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Summary:
This data set provides two data files in text format (.txt). One file contains bi-weekly measurements of above-ground live biomass recorded during the growing season (early May to early October) from 1980 through 1989 on a cold desert steppe at the Inner Mongolia Grassland Research Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences within the Xilingol Biosphere Reserve. The second file contains monthly and annual climate data recorded at the study site from 1978 through 1989.
The study site contains grassland steppes of Leymus chinense and Stipa grandis which are the dominant vegetation types, respectively, in the Eastern Eurasian steppe zone (semi-arid and sub-humid) and the middle Eurasian steppe zone (semi-arid). Both steppes provide good livestock forage and are used mainly as natural grazing lands.
Above-ground net primary production (ANPP) was estimated by summing peak live biomass of each of 5 species categories. Peak live biomass of L. chinense steppe occurred between late July and late August and averaged 182.68 g/m2 between 1980 and 1988 while that of S. grandis steppe occurred in mid August to early September and averaged 144.43 g/m2 over the same time period. Mean ANPP for L. chinense steppe during 1980-1989 was 248.63 g/m2/yr. ANPP for S. grandis steppe was not calculated. Data are only provided for the Leymus chinense steppe in this data set.
Revision Notes: Only the documentation for this data set has been modified. The data files have been checked for accuracy and are identical to those originally published in 1996.
Figure 1. Lightly-grazed fenced plot in the foreground, with grazed lands in the background, near the Xilingol grassland site (Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station), China. (The dominant grass is Leymus chinense. The man on horseback is holding a long herding stick. Photograph taken 7th August 1997 by L. Christensen, NREL, Colorado State University, USA).
Additional Documentation
The NPP data collection contains field measurements of biomass, estimated NPP, and climate data for terrestrial grassland, tropical forest, temperate forest, boreal forest, and tundra sites worldwide. Data were compiled from the published literature for intensively studied and well-documented individual field sites and from a number of previously compiled multi-site, multi-biome data sets of georeferenced NPP estimates. The principal compilation effort (Olson et al., 2001) was sponsored by the NASA Terrestrial Ecology Program. For more information, please visit the NPP web site at http://daac.ornl.gov/NPP/npp_home.shtml.
Data Citation:
Cite this data set as follows:
Xiao, X., and D. Ojima. 2015. NPP Grassland: Xilingol, China, 1980-1989, R1. Data set. Available on-line [http://daac.ornl.gov] from Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. http://dx.doi.org/10.3334/ORNLDAAC/156
This data set was originally published as:
Xiao, X., and D. Ojima. 1996. NPP Grassland: Xilingol, China, 1980-1989. Data set. Available on-line [http://daac.ornl.gov] from Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.
Table of Contents:
- 1 Data Set Overview
- 2 Data Description
- 3 Applications and Derivation
- 4 Quality Assessment
- 5 Acquisition Materials and Methods
- 6 Data Access
- 7 References
1. Data Set Overview:
Project: Net Primary Production (NPP)
The one million hectare Xilingol Biosphere Reserve (also known as the Xilin Gol Biosphere Reserve) in the Xilin River basin is located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, about 60-km southeast of Xilinhaote City and about 600 km north of Beijing. It was established as China’s first grassland biosphere reserve in 1987 to protect the biodiversity of a typical steppe ecosystem and to develop models of sustainable grassland resource use for improved well-being of the local people. The area is extensively grazed by wild herbivores and domestic livestock managed mainly by sedentary herders. Before 1950, the area was used by nomadic Mongols as pasture land. Within the Reserve is the Baiyinxile Livestock Farm which is used for demonstrating traditional and alternative methods of raising animals such as horses, sheep and goats on the grassland and means of animal husbandry to local herders.
Two permanent experiment sites (25-ha each) with grazing exclosures were established at the Baiyinxile Livestock Farm in 1979, one for a L. chinense steppe and one for a S. grandis steppe. In this study, long-term dynamics of climate and above-ground biomass of the two steppes were studied with the objectives of: (1) quantifying temporal variability of biomass, primary production, water use efficiency, and rain use efficiency of the steppes; and (2) establishing quantitative relationships between these parameters and climatic variables. Only data for L. chinense steppe are provided in this data set.
