img

Wechat

  • CN 62-1070/P
  • ISSN 1000-694X
  • Bimonthly 1981
Adv search

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

Received date: 2017-08-06

  Revised date: 2017-11-01

  Online published: 2018-12-05

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.

Cite this article

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

References

[1] Kang L,Han X G,Zhang Z B,et al.Grassland ecosystems in China:review of current knowledge and research advancement[J].Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London,2007,362(1482):997-1008.
[2] Schonbach P,Wan H W,Gierus M,et al.Grassland responses to grazing:effects of grazing intensity and management system in an Inner Mongolian steppe ecosystem[J].Plant and Soil,2011,340(1/2):103-115.
[3] Deng L,Sweeney S,Shangguan Z.Long-term effects of natural enclosure:carbon stocks,sequestration rates and potential for grassland ecosystems in the Loess Plateau[J].Clean-Soil Air Water,2014,42(5):617-625.
[4] Wang K B,Deng L,Ren Z P,et al.Grazing exclusion significantly improves grassland ecosystem C and N pools in a desert steppe of Northwest China[J].Catena,2016,137:441-448.
[5] McNaughton S J.Compensatory plant-growth as a response to herbivory[J].Oikos,1983,40(3):329-336.
[6] Ma W L,Shi P L,Li W H,et al.Changes in individual plant traits and biomass allocation in alpine meadow with elevation variation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau[J].Science China-Life Sciences,2010,53(9):1142-1151.
[7] Sun J,Wang X D,Cheng G W,et al.Effects of grazing regimes on plant traits and soil nutrients in an alpine steppe,Northern Tibetan Plateau[J].Plos One,2014,9(9):e108821.
[8] Hilbert D W,Swift D M,Detling J K,et al.Relative growth-rats and the grazing optimization hypothesis[J].Oecologia,1981,51(1):14-18.
[9] Lipowsky A,Schmid B,Roscher C.Selection for monoculture and mixture genotypes in a biodiversity experiment[J].Basic and Applied Ecology,2011,12(4):360-371.
[10] Kiaer L P,Weisbach A N,Weiner J.Root and shoot competition:a meta-analysis[J].Journal of Ecology,2013,101(5):1298-1312.
[11] Liu M,Liu G,Wu X,et al.Vegetation traits and soil properties in response to utilization patterns of grassland in Hulun Buir City,Inner Mongolia,China[J].Chinese Geographical Science,2014,24(4):471-478.
[12] Deng L,Sweeney S,Shangguan Z P.Grassland responses to grazing disturbance:plant diversity changes with grazing intensity in a desert steppe[J].Grass and Forage Science,2014,69(3):524-533.
[13] 王敏,苏永中,杨荣,等.黑河中游荒漠草地地上和地下生物量的分配格局[J].植物生态学报,2013,37(3):209-219.
[14] Titlyanova A A,Romanova I P,Kosykh N P,et al.Pattern and process in above-ground and below-ground components of grassland ecosystems[J].Journal of Vegetation Science,1999,10(3):307-320.
[15] Hong J T,Ma X X,Wang X D.Leaf meristems:an easily ignored component of the response to human disturbance in alpine grasslands[J].Ecology and Evolution,2016,6(8):2325-2332.
[16] 杨丽丽,龚吉蕊,王忆慧,等.内蒙古温带草原不同放牧强度和围栏封育对凋落物分解的影响[J].植物生态学报,2016,40(8):748-759.
[17] 乌云娜,雒文涛,霍光伟,等.微生境尺度上放牧退化草原群落特征与土壤有机质的空间分异性[J].中国沙漠,2012,32(4):972-978.
[18] 王晓朦,乌云娜,宋彦涛,等.放牧对克氏针茅草原(Stipa krylovii)土壤物理、化学及微生物性状的影响[J].中国沙漠,2015,35(5):1193-1199.
[19] McNaughton S J,Banyikwa F F,McNaughton M M.Promotion of the cycling of diet-enhancing nutrients by African grazers[J].Science,1997,278(5344):1798-1800.
[20] Sun D S,Wesche K,Chen D D,et al.Grazing depresses soil carbon storage through changing plant biomass and composition in a Tibetan alpine meadow[J].Plant Soil & Environment,2011,57(6):271-278.
[21] Shi X M,Li X G,Li C T,et al.Grazing exclusion decreases soil organic C storage at an alpine grassland of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau[J].Ecological Engineering,2013,57:183-187.
[22] Whitford W G,Steinberger Y.Effects of seasonal grazing,drought,fire,and carbon enrichment on soil microarthropods in a desert grassland[J].Journal of Arid Environments,2012,83:10-24.
[23] Ma W M,Ding K Y,Li Z W.Comparison of soil carbon and nitrogen stocks at grazing-excluded and yak grazed alpine meadow sites in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,China[J].Ecological Engineering,2016,87:203-211.
[24] Wang D,Wu G L,Zhu Y J,et al.Grazing exclusion effects on above-and below-ground C and N pools of typical grassland on the Loess Plateau(China)[J].Catena,2014,123:113-120.
[25] Deng L,Zhang Z N,Shangguan Z P.Long-term fencing effects on plant diversity and soil properties in China[J].Soil & Tillage Research,2014,137:7-15.
[26] Yan L,Zhou G S,Zhang F.Effects of different grazing intensities on grassland production in China:a meta-analysis[J].Plos One,2013,8(12):e81466.
[27] Klumpp K,Fontaine S,Attard E,et al.Grazing triggers soil carbon loss by altering plant roots and their control on soil microbial community[J].Journal of Ecology,2009,97(5):876-885.
[28] Kuzyakov Y.Priming effects:interactions between living and dead organic matter[J].Soil Biology & Biochemistry,2010,42(9):1363-1371.
[29] Jarvis S C,Hatch D J,Roberts D H.The effects of grassland management on nitrogen losses from grazed swards through ammonia volatilization-the relationship to excretal-N returns from cattle[J].Journal of Agricultural Science,1989,112:205-216.
[30] Zhu G Y,Deng L,Zhang X B,et al.Effects of grazing exclusion on plant community and soil physicochemical properties in a desert steppe on the Loess Plateau,China[J].Ecological Engineering,2016,90:372-381.
[31] Lempesi A,Kyriazopoulos A P,Orfanoudakis M,et al.Soil properties and plant community changes along a goat grazing intensity gradient in an open canopy oak forest[J].Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca,2013,41(2):567-575.
[32] Reeder J D,Schuman G E,Morgan J A,et al.Response of organic and inorganic carbon and nitrogen to long-term grazing of the shortgrass steppe[J].Environmental Management,2004,33(4):485-495.
[33] Li W,Huang H Z,Zhang Z N,et al.Effects of grazing on the soil properties and C and N storage in relation to biomass allocation in an alpine meadow[J].Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition,2011,11(4):27-39.
[34] Stewart A M,Frank D A.Short sampling intervals reveal very rapid root turnover in a temperate grassland[J].Oecologia,2008,157(3):453-458.
[35] Vermeire L T,Wester D B,Mitchell R B,et al.Fire and grazing effects on wind erosion,soil water content,and soil temperature[J].Journal of Environmental Quality,2005,34(5):1559-1565.
[36] Frank D A,Gehring C A,Machut L,et al.Soil community composition and the regulation of grazed temperate grassland[J].Oecologia,2003,137(4):603-609.
Outlines

/