Abstract:

Plants serve as the primary carbon sink carriers in terrestrial ecosystems and are of great significance for maintaining ecological balance.Systematic analysis of the measurement methods of the whole plant carbon sink(plot inventory method,assimilation method,remote sensing estimation method,microclimate method)and its advantages and disadvantages,as well as scope of application.Using the widely adopted assimilation method,compared and analyzed the carbon sink capacity of plants in six vegetation zonesin China,considering plant growth forms,ecological habits,and environmental factors.The results revealedsignificant variations in the carbon sink capacity of plants across different vegetation zones.In the temperate coniferous broad-leaved mixed forest area and the warm temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest zones,trees exhibited slightly higher carbon sink capacities than shrubs.Conversely,in the tropical monsoon rain forest and temperate grassland zones,shrubs demonstrated significantly higher carbon sink capacities than trees.In addition,there are significant differences in carbon sink capacity between coniferous and broadleaved trees.Aquatic and ground cover plants exhibit substantial potential for carbon sink,and have the possibility of further development.The study also indicated that carbon sink measurement methods and environmental factors significantly influence the evaluation ofplant carbon sink capacity.Based on the findings,it is recommended to establish a unified evaluation standard for carbon sink capacity,broadenthe scope of plant species and research coverage,and develop a more comprehensive framework for evaluating and enhancing carbon sink capacities across vegetation zones.Such efforts canprovide scientific guidance for ecological restoration,landscape tree species selection,andachieving carbon neutrality targets.

Key words: vegetation zoning, carbon sink, carbon sink measurement methods, plant carbon sequestration capacity