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Aboveground Biomass Dynamics in the Low-Mountain Dry Grasslands of the Tianshan Mountains

Received: 19 March 2019     Published: 23 May 2019
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Abstract

Identifying the dynamics of aboveground biomass (AB) is vital for effective grassland management, yet knowledge on this phenomenon remains limited in the low-mountain dry grasslands (LMDG) of the Tianshan Mountains. In this study, systematic observations were conducted from 2014 to 2017 to determine AB dynamics in the LMDG of the Tianshan Mountains. To accomplish this, a cutting experiment, an HL20 Bowen ratio system, and TDR300 and WatchDog1400 systems were used. AB dynamics had unique characteristics, because of the influence of the unique environment of this region. AB increased rapidly in spring (April – May), and then increased slowly in summer (June – August) and autumn (September – October). Plants entered dormancy in summer (primarily August). In autumn, plants continued to grow after dormancy, except in years with low precipitation which limited plant growth. Plants generally suffered from water stress in this region. However, in spring, the limiting factor for plant growth was heat, not water. Heat might also be the limiting factor for plant growth in autumn. The results are expected to enhance the understanding of AB dynamics in the LMDG of the Tianshan Mountains, providing data to support local grassland management.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 7, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.13
Page(s) 22-26
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Aboveground Biomass, Low-Mountain Dry Grassland, Water Stress, Soil Volumetric Water Content

References
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[6] Zhang W, Zhang F, Qi J, Hou F. Modelling impacts of climate change and grazing effects on plant biomass and soil organic carbon in the Qinghai-Tibetan grasslands. Biogeosciences 2017; 14: 5455-5470. doi: 10.5194/bg-14-5455-2017.
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[8] Zhao WY, Li JL, Qi JG. Changes in vegetation diversity and structure in response to heavy grazing pressure in the northern Tianshan Mountains, China. J. Arid Environ. 2007; 68: 465-479. doi: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2006.06.007.
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  • APA Style

    Xiaotao Huang, Geping Luo, Hao Wang, Jean Baptiste Nsengiyumva. (2019). Aboveground Biomass Dynamics in the Low-Mountain Dry Grasslands of the Tianshan Mountains. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 7(1), 22-26. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.13

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    ACS Style

    Xiaotao Huang; Geping Luo; Hao Wang; Jean Baptiste Nsengiyumva. Aboveground Biomass Dynamics in the Low-Mountain Dry Grasslands of the Tianshan Mountains. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2019, 7(1), 22-26. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.13

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    AMA Style

    Xiaotao Huang, Geping Luo, Hao Wang, Jean Baptiste Nsengiyumva. Aboveground Biomass Dynamics in the Low-Mountain Dry Grasslands of the Tianshan Mountains. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2019;7(1):22-26. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.13,
      author = {Xiaotao Huang and Geping Luo and Hao Wang and Jean Baptiste Nsengiyumva},
      title = {Aboveground Biomass Dynamics in the Low-Mountain Dry Grasslands of the Tianshan Mountains},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
      volume = {7},
      number = {1},
      pages = {22-26},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20190701.13},
      abstract = {Identifying the dynamics of aboveground biomass (AB) is vital for effective grassland management, yet knowledge on this phenomenon remains limited in the low-mountain dry grasslands (LMDG) of the Tianshan Mountains. In this study, systematic observations were conducted from 2014 to 2017 to determine AB dynamics in the LMDG of the Tianshan Mountains. To accomplish this, a cutting experiment, an HL20 Bowen ratio system, and TDR300 and WatchDog1400 systems were used. AB dynamics had unique characteristics, because of the influence of the unique environment of this region. AB increased rapidly in spring (April – May), and then increased slowly in summer (June – August) and autumn (September – October). Plants entered dormancy in summer (primarily August). In autumn, plants continued to grow after dormancy, except in years with low precipitation which limited plant growth. Plants generally suffered from water stress in this region. However, in spring, the limiting factor for plant growth was heat, not water. Heat might also be the limiting factor for plant growth in autumn. The results are expected to enhance the understanding of AB dynamics in the LMDG of the Tianshan Mountains, providing data to support local grassland management.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Aboveground Biomass Dynamics in the Low-Mountain Dry Grasslands of the Tianshan Mountains
    AU  - Xiaotao Huang
    AU  - Geping Luo
    AU  - Hao Wang
    AU  - Jean Baptiste Nsengiyumva
    Y1  - 2019/05/23
    PY  - 2019
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.13
    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    SP  - 22
    EP  - 26
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7667
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20190701.13
    AB  - Identifying the dynamics of aboveground biomass (AB) is vital for effective grassland management, yet knowledge on this phenomenon remains limited in the low-mountain dry grasslands (LMDG) of the Tianshan Mountains. In this study, systematic observations were conducted from 2014 to 2017 to determine AB dynamics in the LMDG of the Tianshan Mountains. To accomplish this, a cutting experiment, an HL20 Bowen ratio system, and TDR300 and WatchDog1400 systems were used. AB dynamics had unique characteristics, because of the influence of the unique environment of this region. AB increased rapidly in spring (April – May), and then increased slowly in summer (June – August) and autumn (September – October). Plants entered dormancy in summer (primarily August). In autumn, plants continued to grow after dormancy, except in years with low precipitation which limited plant growth. Plants generally suffered from water stress in this region. However, in spring, the limiting factor for plant growth was heat, not water. Heat might also be the limiting factor for plant growth in autumn. The results are expected to enhance the understanding of AB dynamics in the LMDG of the Tianshan Mountains, providing data to support local grassland management.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Key Laboratory of Restoration Ecology for Cold Regions in Qinghai, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China

  • University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

  • University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

  • University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

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