Distribution characteristies and influential factors of vegetation carbon density of alpine grassland ecosystem in the south slope of Gongga South Mountain-Lhagoi Kangri mountain
Alpine grasslands are one of the most widely distributed vegetation types on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In this paper, alpine grassland ecosystem of Gongga South Mountain-Lhagoi Kangri mountain southern slopes as targeted field,alpine grassland ecosystem carbon density distribution of vegetation characteristics and influencing factors were studied with a combinative test methods of field investigation and laboratory analysis. The results showed that the average vegetation carbon density was 0.8435 + 0.6048 kg/m~2 and coefficient variation was 71.69% in Gongga South Mountain-Lhagoi Kangri mountains southern slopes of alpine grassland ecosystems. With the elevation increasing, vegetation carbon density showed increase to decrease in distribution characters in the altitude scope of 4424-4804 m. The key environ-mental factors which effected vegetation carbon density were vegetation height, biomass 0-10 cm below-ground, 10-20 cm below-ground biomass, 0-40 cm soil moisture, 0-20 cm soil bulk density, 20-40 cm soil bulk density, soil organic matter, soil available potassium and soil available nitrogen.