本氏针茅根际土提取物对本氏针茅及其优势种种子萌发的影响

以本氏针茅及其优势种大针茅和百里香种子为受体,采用生物检测的方法研究了0(对照)、0.1、0.2和0.5g/mL本氏针茅根际土甲醇浸提液和水浸提液对3种受体种子萌发的影响,以探究草地演替过程中物种间的生态关系和化感作用的表现形式。结果显示:(1)甲醇浸提液对3种受体种子的发芽均有抑制作用;水浸提液对本氏针茅发芽有促进作用,对百里香有部分促进作用,而对大针茅有抑制作用。(2)甲醇浸提液对本氏针茅和大针茅胚根和胚芽生长无显著影响,而抑制百里香胚根和胚芽的生长;水浸提液对本氏针茅胚根生长无显著影响,对本氏针茅胚芽生长具有显著促进作用,而对其它两种受体胚根和胚芽均无显著影响。(3)各种浓度甲醇浸提液对大针茅和百里香生长表现出了化感综合抑制效应,对本氏针茅生长于0.2g/mL时表现出化感综合抑制效应,其它2种浓度(0.1、0.5g/mL)表现为化感综合促进效应;水浸提液对本氏针茅和百里香表现为化感综合促进效应,而对大针茅表现为化感综合抑制效应。研究表明,本氏针茅根际土甲醇浸提液和水浸提液的化感物质存在差异;不同受体对同一浸提液反应不同,同一受体对不同浸提液的反应也不同。     

不同放牧强度下短花针茅荒漠草原植被-土壤系统有机碳组分储量特征

草地生态系统作为陆地生态系统的重要组成部分,在全球碳循环中发挥着重要作用。以内蒙古短花针茅荒漠草原不同放牧强度样地为研究对象,通过分析地上植物、凋落物、根系、土壤中有机碳和土壤轻组有机碳,研究草原植被-土壤系统有机碳组分储量的变化特征,从碳储量角度为合理利用草原提供指导。研究结果表明:(1)不同放牧强度荒漠草原地上植物碳储量为11.98—44.51 g/m~2,凋落物碳储量10.43—36.12 g/m~2,根系(0—40cm)碳储量502.30—804.31 g/m~2,且对照区(CK)均显著高于中度放牧区(MG)、重度放牧区(HG);(2)0—40cm土壤碳储量为7817.43—9694.16 g/m~2,其中轻度放牧区(LG)碳储量为9694.16 g/m~2,显著高于CK、HG(P0.05);(3)植被—土壤系统的碳储量为8342.14—10494.80 g/m~2,LGMGCKHG,有机碳主要储存于土壤当中,占比约90.54%—93.71%,适度放牧利用有利于发挥草地生态系统的碳汇功能;(4)土壤轻组有机碳储量为484.20—654.62 g/m~2,LG储量最高,表明适度放牧有助于草原土壤营养物质的循环和积累。     

Influence of grazing on hydraulic and mechanical properties of semiarid steppe soils under different vegetation type in Inner Mongolia, China

Over the last few decades, due to increase in grazing intensity, animal trampling has led to soil structure deterioration in Inner Mongolia, China. We investigated two different steppe ecosystems: Leymus chinensis (LCh, characterized by relatively higher precipitation) and Stipa grandis (SG) and two grazing intensities: ungrazed since 1979 (UG79) and grazed (continuously grazed, CG, at the Stipa grandis site and winter grazed, WG, at Leymus chinensis). Soil mechanical and hydraulic properties of semiarid steppe soils from each site and treatment were determined for soil aggregates and disturbed and bulk soil samples from different depths (4?C8, 18?C22, 30?C34 and 56?C60 cm for disturbed and bulk samples and 0?C15 cm for the aggregates). Grazing causes a significant increase in tensile strength of aggregates and in the precompression stress of the bulk soil as well as a decrease in air and saturated hydraulic conductivity, irrespective of the vegetation type. Furthermore, exclusion from grazing led to more pronounced recovery of soil strength and pore continuity and hydraulic conductivity at the LCh site but it also depended on the moisture conditions of the sites. Under wetter conditions as well as after repeated freezing and thawing the soil strength declined.     

