steppe and temperate desert. The results showed that the vegetation biomass (standing and living, litter, and belowground biomass), soil, and ecosystem carbon densities of the temperate steppe were significantly higher than those of the temperate desert ( p < 0.05). Their carbon densities were 700.51, 7612.95, and 8313.45 g·m −2 , respectively. The vertical distribution of belowground biomass and soil carbon density in the temperate steppe was significantly higher than that in the temperate desert. The overall trend of belowground biomass carbon density in the temperate steppe and temperate desert showed a gradual decrease, whereas soil carbon density showed a steady increase. More than 91% and 96% of the carbon was stored in soil in the temperate steppe and temperate desert, respectively, and the belowground biomass carbon stock accounted for more than 84% of the total biomass carbon pools in both temperate steppe and temperate desert. Temperate steppe has a significant effect in improving the carbon stock of grassland ecosystems, so ecological protection and restoration of grassland should be strengthened in the future to enhance the capacity of grassland to sequester carbon and increase sinks.

Keywords: Longzhong Loess Plateau; temperate steppe; temperate desert; carbon density; vertical distribution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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