plant coverage. Plant species richness was recorded as the number of plant species in the quadrat. The sum of all plant individuals in the quadrat was considered as an estimated of plant community density. All standing litter and living aboveground biomass of one 2
0.5 1 m quadrat were clipped in each plot at peak biomass in September 2013, oven-dried at 65 C to constant weights, and then added together as aboveground net primary production (ANPP). Roots were sampled to 20 cm depth by taking 4 soil cores with a 5-cm diameter soil augur. After cleaning and drying, constant weight was used to calculate root biomass.