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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2011, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (2): 219-226.

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Dynamics of soil respiration under different grazing systems in a Stipa breviflora desert steppe

XU Hai-hong1,3, HOU Xiang-yang2, NA Ri-su2   

  1. 1.Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China;
    2.Grassland Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China;
    3.Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
  • Received:2010-03-11 Online:2011-02-25 Published:2011-04-20

Abstract: Using a dynamic enclosed chamber (IRGA), the effects of grazing systems on diurnal and seasonal variation of soil respiration in Stipa breviflora desert steppe were studied. 1) There was no significant difference between grazing systems in diurnal or in seasonal variation. The diurnal variation of soil respiration could be expressed as a single peak curve, and the seasonal variation was mainly affected by soil moisture. 2) The daily mean soil respiration rate was significant lower in continuously grazed plots (0.449 7 μmol CO2/m2·s) than that in rotationally grazed (0.504 7 μmol CO2/m2·s, in dry months), or in non-grazed plots (0.529 5 μmol CO2/m2·s, throughout the growing season, except the first month), but there was no significant difference among different grazing systems in seasonal mean soil respiration rate. 3) Correlation of soil respiration diurnal variation with air temperature was greater than that with soil temperature, and a water-temperature composite model was better than a single-factor model to explain the changes in soil respiration rate. 4) Compared with non-grazing, rotational grazing and continuous grazing elevated the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration (adequate moisture), while reducing the impact of soil moisture on soil respiration. It was concluded that the soil respiration rate and effect of environmental factors were similar between rotational grazing and continuous grazing, and there were differences between continuous grazing and non-grazing in daily mean soil respiration rate and effect of environmental factors in S. breviflora desert steppe.

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