Effects of fencing and grazing on vegetation and soil physical and chemical properties in an alpine meadow in the Qinghai Lake Basin

doi:10.11686/cyxb2014429

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of fencing on the productivity and structure of plant communities and on the physical and chemical properties of soil in alpine meadows. A field study was conducted in two types of degraded alpine meadows, one dominated by Kobresia pygmaea and the other dominated by Kobresia humilis, in the Qinghai Lake Basin. The results showed that the aboveground biomass of K. pygmaea and K. humilis increased by 33.8%, and 31.5%, respectively, after 2 years of exclosure. Exclosure significantly increased the proportion of aboveground biomass of sedges and members of the gramineae, and decreased the proportion of aboveground biomass of forbs. Exclosure also resulted in significant increases in plant community diversity and evenness indexes. In the K. pygmaea and K. humilis alpine meadows, grassland soil organic carbon content in the 0-10 cm soil layer increased by 10.15% and 12.74%, respectively, after 2 years of exclosure. The soil organic carbon content in the 10-30 cm soil layer did not change significantly after 2 years of exclosure. In K. humilis meadow soil, the total phosphorus content increased by 16.13% in the 0-10 cm soil layer, but was unchanged in 10-30 cm soil layer after 2 years of exclosure. In the K. pygmaea and K. humilis alpine meadows, soil bulk density increased by 6.61% and 6.25%, respectively, and pH decreased by 4.04% and 3.69%, respectively, in the 0-10 cm layer after 2 years of exclosure. In the 10-30 cm soil layers of both types of meadows, neither soil bulk density nor pH was affected after 2 years of exclosure.

LI Yang, YAN Zhen-Ying, GUO Ding, WANG Hai-Xia, SU Shu-Lan, LI Xu-Dong, FU Hua. Effects of fencing and grazing on vegetation and soil physical and chemical properties in an alpine meadow in the Qinghai Lake Basin[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2015, 24(10): 33-39.

