Effects of Grazing on Biomass Allocations and Concentrations of Soil Nutrients in the Grassland of Inner Mongolia

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2017.00105

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2018, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (6): 1230-1236.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2017.00105

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Effects of Grazing on Biomass Allocations and Concentrations of Soil Nutrients in the Grassland of Inner Mongolia

Wang Xiaoguang, Wuyunna, Huo Guangwei, Song Yantao, Zhang Fengjie

School of Environment and Resources, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, Liaoning, China

Received:2017-08-06 Revised:2017-11-01 Online:2018-11-20 Published:2018-12-05

Abstract

Abstract: We carried out this study on the basin of Kherlen river in the Hulunbeir grassland of Inner Mongolia by studying the aboveground and belowground biomass, root to shoot ratio(R/S), and the concentrations of SOM as well as other soil nutrients in response to three levels of grazing pressure:light grazing(LG), moderate grazing(MG), heavy grazing(HG). Our results showed that grazing intensity could significantly influence plant biomass, R/S, the concentrations of SOM and other soil nutrients in this grassland ecosystem. The aboveground biomass of HG(89.73 g·m^-2) was significantly lower than those of LG(565.61 g·m^-2) and MG(488.92 g·m^-2), while the belowground biomass and R/S of HG(1 029.90 g·m^-2, 11.54) were significantly higher than those of LG(604.92 g·m^-2, 1.11) and MG(418.38 g·m^-2, 0.89). The concentrations of SOM and other soil nutrients were first decreased and then increased with the grazing intensity increased, the lowest nutrient concentrations were achieved at MG.

Key words: root to shoot ratio, belowground biomass, grazing intensity, soil nutrient, plant community

CLC Number:

S812.2

Wang Xiaoguang, Wuyunna, Huo Guangwei, Song Yantao, Zhang Fengjie. Effects of Grazing on Biomass Allocations and Concentrations of Soil Nutrients in the Grassland of Inner Mongolia[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2018, 38(6): 1230-1236.

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Effects of Grazing on Biomass Allocations and Concentrations of Soil Nutrients in the Grassland of Inner Mongolia

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