[Relationships between belowground biomass of alpine grassland and environmental factors along an altitude gradient]

Taking Bayanbulak alpine grassland on the southern slope of Tianshan Mountain, Xin-jiang as test object, the relationships between belowground biomass and environmental factors along an altitude gradient were analyzed. The results showed that with increasing altitude, the below-ground biomass of alpine steppe dominated by Stipa purpurea and Festuca ovina, alpine steppe meadow dominated by Kobresia capillifolia and S. purpurea, and alpine meadow dominated by Carex stenocarpa, Alchemilla tianschanica, and K. capillfolia all increased gradually. There was a significant positive correlation between altitude and belowground biomass (P<0.01). The belowground biomass decreased with soil deep and with a 'T' shape distribution. In alpine steppe, alpine steppe meadow, and alpine meadow, the belowground biomass in 0-10 cm soil layer occupied 68.1%, 84.1% and 86.7% of the total, respectively. The below-ground biomass of the alpine grassland was negatively correlated with air temperature and positively correlated with relative humidity and soil water content (P<0.01), but had no significant correlation with soil organic matter, available nitrogen, and pH value.