Effect of Management Patterns on Soil Respiration of Subalpine Meadow at the Southern Margin of Tibetan Plateau

In order to explore the impact of management patterns on soil respiration rate of subalpine meadow at the southern margin of Tibetan Plateau, the free grazing meadow, growing season fencing meadow (fencing for 4 years), total fencing meadow (fencing for 4 years), and mowing and fencing meadow (mowing for 25 years), which locate in Xiao Zhongdian Town,Shangri-La, were selected as research plots. And the soil respiration rates of subalpine meadow under different management patterns were studied. The results showed as follows:(1) the diurnal and seasonal variation tendency of soil respiration rate could not be changed by management patterns. As the time changes from 8:00 a.m to 18:00 p.m, the soil respiration rate of subalpine meadow increased first, the maximum value occurred at 14:00-16:00, and then decreased. During the growing season from June to October, the soil respiration rate of subalpine meadow increased first, the maximum value occurred at late July to early August, and then decreased significantly (P0.05). (2) The rank of average soil respiration rate of subalpine meadow in different management patterns was total fencing 4 years mowing and fencing 25 years growing season fencing 4 years free grazing, and the soil respiration rates at total fencing and mowing and fencing plots were significantly higher than those at growing season fencing and free grazing plots (P0.05).The results of this study can not only provide a scientific basis for estimating carbon exchange of subalpine meadow between soil and atmosphere, but also can provide a guidance for constituting appropriate management strategies of subalpine meadow.The results of this study can not only provide a scientific basis for estimating carbon exchange of subalpine meadow between soil and atmosphere, but also can provide a guidance for constituting appropriate management strategies of subalpine meadow.