Comparisons of vegetation and soil characteristics of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The present study analyzed the plant biomass, soil physical and chemical properties and soil microbial quantities of different community composition using quadrat sampling method. The results showed the aboveground biomass of Salix paraqplesia alpine shrubs meadow was significantly higher (P0.05) than that of Polygonum macrophyllum meadow, Kobresia tibetica swamp meadow and K. pygmaea meadow, successively. The underground biomass of K. tibetica swamp meadow was significantly higher (P0.05) than that of K. pygmaea meadow, S. paraqplesia shrubs meadow and Potentilla fruticosa meadow, successively. Soil organic matter and soil total nitrogen of K. tibetica swamp meadow were higher than those of P. macrophyllum meadow, S. paraqplesia shrubs meadow and K. pygmaea meadow. On the contrary, the soil microbial quantities of P. macrophyllum meadow which had middle level of soil nutrients contents were largest.