Distribution characteristics and influential factors of vegetation carbon density of alpine grassland ecosystem in the south slope of Gongga Nan Shan - Lhagoi Kangri mountains

Alpine grasslands are one of the most widely distributed vegetation types on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In this paper, alpine grassland ecosystem of Gongga Nan Shan - Lhagoi Kangri mountains southern slopes as targeted field, alpine grassland ecosystem carbon density distribution of vegetation characteristics and influencing factors were studied with a combinative test methods of field investigation and laboratory analysis. The results showed that the average vegetation carbon density was 0.8435 ± 0.6048 kg/m2 and coefficient variation was 71.69% in Gongga Nan Shan - Lhagoi Kangri mountains southern slopes of alpine grassland ecosystems. With the elevation increasing, vegetation carbon density showed increase to decrease in distribution characters in the altitude scope of 4424–4804 m. The key environmental factors which effected vegetation carbon density were vegetation height, biomass 0-10 cm below-ground, 10–20 cm below-ground biomass, 0–40 cm soil moisture, 0–20 cm soil bulk density, 20–40 cm soil bulk density, soil organic matter, soil available potassium and soil available nitrogen.