Figure 2. A permanent exclosure near the Xilingol grassland site, China. (Typical steppe grassland dominated by Leymus chinense, Baiinxele Farm, Inner Mongolia; photograph taken 10th August 1997 by Lindsey Christensen, Colorado State University, USA).
2. Data Description:
Spatial Coverage
Site: Xilingol, China
Site Boundaries: (All latitude and longitude given in decimal degrees)
| Site (Region) | Westernmost Longitude | Easternmost Longitude | Northernmost Latitude | Southernmost Latitude | Elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xilingol, Chin | 116.63 | 116.63 | 43.72 | 43.72 | 1,200 |
Spatial Resolution
25-ha enclosed steppe with 1-m2 plots
Temporal Coverage
1980/07/29-1989/09/27
Temporal Resolution
Approximately every two weeks
Data File Information
Table 1. Data file descriptions
| FILE NAME | TEMPORAL COVERAGE | FILE CONTENTS |
|---|---|---|
| xln_npp.txt | 1980/07/29-1989/09/27 | Above-ground live biomass data for the Leymus chinense cold desert steppe within the Xilingol Biosphere Reserve, Inner Mongolia |
| xln_cli.txt | 1978/01/01-1989/12/31 | Climate data from a weather station at the Xilingol study site |
NPP Data. This data set contains one NPP data file (.txt format). The first 18 lines are metadata; data records begin on line 19. The variable values are delimited by semicolons. Biomass units are in g/m2 (dry matter weight). There are no missing values.
Table 2. Column headings in NPP files
| COLUMN HEADING | DEFINITION | UNITS |
|---|---|---|
| Site | Site where data were gathered (code refers to site identification) | text |
| Treatmt | Long term management of site (code refers to treatment described in metadata in data file) | |
| Year | Year in which data were collected | yyyy |
| Mn | Month in which data were collected | mm |
| Dy | Day on which data were collected | dd |
| Tyear | Date in decimal year (year plus the Julian date divided by 365) | numeric |
| AGbiomass | Above-ground live biomass | g/m2 |
Sample NPP Data Record
| Site;Treatmt;Year;Mn;Dy;Tyear; AGbiomass xln;lngtrm;1980;07;29;1980.580; 70.9 xln;lngtrm;1980;08;27;1980.660; 74.0 xln;lngtrm;1980;09;26;1980.740; 85.4 xln;lngtrm;1981;05;29;1981.410; 55.4 xln;lngtrm;1981;07;01;1981.500; 106.9 xln;lngtrm;1981;07;30;1981.580; 227.8 xln;lngtrm;1981;08;28;1981.660; 210.9 xln;lngtrm;1981;09;30;1981.750; 36.5 ... |
Climate Data. Climate data are provided in one text file (.txt format). The first 18 lines are metadata; data records begin on line 19. The variable values are delimited by semi-colons. There are no missing values.
Sample Climate Data Record
| Site;Temp;Parm; Jan; Feb; Mar; Apr; May; Jun; Jul; Aug; Sep; Oct; Nov; Dec; Year xln;mean;prec; 2.7; 4.3; 4.3; 14.8; 25.1; 62.9; 90.2; 81.9; 52.9; 12.3; 5.2; 4.0; 360.6 xln;mean;tmax;-13.5;-10.3; -1.3; 10.6; 19.2; 23.7; 25.7; 23.4; 17.7; 10.6; -1.4;-10.9; 26.1 xln;mean;tmin;-30.0;-27.7;-17.7; -4.8; 2.1; 7.9; 11.5; 10.0; 2.0; -6.2;-17.3;-26.1; -30.1 xln;numb;prec; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0 xln;numb;tmax; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0 xln;numb;tmin; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0; 12.0 xln;stdv;prec; 1.4; 2.2; 2.7; 7.5; 12.0; 35.4; 51.4; 41.6; 42.4; 9.0; 4.5; 2.6; 125.6 xln;stdv;tmax; 2.9; 3.4; 2.4; 3.0; 1.2; 1.2; 2.2; 1.2; 0.9; 2.1; 3.4; 2.9; 1.7 xln;stdv;tmin; 2.6; 2.7; 2.7; 3.0; 1.5; 1.8; 1.7; 1.8; 1.6; 2.3; 2.8; 2.4; 2.5 xln;1978;prec; 4.0; 3.2; 7.5; 9.3; 43.7; 96.4;158.4;155.5;167.7; 5.7; 1.7; 2.5; 655.6 xln;1978;tmax;-15.9;-13.2; -2.2; 10.3; 19.1; 22.5; 25.1; 22.4; 19.5; 9.3; 1.5; -7.9; 25.1 xln;1978;tmin;-31.9;-31.2;-21.1; -6.5; 0.4; 6.9; 8.7; 7.9; -0.2;-11.0;-19.2;-28.2; -31.9 … Where, Temp (temporal) - specific year or long-term statistic: mean = mean based on all years numb = number of years stdv = standard deviation based on all years Parm (parameter): prec = precipitation for month or year (mm) tmax = mean maximum temperature for month or year (C) tmin = mean minimum temperature for month or year (C) |
3. Data Application and Derivation:
The objectives of this study were to: (1) quantify temporal variability of biomass, primary production, water use efficiency, and rain use efficiency of the Xilingol steppes; and (2) establish quantitative relationships between these parameters and climatic variables.
