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Journal of Desert Research ›› 2021, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (2): 145-152.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2020.00105

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Effects of water input on litter decomposition and nitrogen dynamics of desert vegetation in the Liangucheng National Nature Reserve, Gansu, China

Chengbing Gao1(), Zongqiang Chang2()   

  1. 1.Managing Bureau of Liangucheng National Reserve,Minqin 733300,Gansu,China
    2.Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Lanzhou 730000,China
  • Received:2020-07-23 Revised:2020-09-23 Online:2021-03-20 Published:2021-03-26
  • Contact: Zongqiang Chang

Abstract:

Based on the rainfall interception experiment of four different rainfall gradients (control and three levels:interception of 30%, 50% and 80%) in Liangucheng National Nature Reserve, the litter decomposition and nutrient release of inorganic soil nitrogen and in-situ net nitrogen mineralization of typical desert vegetation were observed and analyzed in two consecutive years. The main results are: (1) With the decrease of water input, the decomposition rate of litter also decreased, and there was a positive correlation between litter decomposition rate and annual precipitation. On the contrary, net nitrogen mineralization has nothing to do with precipitation. (2) Soil NO3- significantly decreased with increasing precipitation input, whereas soil NH4+ concentration did not differ among precipitation interception treatments. (3) In Liangucheng National Nature Reserve, the decomposition rate of desert vegetation litter is closely related to the actual rainfall, and under different control conditions, the content of carbon and nitrogen in the litter changes with time.

Key words: Liangucheng National Nature Reserve, desert ecosystem, decomposition, nitrogen release, rainfall interception

CLC Number: