Elymus natans is a dominant native species
widely planted to restore the heavily degraded alpine
meadows in Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. The objective
of this study was to determine how E. natans
establishment affected the quality and fertility of a
heavily degraded soil. Soil samples (at depths of 0–
10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm) were collected from the 3-
and 7-year-old E. natans re-vegetated grasslands, and
in the heavily degraded alpine meadow (control). The
establishment of E. natans promoted plant cover and
aboveground biomass. Compared to the non-reseeded
meadow, the concentration of total organic C increased
by 13% in the soil under 3-year-old reseeded
E. natans grassland at 0–10 cm, and by 7–33% in the
soil under 7-year-old reseeded E. natans grassland at
0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm depths. Rapid increases in
total and available N were also observed in two E.
natans re-vegetated grasslands, especially in the 0–
10 cm soil layer. Across three sampling depths, total P
concentration was increased by 17–35% and 18–54%
in 3- and 7-year-old reseeded soil respectively, compared
to the soil of control. After 3 years of E. natans
growth, microbial biomass C increased by 13–58% at
0–10 and 10–20 cm layers; while it increased by 43–
87% in 7-year-old reseeded treatment at 0–10, 10–20
and 20–30 cm depths relative to control. A similar
increasing trend was observed for microbial biomass
N and P generally. Significant increase in neutral
phosphatase, urease, catalase and dehydrogenase was
also found in 3- and 7-year-old re-vegetated grasslands
compared with heavily degraded meadow. Our
results suggest a significant positive impact of E.
natans establishment on soil quality. Thus, E. natans
establishment could be an effective and applicable
measure in restoring heavily degraded alpine meadow
in the region of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
widely planted to restore the heavily degraded alpine
meadows in Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. The objective
of this study was to determine how E. natans
establishment affected the quality and fertility of a
heavily degraded soil. Soil samples (at depths of 0–
10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm) were collected from the 3-
and 7-year-old E. natans re-vegetated grasslands, and
in the heavily degraded alpine meadow (control). The
establishment of E. natans promoted plant cover and
aboveground biomass. Compared to the non-reseeded
meadow, the concentration of total organic C increased
by 13% in the soil under 3-year-old reseeded
E. natans grassland at 0–10 cm, and by 7–33% in the
soil under 7-year-old reseeded E. natans grassland at
0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm depths. Rapid increases in
total and available N were also observed in two E.
natans re-vegetated grasslands, especially in the 0–
10 cm soil layer. Across three sampling depths, total P
concentration was increased by 17–35% and 18–54%
in 3- and 7-year-old reseeded soil respectively, compared
to the soil of control. After 3 years of E. natans
growth, microbial biomass C increased by 13–58% at
0–10 and 10–20 cm layers; while it increased by 43–
87% in 7-year-old reseeded treatment at 0–10, 10–20
and 20–30 cm depths relative to control. A similar
increasing trend was observed for microbial biomass
N and P generally. Significant increase in neutral
phosphatase, urease, catalase and dehydrogenase was
also found in 3- and 7-year-old re-vegetated grasslands
compared with heavily degraded meadow. Our
results suggest a significant positive impact of E.
natans establishment on soil quality. Thus, E. natans
establishment could be an effective and applicable
measure in restoring heavily degraded alpine meadow
in the region of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
The research has been published on Plant Soil (2010) 327:403–411
DOI 10.1007/s11104-009-0065-3
DOI 10.1007/s11104-009-0065-3
Ruizhang Feng & Ruijun Long & Zhanhuan Shang &
Yushou Ma & Shikui Dong & Yanlong Wang
Yushou Ma & Shikui Dong & Yanlong Wang