Biomass allocation between above- and below-ground and it impacted factors of shrubby areas and grasslands in upper heihe river basin of China

Abstract

Biomass allocation between above- and below-ground has an important effects on carbon storage, and it change was often affected by soil properties and other disturbances. 22 and 41 plots were selected for shrub and grassland, respectively, in various altitude from 2552 to 4103m in upper Heihe river basin of China, and some physical factors (e.g. cover, species, soil bulk density, field capacity) and chemical factors (e.g. pH, available P and K, soil organic matter) were adopted to explore the relationship between these factors and the biomass allocation between above- and below- ground compartment. The results showed that the above: below ground ratios was 11 and 12 in shrubby areas and grassland respectively, and pH, cover and available P were the main factors that influenced biomass allocation, suggesting that the ratio can be changed by increasing cover and species diversity, and by increasing available P buy fertilization.