Abstract:Carbon storage, composition and patterns of six ecosystems (Paddy field (ST), dry land (HD), grassland (CD), shrubbery (GC), artificial forest (RGL) and secondary forest (CSL)) were analyzed by the sample method in a canyon karst region, Southwestern of China. The results showed that: 1) The carbon storage of vegetation in the 6 ecosystems were ordered from large to little as: RGL(121.53) > CSL(116.76)>GC(54.14) > CD(36.05)>ST=HD(0.00) 103kgC/hm2, and carbon storage of tree layer in RGL and CSL, herbaceous layer in CD and shrub layer in GC dominated the total vegetation, respectively. 2) The carbon storage of ground cover: CSL(18.34) > GC(5.82) > RGL(3.96) > CD(0.47) > ST=HD(0.00) 103 kg C/hm2, only contributed 0%-4.9% to the total carbon storage of the ecosystems. 3) Soil carbon content was in the sequence of CSL (44.11) > RGL (29.39)>GC (21.50) > CD (19.81) > ST (17.56)> HD (16.70) g C/kg, and soil carbon storage was CD (153.12) > CSL (126.11) > ST (112.26) > HD (115.31)>RGL (65.04) >GC (52.69) 103kgC/hm2. Both of soil carbon content and storage decreased significantly with soil depth, and had a good linear relationship with soil depth. 4) Carbon storage of the whole ecosystems was CSL(261.21) > RGL(190.53) > CD(189.64) > HD(115.31) > GC(112.65) > ST(112.26) 103kgC/hm2, and the carbon pattern in RGL was plant > soil, opposite the CSL, but they were aboveground > underground, that in GC was plant ≈ soil and underground > aboveground, that in ST, HD and CD was soil > plant and underground > aboveground. Therefore, carbon sequestration potential in the canyon karst region of southwestern of China is large, reducing disturbance, fit measures of returning Paddy field to forest or grass, and reasonable management countermeasures would be the key to promote quickly vegetation recovery and ecology reconstruction and increase carbon storage in the region.
