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Determining Soil Nutrients Reference Condition in Alpine Region Grassland, China: A Case Study of Hulun Buir Grassland

Author

Listed:
  • Jiaxun Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Feifei Cao

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Di Wu

    (Institute of Architecture Design and Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100086, China)

  • Xiao Fu

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China)

  • Ye Tian

    (State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Gang Wu

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

Abstract

Grasslands represent a source of nutrient cycling, ecosystem stabilization, and services for human use. Grassland soil quality is commonly used as an indicator of ecosystem health and sustainability due to its strong correlation with overall grassland quality and ecosystem health. Although direct and indirect effects of human activities or disturbances on soil can be taken into account, a benchmark (i.e., the reference condition (RC)) should be used and is needed to describe the baseline of an area without significant anthropogenic disturbance. Therefore, determination of the soil reference condition and suitable selection methods have become a key focal point in grassland protection and ecological assessments. In this study, several methods were selected to determine soil nutrient concentrations of Hulun Buir Grassland in northern China based on the proposed criteria. The concentrations of total organic matter, N, P, and K; 112 samples were analyzed using the population distribution method, trisection method, and regression model method. The reference concentrations of total organic matter, N, P, and K in soil were recommended to be 52.12 g/kg, 2.94 g/kg, 2.08 mg/kg, and 305.76 mg/kg, respectively. In the alpine region grassland, the major factors that impact nutrient concentration were agricultural activity and vegetation coverage. Sampling methods should be used preferentially in determining grassland soil reference condition and historical data; experts’ judgment could be used in substitution.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiaxun Li & Feifei Cao & Di Wu & Xiao Fu & Ye Tian & Gang Wu, 2018. "Determining Soil Nutrients Reference Condition in Alpine Region Grassland, China: A Case Study of Hulun Buir Grassland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:12:p:4666-:d:188825
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter M Rose & Mark J Kennard & David B Moffatt & Fran Sheldon & Gavin L Butler, 2016. "Testing Three Species Distribution Modelling Strategies to Define Fish Assemblage Reference Conditions for Stream Bioassessment and Related Applications," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(1), pages 1-23, January.
    2. J. L. Bamber & W. P. Aspinall, 2013. "An expert judgement assessment of future sea level rise from the ice sheets," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(4), pages 424-427, April.
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    1. Shiyong Sun & Zebo Li & Rongjia Wang & Jianfeng Zhang & Chunxia Pan & Zeyu Cai, 2019. "Conversion of Secondary Forests into Chestnut Forests Affects Soil Nutrients in Anji County, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-14, April.

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