Welcome to Acta Prataculturae Sinica ! Today is Share:

Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2014, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (2): 20-28.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb20140203

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of grazing intensity on ecological stoichiometry of Deyeuxia angustifolia and meadow soil

ZHANG Ting1, WENG Yue1, YAO Feng-jiao2, SHI Yin-tao2, CUI Guo-wen2, HU Guo-fu2   

  1. 1.Life Science College of Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China;
    2.College of Animal Science and Technology of Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin 150030, China
  • Received:2013-04-28 Online:2014-02-25 Published:2014-04-20

Abstract: The role of grazing on the stoichiometry traits of soil and plants in Deyeuxia angustifolia meadows of the northeast Sanjiang Plain were studied under different grazing intensities. We determined the C, N, and P contents and the C/N ratios of plant and soil to explore how grazing affects the stoichiometry traits and nutrient cycling rates in an ecosystem. 1) With an increase of grazing intensity, the N and P contents of ground-living and standing litter was increased. The N content of leaves increased with grazing while the stem changes were not obvious. The change of C, N, and P contents of roots in the 0-10 cm soil layer was more sensitive than that in the 10-20 cm soil layer. Grazing reduced the content of total soil carbon while the TN (total N) content of the soil surface initially increased but then decreased with an increase of grazing intensity, and the minimum value was in heavy grazing. 2) With an increase of grazing intensity, the C/N ratio of the entire plant and the leaves were initially increased but then decreased in June to August, and the smallest value was in moderate grazing, the change of C/N ratio of stems was not obvious, but was smallest in August. 3) Grazing mainly impacted the physical and chemical properties of the surface soil and the roots in it. The C/N ratio was reduced in the 0-10 cm soil layer with an increase of grazing intensity in July to September. The C/N ratio of roots in the 0-10 cm was initially reduced but then increased with an increase of grazing intensity in July and August: moderate grazing had the smallest value, while the N/P ratio had the maximum value.

CLC Number: