Influence of seasonal exclosure on plant and soil characteristics in typical steppe

Abstract

Abstract: To discuss the restoration and reasonable utilization of degraded typical steppe, we chose natural grasslands which were exclosed during the growing season (Apr. to Sep.) for hay production then lightly grazed for the rest of the year. Continuously grazed land was chosen as the control to carry out comparative research on the influence of exclosure on plant and soil characteristics in typical degraded steppe. 1) Compared with continuous grazing, the above-ground biomass, coverage, density, under-ground biomass, litter biomass, and soil nutrients of degraded steppe increased after exclosure, while the soil bulk density, soil compaction, and coarse particle (＞0.25 mm) content decreased. The community structure and soil environment improved. The plants and soil formed a reciprocal interactions benign circulatory system, and the typical degraded grassland improved. 2) If the land was used continuously for hay production over many years then the process of recovery, productivity, coverage, density, and soil nutrients decreased, and the recovered grassland underwent a second retrogressive succession. 3) Seasonal exclosure could allow full use of grassland resources while ensuring that the degraded grassland recovered to some extent. Seasonal exclosure was a feasible grassland management method in pastoral areas, but some problems such as suitable exclosure season and reasonable mowing systems require further study.

CLC Number:

SHAN Gui-lian1,2, XU Zhu1,3, NING Fa1,2, JIAO Yan4. Influence of seasonal exclosure on plant and soil characteristics in typical steppe[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2009, 18(2): 3-10.

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