Active Restoration of Carbon Poor Degraded Grassland Accelerated Subsoil Carbon Accumulation and Turnover
Description
The study, conducted in Zoige County on the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, examined three alpine grassland types differing in initial soil organic carbon (SOC) content (C-rich, C-middle, and C-poor) under non-restored, passively restored, and actively restored conditions. In August 2022, vegetation surveys measured species composition, coverage, height, and aboveground biomass, while soil samples were collected from 0–10 cm and 20–30 cm depths for physico-chemical analyses, bulk density, and microbial biomass measurements. Additional soil cores were taken for belowground biomass. Active restoration involved sowing locally adapted grass species, whereas passive restoration relied on natural recovery with grazing exclusion. Laboratory analyses determined plant nutrients, SOC, total C and N, and microbial biomass C and N. Soil incubation experiments at three temperatures (5 °C, 15 °C, 25 °C) assessed SOC mineralization rates and temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀), with CO₂ release monitored over 28 days.
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The dataset was obtained through field sampling and laboratory analyses conducted in August 2022 in alpine grasslands of Zoige County, eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China. Three site types differing in initial soil organic carbon (SOC) content (C-rich, C-middle, C-poor) were selected, each including non-restored, passively restored, and actively restored plots. Vegetation data were collected by measuring species composition, coverage, height, and aboveground biomass within 1 m × 1 m subplots. Soil samples were collected at 0–10 cm and 20–30 cm depths using a 15 cm diameter soil auger for physico-chemical analysis, microbial biomass, and incubation studies. Laboratory measurements included SOC, total carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon, and microbial biomass C and N, following standard protocols such as the Kjeldahl method, potassium dichromate oxidation, and chloroform fumigation–extraction. Soil incubation experiments at 5 °C, 15 °C, and 25 °C were performed to determine SOC mineralization rates and temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀). No specialized software or automated workflows were used for data collection; measurements were performed using standard laboratory instruments (e.g., elemental analyzer, pH meter, spectrophotometer) and field equipment.
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- the National Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province, ChinaGrant ID: 2023NSFSC0196
- the Open Project of State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai UniversityGrant ID: 2024-KF-07