References

[1] Zhao P, Dai W A, Du M X, et al . Response of Amorpha fruiticosa planting to soil nutrients in the Tibetan Plateau. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2014, 23(3): 175-181.
[2] Wang J L, Zhong Z M, Wang Z H, et al . Soil C/P distribution characteristics of alpine steppe ecosystems in Qinhai-Tibetan Plateau. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2014, 23(2): 9-19.
[3] Hu W G, Cao J J, Han Y M, et al . Estimation of organic carbon and nitrogen storage in topsoil around lake Qinghai. Journal of Arid Land Resources and Environment, 2011, 25(9): 305-309.
[4] Zhou G Y, Chen G C, Zhao Y L, et al . Study on Achnatherum splendens community characteristics and species diversity around Qinghai Lake.Acta Botanica Boreali-Occidentalia Sinica, 2003, 23(11): 1956-1962.
[5] Yue P P, Lu X F, Ye R R, et al . Community characteristics of Stipa purpurea steppe in the Qinghai Lake region. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2014, 23(4): 10-19.
[6] Krzic M, Broersma K, Thompson D J, et al .Soil properties and species diversity of grazed crested wheatgrass and native rangelands. Journal of Range Management, 2000, 53(3): 353-358.
[7] Zhou H K, Zhou L, Liu W, et al . The influence of fencing on degraded Kobresia humilis meadows and non-degraded.Grassland of China, 2003, 25(5): 15-22.
[8] Yan Y C, Tang H P. Effects of enclosure on typical steppe community properties in Inner Mongolia. Acta Botanica Boreali-Occidentalia Sinica, 2007, 27(6): 1225-1232.
[9] Zhou G Y, Chen G C, Zhao Y L, et al . Comparative research on the influence of chemical fertilizer application and enclosure on alpine steppes in the Qinghai Lake area. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2004, 13(1): 26-31.
[10] Zuo W Q, Wang Y H, Wang F Y, et al . Effects of enclosure on the community characteristics of Leymus chinensis in degenerated steppe. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2009, 18(3): 12-19.
[11] Shi F S, Wu N, Luo P, et al . Effects of enclosure on community structure of Subalpine meadow in Northwestern Sichuan, China. Chinese Journal of Applied & Environmental, 2007, 13(6): 767-770.
[12] Shan G L, Xu Z, Ning F, et al . Influence of seasonal enclosure on plant land. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2009, 18(2): 3-10.
[13] Gao K, Zhu T X, Han G D. Impact of enclosure duration on plant functional and species diversity in Inner Mongolian grassland. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2013, 22(6): 39-45.
[14] Su S L, Li Y, Wang L Y, et al . Effect of fencing on plant biomass and functional group structure of different types of degarded grassland in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Acta Botanica Boreali-Occidentalia Sinica, 2014, 34(7): 1652-1657.
[15] Su Y Z, Zhao H L. Influences of grazing and enclosure on carbon sequestration in degraded sandy grassland, Inner Mongolia, North China.Environmental Science, 2003, 24(4): 23-28.
[16] Wolde M, Veldkamp E, Mitiku H, et al .Effectiveness of exclosures to restore degraded soils as a result of overgrazing in Tigray’ Ethiopia. Journal of Arid Environment, 2007, 69(2): 270-284.
[17] Wang Z Q. Effects of Different Land-use Types and Vegetation Degradation on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Content of the Alpine Steppes in the Northern Region of the Qinghai Lake[D]. Xining: Qinghai University, 2009.
[18] Reeder J D, Schuman G E. Influence of livestock grazing on C sequestration in semi-arid mixed-grass and short-grass rangelands. Environmental Pollution, 2002, 116(3): 457-463.
[19] Wang G J, Wang S P, Hao Y B, et al . Effect of grazing on the plant functional group diversity and community biomass and their relationship along a precipitation gradient in Inner Mongolia Steppe. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2005, 25(7): 1649-1656.
[20] Ren Q J, Wu G L, Ren G H. Effect of grazing intensity on characteristics on alpine meadow communities in the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2009, 18(5): 256-261.
[21] Wang C T, Long R J, Ding L M. The effects of differences in functional group diversity and composition on plant community productivity in four types of alpine meadow communities. Biodiversity Science, 2004, 12(4): 403-409.
[22] Tilman D, Wedin D, Knops J. Productivity and sustainability influenced by biodiversity in grassland ecosystem. Nature, 1996, 379: 718-720.
[23] Juha Pyk I. Plant species responses to cattle grazing in mesic semi-natural grassland. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2005, 108(2): 109-117.
[24] Gao R M, Shi X D, Guo Y D. Community stability evaluation of riparian forest of the upper reaches of Wenyuhe in Shanxi, China. Acta Botanica Boreali-Occidentalia Sinica, 2012, 36(6): 491-503.
