Spatial and temporal variation of biomass carbon stocks in Xilingol grassland

Study on the spatial pattern of grassland carbon stock has a very important significance on the global carbon cycle and global warming. There exist an obvious spatial differences in the distribution of grassland biomass carbon stock that influenced by the zonal natural factors such as precipitation, air temperature, solar radiation and topography. In this paper, we analyzed the spatial pattern of carbon stocks in Xilingol grassland ecosystem by employing the CASA model and plants withered loss model. The results indicate that biomass carbon stock in Xilingol grassland gradually reduced from east to west, i.e. the largest carbon stock was distributed in northeast area, particularly in the Wujomqin banner. The relative high value was distributed in the middle parts of the study area, and the lowest is located in the western regions. Specifically, the spatial pattern of grassland biomass carbon stock in Xilingol was characterized by high-medium-high-medium-low distribution from northeast to southwest. It was directly related to the distribution of climate factors, vegetation types and soil types. There also exist the large regional differences in spatial distribution changes from 2002 to 2009, with some variability. In the west, grassland biomass carbon stock experienced increasing trend, and gradually reduced in the east of Xilingol from 2002 to 2009.