Effects of sward cleavage on soil characteristics and underground biomass in different terrains of alpine meadows-steppe

doi:10.11686/cyxb2015486

Abstract

Abstract: The effects of sward cleavage on soil characteristics and underground biomass were investigated in areas of flat terrain and gentle slope terrain located in the eastern alpine meadow-steppe of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The results showed that the effects of sward cleavage on soil water contents and soil compaction were most significant in July and August, with the treatment’s improving effects during that period being significantly better for flat terrain than gentle slope terrain. The underground biomass of cut grooved surfaces decreased in both flat terrain and gentle slope terrains at the beginning of treatment. However, the underground soil biomass in flat terrain soil layers had significantly increased after growing for four months while it had decreased in gentle slope terrain compared with the control. In addition, soil organic carbon contents in flat terrain increased after treatment but decreased on gentle slopes. Our research shows that sward cleavage in flat terrain significantly improves the low productivity of alpine meadow-steppe grasses, but that caution is advised when using this technique on gentle slope terrain.

LI Xiao-Long, CAO Wen-Xia, LI Wen, ZHANG Xiao-Yan, XU Chang-Lin, WEI Ying-Li, SHI Shang-Li. Effects of sward cleavage on soil characteristics and underground biomass in different terrains of alpine meadows-steppe[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2016, 25(6): 26-33.

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