Abstract: This study explored the effects of short-term rest grazing on plant community structure and biomass, in order to provide a theoretical basis for decisions on the sustainable utilization of alpine meadow grassland. The plant community structure and biomass at three study sites (continuously grazed [CG], rest grazing for a growing season [RGGS], and not grazed for one year [NG1Y]) in Haibei alpine meadow were sampled and analyzed, in early September 2017. It was found that: 1) RGGS and NG1Y significantly increased plant community height, ground cover and species richness compared to CG (P<0.01). These treatments also increased the height of representative species such as Stipa aliena, Kobresia humilis, Gueldenstaedtia diversifolia and Medicago archiducis-nicolaii (P<0.01). 2) RGGS and NG1Y significantly increased litter fall and humus accumulation (P<0.01), significantly increased grass, legume and broad-leaved herb species biomass (P<0.01), and also significantly increased total aboveground biomass and high quality forage yield, compared to CG (P<0.01). 3) RGGS and NG1Y significantly increased 0-10 cm belowground biomass and total belowground biomass (0-30 cm) (P<0.01). Therefore, short-term rest grazing can be used to benefit vegetation community structure, improve high quality herbage yield and promote sustainable utilization of alpine meadow in Haibei Autonomous Perfecture of Qinghai province.

Key words: alpine meadow, short-term rest grazing, vegetation community structure, biomass, root-shoot ratio