3.3 Phytolith and PhytOC contents in grassland plants
Phytolith and PhytOC contents in the above- and belowground biomass varied substantially among plant species, and across grassland types (Fig.1, Fig.2). In the aboveground part, the phytolith content was highest in Carex duriuscula (39.96±2.21 g kg-1) and lowest in Salsola collina (4.23±0.09 g kg-1) in desert steppe. The phytolith content in belowground biomass varied from 7.99±1.34 g kg-1 inSalsola collina in desert steppe to 126.0±9.86 g kg-1 in Stipa grandis in wet typical steppe. The PhytOC content in aboveground biomass was in the range of 0.23±0.06 g kg-1 in Salsola collina to 3.63±0.73 g kg-1 in Allium bidentatum in desert steppe; the PhytOC content in belowground biomass was also lowest in Salsola collina (0.40±0.13 g kg-1), but highest inScorzonera divaricata (1.96±0.09 g kg-1) in desert steppe (Fig.2).