4. Quality Assessment:
Field data show that there were large interannual variations in seasonal dynamics and magnitude of above-ground biomass of the L. chinense steppe during 1980-1989. The date on which community peak above-ground live biomass occurred shifted every year, although seasonal community above-ground live biomass followed a unimodal growth pattern. Peak above-ground live biomass was used as a crude estimate of ANPP.
On the average, ANPP of the L. chinense steppe (248.63 g/m2/yr) at the study site is much higher than ANPP of shortgrass steppe (97 g/m2/yr) in the Central Plain Experiment Range in Colorado, USA, where annual precipitation is similar (Lauenroth and Sala, 1992). It is slightly higher than or close to ANPP of northern mixed prairie of northern American grasslands where annual precipitation is higher, ranging from 400 mm to 600 mm (Sims and Singh, 1978). The relatively high ANPP of L. chinense steppe may be attributed partially to (1) optimum monthly and seasonal distribution of precipitation and temperature (Xiao et al. 1995) and (2) coarser soil texture in Inner Mongolia grasslands. Comparatively high biological N-fixation could be another factor.
5. Data Acquisition Materials and Methods:
Site Information
Two permanent experiment sites (25-ha each) were established at the Baiyinxile Livestock Farm in 1979, one for L. chinense steppe one for a S. grandis steppe. The S. grandis site is about 6 km west of the L. chinense site. The study sites are representative of "typical steppe" grasslands with a warm, wet growing season from the end of April to early October. The steppes were very lightly grazed by sheep and cattle before enclosures were established in 1979 because they are far away from drinking water spots and residential villages. There was little difference in species composition and plant biomass between the inside and outside enclosure areas, due to very light degree of livestock grazing, according to the field survey in July-August 1987 (Hayashi et al., 1988).
The Xilin River basin has a continental mid-temperate semi-arid climate. Winter is usually cold and dry, while summer is generally warm and wet (Chen, 1988). The average annual mean temperature and annual precipitation in the period of 1980-1989 were 0.02 degrees C and 313.3 mm, respectively. Stable snow cover exists from the end of November to March. The non-frost period lasts about 102-136 days. Grass plants initiate growth at the end of April and continue growing until September, a growing season of about 150 days (Jiang, 1985).
The L. chinense site is located in a smooth wide plain with low hills on a 2nd-level basalt platform, approximately 1,200-m in altitude. Low hills occur with a relative height of 20-30 m with <5 degree slope. Of 86 species of flowering plants that belong to 28 families and 67 genera at the site, there are 11 grass species (Jiang, 1985). Community cover is about 30-40% and may reach 60-70% in wet years. The soil is dark chestnut (Mollisol) and the soil depth is usually over 100 to 150 cm (Wang and Cai, 1988). The A horizon reaches 20-30 cm deep. Soil textures average 21% clay, 19% silt and 60% sand. Litter covers the soil surface and no soil erosion occurs.
The S. grandis site with 52 species of flowering plants is located in a open high plain on a 1st-level basalt platform, approximately 1,130-m in altitude. Community cover is usually about 25%, and may reach 50% on wet years (Xiao et al., 1995). Soil is typically chestnut (Mollisol) and soil depth is less than 1 m (Wang and Cai, 1988). The A horizon is about 20-cm deep. On average, soil texture is 21% clay, 30% silt and 49% sand.
