Soil nutrient characteristics of alpine meadow at different degradation degrees in Eastern Qilian Mountains

The soil nutrients of alpine meadow at different degradation degrees in the eastern region of Qilian Mountains were reported in this study. The results of this study indicated that the contents of soil total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available manganese and iron decreased along with the degradation, and meanwhile, the pH value increased. The organic matter, available zinc, nitrogen and phosphorus content decreased firstly and then increased, and the organic matter content were the lowest at severe degradation degrees, and the available zinc, nitrogen and phosphorus content were the lowest at moderate degradation degree, and the total potassium and available copper content were similar among different degradation degrees. The content of organic matter and total nitrogen at 20-30 cm layer was higher that at surface soil layer at extreme degradation degree. On the whole the soil organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, available phosphorus and phosphorus zinc declined and available iron, copper and manganese increased as the soil depth increased.