Abstract: Temperate desert grassland is one of the main grassland types in Xinjiang, which plays an important role in maintaining ecosystem stability of western arid region. The densities of herbaceous, shrubs, litter, aboveground and underground biomass in the 82 plots of temperate desert grasslands in northern Xinjiang were surveyed from 2011 to 2012. The relationship between aboveground biomass and altitude was analyzed. Results showed that the average biomass of herbaceous plant was 70.68 g·m^-2, shrub biomass was 35.28 g·m^-2, litter amount was 25.29 g·m^-2, aboveground biomass was 129.33 g·m^-2, underground biomass was 475.65 g·m^-2, and total biomass was 604.98 g·m^-2 in the temperature desert grassland of northern Xinjiang. Affected by climate, the temperate desert grassland biomass gradually reduced in the northern slop of Tianshan Mountain from west to east; and mainly distributed between 400~1200 m altitude. Herbaceous biomass increased significantly (P<0.01) with the increase of altitude, while shrub biomass reduced significantly (P<0.01) with the increase of altitude. In summary, this study has academic significance for the ongoing management of grassland resources in the northern Xinjiang.

Key words: Northern Xinjiang, The temperate desert, Grassland, Biomass

摘要： 温性荒漠类草地是新疆的主要草地类型,在维持我国西部干旱区生态系统稳定中发挥着重要作用。2011-2012年对北疆地区的温性荒漠类草地82个样地的生物量进行大范围调查,分析了荒漠类草地及其亚类的草本、灌木、凋落物量、地上生物量以及地下生物量的密度,探讨了地上生物量与海拔的关系。结果表明:北疆温性荒漠类草地平均草本生物量为70.68 g·m^-2,灌木生物量为35.28 g·m^-2,凋落物量为25.29 g·m^-2,地上生物量为129.33 g·m^-2,地下生物量为475.65 g·m^-2,总生物量为604.98 g·m^-2。天山北坡自西向东受气候影响,温性荒漠类草地生物量逐渐减少;北疆温性荒漠类草地主要分布在海拔400~1200 m之间,在此区间草本生物量随海拔增加而显著增加(P<0.01),灌木生物量随海拔增加而显著减少(P<0.01)。研究结果对北疆草地资源持续管理有借鉴意义。

关键词: 北疆, 温性荒漠类, 草地, 生物量