短花针茅叶片水分利用效率对放牧强度的响应及其影响因素

为明确植物的用水策略及适应性机制,以内蒙古四子王旗短花针茅荒漠草原为研究对象,设置对照(CK)、轻度放牧(LG)、中度放牧(MG)和重度放牧(HG)4个放牧梯度,其载畜率分别为每1 hm^(2)每年0、0.93、1.82和2.71个羊单位的放牧强度,调查建群种短花针茅的高度、盖度、密度、地上生物量以及土壤的理化性状,并且采用稳定碳同位素法和红外光合仪法对短花针茅水分利用效率进行了测定,旨在阐明短花针茅水分利用效率在不同放牧强度下的响应规律及其影响因素。结果显示:(1)放牧对短花针茅盖度、密度以及地上生物量的影响显著;随着载畜率的增大,有利于短花针茅的扩散使其分布面积增加,且在中度放牧条件下尤为明显。(2)随着放牧强度的增加,土壤水分含量较对照显著提高,土壤全氮含量呈先增加后减少的变化趋势,土壤速效钾呈现降低的变化趋势,而对土壤全碳含量和pH无显著影响,说明适度放牧能够提高土壤水分含量、促进土壤氮含量的积累,但放牧会导致土壤速效钾减少。(3)随着放牧强度的增大,短花针茅长期水分利用效率(WUE l)呈现“V”形变化趋势,而瞬时水分利用效率(WUE t)与内在水分利用效率(WUE i)总体呈降低的变化趋势。(4)相关分析显示,放牧强度与短花针茅密度、地上生物量呈显著正相关关系,土壤全氮含量与有机碳、pH、WUE i呈显著正相关关系,WUE t与WUE i呈显著正相关关系;短花针茅内在水分利用效率与土壤有机碳含量密切相关。研究表明,重度放牧导致短花针茅株丛破碎化,增加了种群的扩散面积,是短花针茅长期水分利用效率提高的直接原因;短花针茅瞬时水分利用效率随放牧强度的增加而降低可能是由其内在水分利用效率降低引起的。     

不同刈割频度对大针茅草原群落特征及土壤元素含量的影响

在草原生态系统中,土壤是植物生长发育最重要的基质,对植物群落动态有显著的影响。刈割是内蒙古典型草原区除放牧外最重要的利用方式。研究不同刈割频度对典型草原区群落特征和若干土壤性质的影响及土壤因子与群落特征的相关性,旨在得出对群落多样性最有利并最适宜生产利用的刈割频度。研究区设置在内蒙古锡林浩特市东部以大针茅建群的典型草原;在2009—2013年进行不同频度的刈割处理,共设置处理,一年两次刈割、一年一次刈割、两年一次(割一年休一年)刈割、围封,在2013年8月采集测定土壤养分的样品。刈割对群落多样性影响显著,割一年休一年Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数、丰富度指数均高于其他刈割处理(P0.05);不同频度刈割下,一年两次刈割处理下土壤20—30cm和30—40cm的有机质含量显著高于其他处理(P0.05);不同频度刈割处理下土壤中的速效磷和速效氮的含量没有显著差异;一年两次处理的土壤全氮含量显著高于其他处理(P0.05)。Shannon-Wiener多样性指数与有机质含量、全氮含量呈显著负相关;Pielou均匀度指数与土壤元素间无显著相关关系;Richness指数与有机质含量呈显著负相关,与全氮含量为极显著负相关关系。割一年休一年刈割处理下土壤元素含量呈现更好的状态,结合群落物种多样性及生产利用的角度,割一年休一年为最合理的刈割频度。     

克氏针茅草原土壤生态化学计量特征对放牧强度的响应

生态化学计量学是研究生态系统中各元素间平衡的科学,对于探究土壤有机碳（C）、全氮（N）、全磷（P）元素循环以及土壤养分限制状况具有重要意义。为了解克氏针茅（Stipa kirschnii）草原土壤生态化学计量特征,以内蒙古克氏针茅草原区为研究对象,在不同放牧强度草场进行采样分析。结果表明：随着放牧强度的增加,C、P含量先降低后升高,N含量先升高后降低;土壤C/N先降低后升高、C/P逐渐升高、N/P先升高后降低。C/N随着放牧强度的增加与有机碳相关性逐渐增大、与全氮的相关性逐渐减小;轻牧区的C/P受有机碳作用有所增强;中牧区N/P受全氮作用增强。C/N主要限制因素是有机碳含量,C/P和N/P主要限制因素是全磷含量。不同放牧强度会影响土壤化学计量比与其他物质的关系,也会改变土壤化学计量比各制约因素的强度。     

