2026-10-13T17:59:20Z https://www.scidb.cn/oai

10.57760/sciencedb.013u3 2026-09-24T14:20:09Z

2026-09-24 Shrub expansion increases particulate organic carbon accumulation through reduced shoot litter decomposition rates doi:10.57760/sciencedb.013u3 en This dataset contains research data on the impacts of shrub expansion on soil organic carbon (SOC) and its fractions in an alpine meadow ecosystem on the Tibetan Plateau. The study site is located in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province, China (2960 m a.s.l.).The core data were obtained through paired field sampling and in situ microcosm decomposition experiments, including:Vegetation and litter traits: Above- and belowground biomass, litter inputs, and initial chemical properties (C, N, P, lignin, and cellulose contents) of herbaceous plants and the dominant shrub (Potentilla fruticosa).Litter decomposition dynamics: Mass loss and decomposition rate constants (k) of shoot and root litter over a two-year in situ incubation.Soil carbon fractions and microbial properties: Total SOC, particulate organic carbon (POC), mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) in the 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil layers.Purpose: This dataset aims to elucidate the mechanistic links between vegetation shifts (shrubification) and soil C stabilization, demonstrating that poor-quality shrub litter drives POC accumulation and MAOC depletion. These data provide essential support for predicting the vulnerability of soil carbon pools in alpine grasslands under global environmental change. Shrub expansion; Litter production; Litter decomposition; C sequestration; Tibetan Plateau Xiaoming Mou PUBLIC https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ dataset Science Data Bank