Abstract

CHAN, Zhou et al. The effects of fencing on biomass and carbon storage in the grasslands of various counties at Liaoning, northeastern China. Multequina [online]. 2021, vol.30, n.1, pp.67-98. ISSN 1852-7329.

Grasslands play a major role in carbon (C) storage (i.e., sequestration). The objectives of this study were to determine (1) the effects of grassland fencing on aboveground, root and total plant (aboveground + litter + belowground) biomasses, and aboveground, root, total plant, to tal soil and grassland C storages in various counties of the Liaoning Province, China, and (2) the relationship between total plant biomass and total plant C storage on fenced and unfenced areas in various counties at Liaoning. Results showed that fenced areas had a greater (p<0.05) total plant biomass (> 60%) and C storage (> 64%), and total soil C storage (> 47%), and a 50% greater (p<0.05) total grassland C storage than unfenced areas in all studied counties. Mean carbon storages for all studied counties decreased > 37% on roots and > 6% in the soil as soil depth increased. There was a linear, positive relationship between total plant biomass and total plant C storage in all studied counties (R2> 0.95, p<0.05). Our results indicate that fencing may be an important management strategy for restoring lightly or moderately degraded grassland in Liaoning.

Keywords : Biomass; C storage; Fencing; Grassland; Liaoning.

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