The study area has been described by Jiang (1985; 1988) and the soils by Wang and Cai (1988). Grassland productivity has been studied by Hayashi et al. (1988) and more recently by Xiao et al. (1995; 1996). Only data for L. chinense steppe is provided in this data set.
Figure 3. Another view of a permanent exclosure near the Xilingol grassland site, China. (Typical steppe grassland dominated by Leymus chinense, Baiinxele Farm, Inner Mongolia, 43.55 N 116.68 E; photograph taken 10th August 1997 by Lindsey Christensen, Colorado State University, USA).
Table 3. Site characteristics
| Description | Values |
|---|---|
| mean annual precipitation | 360 mm |
| mean monthly minimum temperature | -30.0 degrees C (Jan) |
| mean monthly maximum temperature | 25.7 degrees C (July) |
| vegetation type | steppe |
| dominant species |
Leymus chinense and Stipa grandis (both C3) |
| historical long-term management regime | light grazing |
| peak above-ground live biomass (typical month) |
Leymus chinense 183 g/m2 (mean) Stipa grandis 144 g/m2 (mean) |
| soil type | dark chestnut, coarse texture |
| soil pH | data not available |
| soil texture (sand/ silt/ clay) |
Leymus chinense 0.60 / 0.19 / 0.21 Stipa grandis 0.49 / 0.30 / 0.21 |
| soil carbon content | Leymus chinense 5,405 g/m2 (0-20 cm) |
| soil nitrogen content | Leymus chinense 414 g/m2 (0-20 cm) |
Table 4. ANPP, BNPP, and TNPP values for the Xilingol Leymus chinense steppe reported by various published data sources
| Source | Units | ANPP | BNPP | TNPP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiao et al. (1995) | g/m2/yr | 248.63 | na | na |
| GPPDI Class B Site #983 (MI 1532) in Olson et al. (2013a) | gC/m2/yr | 110 | ||
| EMDI Class B Site #983 in Olson et al. (2013b) |
Notes: MI = Measurement identification number. na = not available.
Methods
Field sampling began in the enclosed steppe in early May and ended in mid-October of each year, 1980-1989. Measurements were made at intervals of about 2 weeks. Five 1-m2 quadrats were randomly placed at each sampling date. Cover, density, growth height and phenological phases of each species were recorded. Above-ground biomass of individual species was measured by the harvest technique. Plant materials were clipped to the ground surface, and litter on the harvested quadrats was collected. At the laboratory, the clipped plant material was separated into live and standing-dead parts, which were weighed as the fresh weight of live biomass and standing dead, respectively. These plant materials were then oven-dried at 65 degrees C and dry weights of live biomass and standing dead were measured. In 1987-1989, only measurements of above-ground live biomass was made. Peak above-ground live biomass was used as a crude estimate of ANPP.
Figure 4. Measurements in progress near the Xilingol grassland site, China. (Lindsey Christensen, Colorado State University, and Han Yuan Hong, Institute of Botany, Beijing, are detemining ground cover by species at a typical steppe grassland dominated by Leymus chinense on the Baiinxele Farm in Inner Mongolia, 43.82 N 116.68 E; photograph taken August 1997 by Dr. M.B. Coughenour, Colorado State University, USA).
6. Data Access:
This data set is available through the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC).
Data Archive:
Web Site: http://daac.ornl.gov
Contact for Data Center Access Information:
E-mail: uso@daac.ornl.gov
Telephone: +1 (865) 241-3952
7. References:
Chen, Z. 1988. Topography and climate of Xilin river basin. In: Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station (ed.). Research on Grassland Ecosystems 3: 13-22. Science Press, Beijing. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Hayashi, I., S. Jiang, and T. Nakamura. 1988. Phytomass production of grasslands in Xilin river basin, Xilingol, Inner Mongolia, China. Bull. Sugadaira Montane Res. Cen. 9: 19-31.
Jiang, S. 1985. An introduction to the Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station, Academia Sinica. In: Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station (ed.). Research on Grassland Ecosystems 1: 1-13. Science Press, Beijing. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Jiang, S. 1988. The setting-up of the grassland ecosystem research sites and their vegetation status. In: Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station (ed.). Research on Grassland Ecosystems 3: 13-22. Science Press, Beijing. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Lauenroth, W.K. and O.E. Sala. 1992. Long-term forage production of North American shortgrass steppe. Ecol. Appl. 2(4): 397-403. doi:10.2307/1941874
Olson, R.J., K.R. Johnson, D.L. Zheng, and J.M.O. Scurlock. 2001. Global and Regional Ecosystem Modeling: Databases of Model Drivers and Validation Measurements. ORNL Technical Memorandum TM-2001/196. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.
