Characteristics of Grassland Species Diversity and Soil Physicochemical Properties with Elevation Gradient in Burzin Forest Area

Jiaorong Qian, Mao Ye (), Xi Zhang, Miaomiao Li, Weilong Chen, Guoyan Zeng, Jing Che and Yexin Lv
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Jiaorong Qian: College of Geographical and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China
Mao Ye: College of Geographical and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China
Xi Zhang: College of Geographical and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China
Miaomiao Li: College of Geographical and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China
Weilong Chen: College of Geographical and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China
Guoyan Zeng: College of Geographical and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China
Jing Che: College of Geographical and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China
Yexin Lv: College of Geographical and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: In order to explore the changes and interrelationships of grassland plant community species diversity and soil physicochemical properties with elevation gradient, this study takes the grassland in the Burzin forest area of Xinjiang as the research object and analyzes the responses of grassland species diversity, aboveground biomass, and soil physicochemical properties to the changes of elevation gradient within the altitude range of 1000~2200 m in this area. The results of the study show that: (1) The number of species and aboveground biomass reached the highest levels at elevation gradient III and showed a tendency of increasing and then decreasing with elevation. The Margalef and Shannon–Wiener indices were the largest at elevation III, while the Simpson and Alatalo indices were the largest at elevation I. (2) With the change of elevation, the available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), soil electric conductivity (SEC), and soil pH showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing, while soil temperature decreased with elevation. Available potassium and soil water content reached their maximum values at elevation I and elevation IV, respectively. (3) The soil conductivity and diversity index were negatively correlated in elevation gradients I to III. In elevation gradient I~III, soil conductivity was positively correlated with the diversity index and aboveground biomass. Available nitrogen had a significant effect on plant diversity and biomass in elevation gradients IV to VI. (4) Aboveground biomass was significantly positively correlated with the Simpson’s index, while the relationship with the Shannon–Wiener index was less significant, and Margalef’s and Alatalo’s indices were not significant. Soil conductivity and pH significantly affected the Margalef and Simpson indices. Available nitrogen was closely related to the aboveground biomass and Margalef and Alatalo indices. Soil moisture content significantly affected Simpson’s index and the aboveground biomass. This study provides a solid theoretical foundation for the conservation and management of grassland plant community ecosystems along the elevation gradient, and has important reference value for study of the impact of environmental change on species diversity and biodiversity conservation.

Keywords: grassland in Burzin forest area; soil physicochemical properties; α-diversity; aboveground biomass; elevation (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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