Degradation induces changes in the soil C:N:P stoichiometry of alpine steppe on the Tibetan Plateau

Due to the Tibetan Plateau’s unique high altitude and low temperature climate conditions, the region’s alpine steppe ecosystem is highly fragile and is suffering from severe degradation under the stress of increasing population, overgrazing, and climate change. The soil stoichiometry, a crucial part of ecological stoichiometry, provides a fundamental approach for understanding ecosystem processes by examining the relative proportions and balance of the three elements. Understanding the impact of degradation on the soil stoichiometry is vital for conservation and management in the alpine steppe on the Tibetan Plateau. This study aims to examine the response of soil stoichiometry to degradation and explore the underlying biotic and abiotic mechanisms in the alpine steppe. We conducted a field survey in a sequent degraded alpine steppe with seven levels in Northern Tibet. The plant species, aboveground biomass, and physical and chemical soil properties such as the moisture content, temperature, pH, compactness, total carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), and total phosphorus (P) were measured and recorded. The results showed that the contents of soil C/N, C/P, and N/P consistently decreased along intensifying degradation gradients. Using regression analysis and a structural equation model (SEM), we found that the C/N, C/P, and N/P ratios were positively affected by the soil compactness, soil moisture content and species richness of graminoids but negatively affected by soil pH and the proportion of aboveground biomass of forbs. The soil temperature had a negative effect on the C/N ratio but showed positive effect on the C/P and N/P ratios. The current study shows that degradation-induced changes in abiotic and biotic conditions such as soil warming and drying, which accelerated the soil organic carbon mineralization, as well as the increase in the proportion of forbs, which were difficult to decompose and input less organic carbon into soil, resulted in the decreases in soil C/N, C/P, and N/P contents to a great extent. Our results provide a sound basis for sustainable conservation and management of the alpine steppe.