Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

The effects of slope aspect on plant and soil properties in sub-alpine meadow of China

Author(s):

Minxia Liu ¹*, Wenjin Li ², Gang Wang ²

Recieved Date: 2013-06-23, Accepted Date: 2013-09-15

Abstract:

Microclimate often affects plant growth, primary production, community structure and functional processes in tundra ecosystems. As the youngest and highest plateau in the world, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is very sensitive to climate change. We therefore hypothesised that slope aspect would significantly affect soil chemical traits and plant functional traits in subalpine meadow. Here we studied the effects of slope aspect on plant and soil properties in sub-alpine meadow of China. We found it significantly higher for plant properties (species richness, Shannon-Wiener index, specific leaf area (SLA), biomass and plant density) and soil properties (soil organic matter (soil corg.), soil total phosphorus (TP) and soil water content (SWC)) at the North-facing slopes, compared to the South-facing slopes. Soil temperature (ST) on the South-facing slope was significantly higher than the North-facing slope. The dominant grass species on South-facing slopes was Kobresia humilis, forbs such as Polygonum vivipurum, Saussurea longifolia and Gentiana farreri dominated slopes with a North-facing aspect. Plant diversities were positively correlated with soil water content, soil total phosphorus, soil organic carbon (SOC) and negativly correlated with ST. These suggest that SWC, ST and soil available nutrients have a synergetic influence on the composition and structure of plant communities on different slope aspects.

Keywords:

Slope aspect, soil properties, species composition, plant diversities, sub-alpine meadow

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2013
Volume: 11
Issue: 3&4
Category: Environment
Pages: 2639-2643

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