[25] Wang S P, Li Y H, Wang Y F, et al . Influence of different stocking rates on plant diversity of Artemisia frigida community in Inner Mongolia Steppe. Chinese Bulletin of Botany, 2001, 43(1): 89-96.
[26] Hou F J, Chang S H, Yu Y W, et al . A review on trampling by grazed livestock. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2004, 24(4): 784-789.
[27] Yan Y C, Tang H P, Chang R Y, et al . Study on the different of vegetation and soil in typical steppe communities under different fenced time. Journal of Arid Land Resources and Environment, 2008, 22(2): 145-151.
[28] Greenwood K L, MacLeod D A, Scott J M.Change to soil physical properties after grazing exclusion.Soil Use and Management, 1998, 14(1): 19-24.
[29] Pei S F, Fu H, Wan C G. Changes in soil properties and vegetation following exclosure and grazing in degraded Alxa desert steppe of Inner Mongolia, China.Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 2008, 124(1-2): 33-39.
[30] Wang Z M, Zhang B, Song K S. The effects of different land use types on soil nutrient conditions in cultivated land of a typical County in Songnen Plain. Ecology and Environment, 2008, 17(2): 704-707.
[31] Wang H, Wang H, Huang R, et al . Effects of different exclosure management on soil and plant characteristics of sandy grassland. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2012, 21(6): 15-22.
[32] Dormaar J F, Smoliak S, Willms W D. Distribution of nitrogen fractions in grazed and ungrazed fescue grassland Ah horizons. Journal of Range Management, 1990, 43(1): 6-9.
[33] Li Q, Song Y T, Zhou D W, et al . Effects of fencing and grazing on soil carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus storage in degraded alkali-saline grassland. Pratacultural Science, 2014, 31(10): 1811-1819.
[34] Wei X J. The Effort of Grazing Intensity to Nutrition of Stipa grandis Rhizosphere which is the Mainly Built Plant of Typical Steppe[D]. Hohhot: Inner Mongolia Agricultural University,2011.
[35] Basher L R, Lynn J H. Soil changes associated with the cessation of sheep grazing at two sites in the Canterbury high country. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 1996, 20(2): 179-189.
[36] Bai Y F, Xu Z X, Li D X. On the small scale spatial heterogeneity of soil moisture, carbon and nitrogen in Stipa communities of the Inner Mongolia Plateau.Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2002, 22(8): 1209-1217.
[37] Li Y N, Zhang F W, Zhao X Q, et al . Response of soil organic matter total nitrogen and total phosphor to different land use patterns in alpine meadow of Qinghai Tibetan plateau. Chinese Journal of Agrometeorology, 2009, 30(3): 323-326,334.
[38] Ren J Z. Agro-grassland Ecosystem[M].Beijing: China Agriculture Press,1995.
[1] 赵萍, 代万安, 杜明新, 等. 青藏高原种植紫穗槐对土壤养分的响应. 草业学报, 2014, 23(3): 175-181.
[2] 王建林, 钟志明, 王忠红, 等. 青藏高原高寒草原生态系统土壤碳磷比的分布特征. 草业学报, 2014, 23(2): 9-19.
[3] 胡卫国, 曹军骥, 韩永明, 等. 青海湖环湖区表土有机碳氮储量估算. 干旱区资源与环境, 2011, 25(9): 305-309.
[4] 周国英, 陈桂琛, 赵以莲, 等. 青海湖地区芨芨草群落特征及其物种多样性研究. 西北植物学报, 2003, 23(11): 1956-1962.
[5] 岳鹏鹏, 卢学峰, 叶润蓉, 等. 青海湖地区紫花针茅草原群落特征. 草业学报, 2014, 23(4): 10-19.
[7] 周华坤, 周立, 刘伟, 等. 封育措施对退化与未退化矮嵩草草甸的影响. 中国草地, 2003, 25(5): 15-22.
[8] 闫玉春, 唐海萍. 围栏禁牧对内蒙古典型草原群落特征的影响. 西北植物学报, 2007, 27(6): 1225-1232.
[9] 周国英, 陈桂琛, 赵以莲, 等. 施肥和围栏封育对青海湖地区高寒草原影响的比较研究. 草业学报, 2004, 13(1): 26-31.
[10] 左万庆, 王玉辉, 王风玉, 等. 围栏封育措施对退化羊草草原植物群落特征影响研究. 草业学报, 2009, 18(3): 12-19.
[11] 石福孙, 吴宁, 罗鹏, 等. 围栏禁牧对川西北亚高山高寒草甸群落结构的影响. 应用与环境生物学报, 2007, 13(6): 767-770.
[12] 单贵莲, 徐柱, 宁发, 等. 围封年限对典型草原植被与土壤特征的影响. 草业学报, 2009, 18(2): 3-10.
[13] 高凯, 朱铁霞, 韩国栋. 围封年限对内蒙古羊草-针茅典型草原植物功能群及其多样性的影响. 草业学报, 2013, 22(6): 39-45.
[14] 苏淑兰, 李洋, 王立亚, 等. 围封与放牧对青藏高原草地生物量与功能群结构的影响. 西北植物学报, 2014, 34(7): 1652-1657.
[15] 苏永中, 赵哈林. 持续放牧和围封对科尔沁退化沙地草地碳截存的影响. 环境科学, 2003, 24(4): 23-28.
[17] 王振群. 土地利用方式和植被退化对青海湖北岸高寒草原土壤碳氮含量的影响[D]. 西宁: 青海大学, 2009.
[19] 王国杰, 汪诗平, 郝彦斌, 等. 水分梯度上放牧对内蒙古主要草原群落功能群多样性与生产力关系的影响. 生态学报, 2005, 25(7): 1649-1656.
[20] 仁青吉, 武高林, 任国华. 放牧强度对青藏高原东部高寒草甸植物群落特征的影响. 草业学报, 2009, 18(5): 256-261.
[21] 王长庭, 龙瑞军, 丁路明. 高寒草甸不同草地类型功能群多样性及组成对植物群落生产力的影响. 生物多样性, 2004, 12(4): 403-409.
[24] 高润梅, 石晓东, 郭跃东. 山西文峪河上游河岸林群落稳定性评价.植物生态学报, 2012, 36(6): 491-503.
[25] 汪诗平, 李永宏, 王艳芬, 等.不同放牧率对内蒙古冷蒿草原植物多样性的影响.植物学报, 2001, 43(1): 89-96.
[26] 侯扶江, 常生华, 于应文, 等. 放牧家畜的践踏作用研究评述. 生态学报, 2004, 24(4): 784-789.
[27] 闫玉春, 唐海萍, 常瑞英, 等. 典型草原群落不同围封时间下植被、土壤差异研究. 干旱区资源与环境, 2008, 22(2): 145-151.
[30] 王宗明, 张柏, 宋开山. 不同利用方式对松嫩平原典型县耕地土壤养分状况的影响. 生态环境, 2008, 17(2): 704-707.
[31] 王蕙, 王辉, 黄蓉, 等. 不同封育管理对沙质草地土壤与植被特征的影响. 草业学报, 2012, 21(6): 15-22.
[33] 李强, 宋彦涛, 周道玮, 等. 围封和放牧对退化盐碱草地土壤碳、氮、磷储量的影响. 草业科学, 2014, 31(10): 1811-1819.
[34] 魏晓军. 放牧强度对典型草原大针茅根际土壤的影响[D]. 呼和浩特:内蒙古农业大学,2011.
[36] 白永飞, 许志信, 李德新. 内蒙古高原针茅草原群落土壤水分和碳氮分布的小尺度空间异质性.生态学报, 2002, 22(8): 1209-1217.
[37] 李英年, 张法伟, 赵新全, 等. 青藏高原高寒草甸土壤有机质,全氮和全磷含量对不同土地利用格局的响应. 中国农业气象, 2009, 30(3): 323-326,334.
[38] 任继周. 草地农业生态学[M]. 北京: 中国农业出版社,1995