Dynamics of above- and below-ground biomass and C, N, P accumulation in the alpine steppe of Northern Tibet

Abstract

The temporal dynamics of the biomass, as well as the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) concentrations and accumulation contents, in aboveand below-ground vegetation components were determined in the alpine steppe vegetation of Northern Tibet during the growing season of 2010. The highest levels of total biomass (311.68 g m−2), total C (115.95 g m−2), total N (2.60 g m−2), and total P (0.90 g m−2) accumulation contents were obtained in August in 2010. Further, biomass and nutrient stocks in the below-ground components were higher than those of the above-ground components. The dominant species viz., Stipa purpurea and Carex moorcrofti had lower biomass and C, N, P accumulations than the companion species which including Oxytropis. spp., Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Aster tataricus L., and so on.