半干旱草地长期封育进程中针茅植物根系格局变化特征

以云雾山不同封育年限草地针茅植物根系和土壤为研究对象,对其根系特征、土壤特性及两者关系进行研究,以探讨分析封育对针茅根系格局的影响。结果表明:(1)针茅植物根系生物量、根长密度、根表面积和根体积在封育初期轻微下降,之后缓慢上升,并在封育30 a草地得到显著增加。(2)随封育年限增加,各根系指标在3种针茅物种间的组成格局具有类似变化规律,具体表现为:长芒草在放牧草地所占比例最高,之后逐渐降低,并在封育30 a草地消失;大针茅所占比例呈先升后降变化规律,并在封育22 a草地达到最大值;甘青针茅仅出现于封育30 a草地,且占据优势地位。(3)大针茅和甘青针茅0—0.6 mm径级根系比例高于大针茅,使其根系直径显著低于大针茅,比根长和比根面积显著高于大针茅;此外,长芒草根组织密度显著高于长芒草和甘青针茅。(4)长期封育在显著提高土壤水分、养分含量和土壤氮磷比的同时显著降低土壤碳氮比,但对微生物生物量碳、氮无明显影响。(5)针茅根系特征与土壤指标的关联性分析显示针茅根系受土壤氮资源的显著影响。     

放牧对短花针茅荒漠草原植物多样性的影响

放牧干扰对草原植物多样性影响机制是放牧生态学研究的核心问题。以内蒙古锡林郭勒盟苏尼特右旗的短花针茅荒漠草原的长期放牧控制实验为平台,系统研究了放牧调控下植物多样性随组织尺度转换的影响,为荒漠草原植物多样性尺度推绎提供理论基础。结果显示:1)现存草地物种数未放牧最高,适度放牧次之,重度放牧最低,差异体现在多年生杂类草和一年生草本2个功能群上,且各功能群的权重基本不受放牧强度影响;2)群落尺度,放牧强度没有显著影响丰富度指数,未放牧小区的植物Simpson生态优势度指数、Shannon-Wiener物种多样性指数与Pielou均匀度指数大于适度放牧小区,显著大于重度放牧小区(P0.05);功能群尺度,多年生禾草与一年生草本的多样性指数对放牧无显著响应,多年生杂类草的多样性指数未放牧小区最高,适度放牧小区次之。3)Godron群落稳定性指数显示,适度放牧的小区稳定性高于未放牧小区和重度放牧小区。研究表明,放牧强度的上升使短花针茅荒漠草原不同组织尺度植物多样性降低,但群落稳定性结果显示适度放牧的草地表现出了更高的稳定性,植物多样性与稳定性的权衡将是合理制定区域科学放牧强度的重要途径。     

Seed bank composition and above-ground vegetation in response to grazing in sub-Mediterranean oak forests (NW Greece)

We investigate the persistent soil seed bank composition and its relation to the above-ground flora of grazed and non-grazed sub-Mediterranean deciduous oak forests of NW Greece. Twenty-eight taxa were recorded in the soil seed bank and 83 taxa (70 taxa in plots of seed bank sampling) in the above-ground vegetation. The dominant tree species and many woodland species found in the above-ground vegetation were absent from the soil seed bank. Similarity between the soil seed bank and the above-ground vegetation decreased with grazing, and grazing led to a decrease of species richness in above-ground vegetation and soil seed bank. Beta diversity of vegetation among grazed and among non-grazed plots did not differ, but was significantly higher between grazed and non-grazed areas. Beta diversity of the soil seed bank declined with grazing. When applying classification tree and logistic regression analyses, non-grazed forest sites are clearly differentiated by the presence of Phillyrea latifolia, Euphorbia amygdaloides and Brachypodium sylvaticum. PCA ordination of above-ground species composition reflected a gradient from sites grazed by ruminants to non-grazed sites, but no clear structure was detected in the seed bank.     

