Contents of soil organic carbon (SOC)

total nitrogen (TN) and labile carbon (LC) along natural and artificial water table gradient were measured in two types of alpine wetlands of Ruoergai plateau

China

in 2004.Results showed that the distribution characteristics of SOC

TN and LC were very similar in swamp soils

increasing along natural water table gradient at surface 0-10 cm and decreasing gradually with soil depth.The distribution characteristics of SOC

TN and LC were very similar in peat soils

increasing greatly along artificial water table gradient at 0-30 cm

which indicated that a great deal of carbon was emitted to atmosphere or run off due to artificial drainage at that time.Contents of LC decreased in swamp soils and in- creased in peat soils with soil depth

which indicated that the different process of forming swamp soils and peat soils

and the effect of natural and artificial water table.The C/N ratios decreased in swamp soils and increased in peat soils along water table gradient.In addition

soil C/N ratios

pH values and soil particle- size contents were important factors affecting SOC

TN and LC in alpine wetlands.