[Nutrient contents and microbial populations of aeolian sandy soil in Sanjiangyuan region of Qinghai Province].
Sanjiangyuan region (the headstream of three rivers) in Qinghai Province of China is the highest and largest inland alpine wetland in the world. The study on the nutrient contents and microbial populations of aeolian sandy soils in this region showed that soil organic matter content increased with the evolution of aeolian sand dunes from un-stabilized to stabilized state, being 5.9 and 3.8 times higher in stabilized sand dune than in mobile and semi-stabilized sand dunes, respectively. Soil nitrogen and phosphorus contents increased in line with the amount of organic matter, while potassium content and pH value varied slightly. The microbial populations changed markedly with the development of vegetation, fixing of mobile sand, and increase of soil nutrients. The quantities of soil bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes were 4.0 and 2.8 times, 19.6 and 6.3 times, and 12.4 and 2.6 times higher in stabilized and semi-stabilized sand dunes than in mobile sand dune, respectively, indicating that soil microbial bio-diversity was increased with the evolution of aeolian sand dunes from mobile to stabilized state. In addition, the quantities of soil microbes were closely correlated with the contents of soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and available nitrogen and phosphorus, but not correlated with soil total phosphorus, total and available potassium, or pH value.
Lin
Chao-feng
CF
Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China. lin_chaofeng@yahoo.com.cn
Chen
Zhan-quan
ZQ
Xue
Quan-hong
QH
Lai
Hang-xian
HX
Chen
Lai-sheng
LS
Zhang
Deng-shan
DS
D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003889:Desert Climate; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012988:Soil Microbiology
D012987:Soil; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen