Biogeographic Patterns of Sulfur in the Vegetation of the Tibetan Plateau. Issue 3 (21st March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Wenzong; Xiao, Chunwang; Li, Mingxu; Xu, Li; Li, Xin; Zhu, Xingyu; Cheng, Changjin; He, Nianpeng
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 128:Issue 3(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2023-03-21
• Subjects: element -- sulfur -- vegetation -- density -- storage -- machine learning; Geobiology -- Periodicals; Biogeochemistry -- Periodicals; Biotic communities -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 577.14
• DOI: 10.1029/2022JG007051
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-8953

Abstract

Abstract: Sulfur (S) plays an important role in plant growth and development. However, due to climatic conditions and limited data availability, the variation and allocation of S are largely unknown at regional or global scales. In this study, we systematically evaluated the S distribution patterns and storage in vegetation on the Tibetan Plateau for the first time, based on consistent field‐measured data of 2, 040 plant communities. The mean S contents of leaves, branches, trunks, and roots were 1.68, 0.40, 0.19, and 1.45 g kg −1, respectively; corresponding to S densities of 0.40 × 10 −2 (9.57%), 1.18 × 10 −2 (28.38%), 1.37 × 10 −2 (32.90%) and 1.21 × 10 −2 t hm −2 (29.15%), respectively. The mean S densities for forests (5.59 ± 0.26 × 10 −2 t hm −2 ) were higher than that of shrublands (4.54 ± 0.51 × 10 −2 t hm −2 ), grasslands (1.03 ± 0.07 × 10 −2 t hm −2 ), and deserts (1.32 ± 0.28 × 10 −2 t hm −2 ). The S density was generally lower in the northwest and higher in the southeast of the Tibetan Plateau and had divergent allocation patterns between different plant organs and vegetation types. Furthermore, we found that S in leaves and roots was more strongly influenced by environmental factors and was particularly sensitive to radiation and atmospheric pressure. Moreover, the total S storage in the vegetation of the Tibetan Plateau was estimated to be 337.32 × 10 4 t, with 114.32 × 10 4 (33.89%), 92.36 × 10 4 (27.38%), 128.77 × 10 4 (38.17%), and 1.86 × 10 4 t (0.55%) in the forests, shrublands, grasslands, and deserts, respectively. Our study clarified the S densities of different plant organs and ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau and compiled 1 × 1 km vegetation S density data sets, which could help determine the key parameters for regional S cycle models in the future. Plain Language Summary: Sulfur (S) is one of the essential macronutrients for plant growth and development. Exploring the variation and allocation of S in different organs of plants can help us better understand the nutrient utilization strategies and adaptations of plants to climate change. Vegetation is one of the important S pools on the Tibetan Plateau; however, the spatial distribution patterns of S and its underlying factors remain limited. In this study, biogeographic patterns of S in the vegetation of the Tibetan plateau were investigated using systematic field data of 2, 040 plant communities. We found that S content varied significantly in different plant organs and was higher in leaves and roots, especially in desert areas. The northeastern Tibetan Plateau held the higher S density, which was primarily in the forests. A total of 337.32 × 10 4 t of S was stored in vegetation of the Tibetan Plateau, 38.17% of which was distributed in grasslands. Moreover, our study provided the S content, density, and storage data sets of vegetation in the Tibetan Plateau. These insights should improve regional S cycle models and facilitate the development of more effective S management strategies. Key Points: Variation and allocation of S in vegetation of the Tibetan plateau were investigated using systematic field data of 2, 040 plant communities S content differed significantly among organs and was higher in leaves and roots Vegetation stored about 337.32 × 10 4 t S in the Tibetan plateau