2017 Dataset of Soil Physiochemical Properties in the Sanjiangyuan and Its Surrounding Areas

Grassland ecology is the main body of the ecological environment in the Sanjiangyuan. Natural grasslands are the material foundation for the development of ecological animal husbandry, while soil is the substrate for plant survival in the ecosystem and an indispensable part of the ecosystem. In 2017, during the plant greening period, peak grass period, and withering yellow period, the longitude, latitude, and altitude of each survey area were located using GPS in Sanjiangyuan and its surrounding areas (32.29° N -35.25° N, 92.44° E -102.27°E), plant samples were collected from the ground by cutting the plants in the sample plot (0.5m×0.5m). And soil samples were collected using a soil drill in a zigzag pattern during the peak grass period, the undisturbed samples collected by the ring knife were used for soil bulk density determination. After air drying, the plant and soil samples are crushed and ground to determine the dry matter of the plants, as well as the content of crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, NDF, ADF, and ADL in the dry matter. And the soil pH, the content of soil organic carbon, soil inorganic carbon, soil total nitrogen, soil inorganic nitrogen, soil total phosphorus, and soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were also determined. Quality control is carried out through methods such as measuring standard samples, parallel samples, and sample sampling. By conducting vegetation and soil investigation and analysis on the Three Rivers Source and its surrounding areas, we aim to provide support for the establishment of a sound soil and vegetation database on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, as well as ground observation data for remote sensing inversion and model validation.