Olson, R.J., J.M.O. Scurlock, S.D. Prince, D.L. Zheng, and K.R. Johnson (eds.). 2013a. NPP Multi-Biome: Global Primary Production Data Initiative Products, R2. Data set. Available on-line [http://daac.ornl.gov] from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. doi:10.3334/ORNLDAAC/617
Olson, R.J., J.M.O. Scurlock, S.D. Prince, D.L. Zheng, and K.R. Johnson (eds.). 2013b. NPP Multi-Biome: NPP and Driver Data for Ecosystem Model-Data Intercomparison, R2. Data set. Available on-line [http://daac.ornl.gov] from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. doi:10.3334/ORNLDAAC/615
Sims, P.L. and J.S. Singh. 1978. The structure and function of ten western North American grasslands. III. Net primary production, turnover and efficiencies of energy, capture and water use. J. Ecol. 66: 573-597. doi:10.2307/2259152
Wang, J. and W. Cai. 1988. Studies on genesis, types and characteristics of the soils of the Xilin river basin. In: Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station (ed.). Research on Grassland Ecosystems 3: 23-83. Science Press, Beijing. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Xiao, X., S. Jiang, Y. Wang, D.S. Ojima and C.D. Bonham. 1996. Temporal variation in aboveground biomass of Leymus chinense steppe from species to community levels in the Xilin River Basin, Inner Mongolia, China. Vegetatio 123: 1-12. doi:10.1007/BF00044884
Xiao, X., Y. Wang, S. Jiang, D.S. Ojim,a and C.D. Bonham. 1995. Interannual variation in the climate and aboveground biomass of Leymus chinense steppe and Stipa grandis steppe in the Xilin river basin, Inner Mongolia, China. Journal of Arid Environments 31: 283-299. doi:10.1016/S0140-1963(05)80033-3
Additional Sources of Information:
Chen, Z., H. Dehua and Z. Hongfang. 1985. The characteristics of element chemistry of 122 plant species on the Xilin river basin, Inner Mongolia. In: Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station (ed.). Research on Grassland Ecosystems 1: 112-131. Science Press, Beijing. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Jiang, S., Q. Qiuhui and K. Dezhen. 1985. A comparative study on production of Aneurolepidium chinense and Stipa grandis steppe communities at Baiyinxile Livestock Farm in Inner Mongolia Region. In: Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station (ed.). Research on Grassland Ecosystems 1: 12-23. Science Press, Beijing. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Li, B., Y. Shipeng and L. Zhonghou. 1988. The vegetation of the Xilin river basin and its utilization. In: Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station (ed.). Research on Grassland Ecosystems 3: 84-183. Science Press, Beijing. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Li, Y. 1989. Impact of grazing on Aneurolepidium chinense steppe and Stipa grandis steppe. Acta Oecologica/Oecol. Applications 10: 31-46.
Li, Y. 1992. Accordance of the grassland dynamics on temporal gradient of restoration succession to their changes on spatial gradient of grazing. In: Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station (ed.). Research on Grassland Ecosystems 4: 1-7. Science Press, Beijing. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Liu, S. and L. Zongling. 1988. Outline of flora of the Xilin river basin, Inner Mongolia. In: Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station (ed.). Research on Grassland Ecosystems 3: 227-268. Science Press, Beijing. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Qi, Q., J. Shu and W. Yifeng. 1985. A preliminary study on the relation of structure and biomass of Aneurolepidium chinense grassland community. In: Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station (ed.). Research on Grassland Ecosystems 1: 38-47. Science Press, Beijing. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Tieszen, L.L. and S. Bingyu. 1990. Stable carbon isotopic variation among plants of the Inner Mongolian grasslands. In: Jiang Shu, Chen Zuozhong and Xiao Xiangming, eds. Reports from the Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station of Academia Sinica (1979-1988). Science Press, Beijing. pp. 273-287.
Wang, Y., Y. Shipeng and L. Zhongling. 1979. Vegetation characteristics of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Acta Botanica Sinica 21: 274-283.