The study looked at soil organic carbon in different types of vegetation along the Tibetan Plateau. They found that forests, shrubs, and meadows had higher carbon content in the upper soil layers, while deserts had uniform levels. Precipitation was the main factor influencing carbon distribution, with more rain leading to higher carbon content. Soil composition also played a role, with clay content affecting upper layers and sand content affecting lower layers. Plant biomass was the most important factor influencing carbon distribution.