氮水添加对放牧背景下荒漠草原生产力的影响

水分与氮素作为干旱和半干旱草原生产力的共同限制性因子在退化草原的生态快速修复过程中备受关注。以不同放牧强度背景下的短花针茅荒漠草原为研究对象,开展围封模拟放牧利用实验,同时添加氮素和水分。通过分析历史放牧强度与年份对生产力的影响,以及添加氮素和水分对不同功能群植物生物量的作用,探讨放牧强度对短花针茅草原生产力的内在作用机制,以及如何实现荒漠草原资源合理开发和可持续利用。研究结果显示,降雨量与放牧强度决定着短花针茅草原的植物群落结构。氮素和水分添加可分别提升11%-29%和12%-32%的群落地上生物量,且二者存在显著的交互作用。不同功能群植物的地上生物量对氮素与水分添加的响应存在差异,多年生丛生禾草对氮素和水分添加响应最敏感。氮素与水分添加可显著提高多年生丛生禾草的地上生物量,但与自然降水量相关。氮素添加对地上生物量的影响在正常降雨和稍旱年份作用显著,而水分添加在干旱年份作用显著。在正常降雨年份,以半灌木植物为优势种的轻度放牧背景以添加水分对提升生产力最宜,以多年生丛生禾草和半灌木为共优种的中度放牧背景和以多年生丛生禾草为优势种的重度放牧以同时添加水分和氮素对提升生产力最为宜;在干旱年份不同放牧强度背景下均以同时添加水分和氮素对提升生产力最为宜。我们的结果表明了养分与资源的改善有利于退化短花针茅草原的快速恢复和可持续生产。     

青海高原紫花针茅草原群落数量分类与排序

紫花针茅草原是青藏高原高寒草原中分布面积最大、最重要的群落类型。该文选择青海高原典型紫花针茅草原为研究对象,在大量群落学调查的基础上,采用双向指示种分析(TWINSPAN)和典范对应分析(CCA)等多元数量分析方法研究了青海高原紫花针茅草原群落的数量分类。结果显示:(1)所调查的紫花针茅草原是物种组成相对较简单、菊科和禾本科植物最多、北温带分布的属为主体的草原群落。(2)青海高原紫花针茅草原的90条样带可划分为8个群丛类型:紫花针茅+川青早熟禾群丛、紫花针茅+矮嵩草群丛、紫花针茅+多枝黄芪群丛、紫花针茅+高山嵩草群丛、紫花针茅+二裂委陵菜群丛、紫花针茅+沙生凤毛菊群丛、紫花针茅+弱小火绒草群丛、紫花针茅+梭罗草群丛。(3)影响青海高原紫花针茅草原群丛分布的主要环境因子是空间因子(海拔、经度、纬度)和热量因子(温度),其次是湿润度、降雨量等水分因子。(4)对于紫花针茅草原群落内部的群丛划分,CCA可以补充矫正TWINSPAN等级分划,使分类结果更符合实际生态意义,更清晰地反映群丛类型与环境梯度之间的关系。     

放牧对大针茅草原建群种与优势种空间分布关系的影响

为探讨放牧下大针茅草原建群种大针茅(Stipa grandis)和优势种羊草(Leymus chinensis)及糙隐子草(Cleistogenes squarrosa)种群空间分布特点及关系,本实验以内蒙古自治区锡林郭勒盟毛登牧场大针茅草原建群种大针茅、优势种羊草和糙隐子草为研究对象,通过野外试验,以地统计学为基础,采用半方差函数、分形维数及克里格插值法,分析了围封(CK)和放牧(G)样地大针茅、羊草及糙隐子草种群小尺度空间分布关系。结果表明:围封样地大针茅、羊草及糙隐子草植株密度分别为10.94株/m~(2 )、12.95株/m~(2 )、13.60株/m~(2 ),放牧样地植株密度分别为16.84株/m~(2 )、48.28株/m~(2 )、28.63株/m~(2 ),放牧显著增加大针茅、羊草及糙隐子草种群密度(P0.05);半方差函数进行模型拟合发现,大针茅、羊草及糙隐子草种群空间分布函数关系均符合高斯模型;通过对空间分布函数关系分析,围封和放牧样地结构比为G (93.3%) CK(60.4%),表明放牧样地大针茅种群空间分布主要受结构性因素影响,而围封大针茅种群则受随机性因素影响较大;围封和放牧样地分形维数值为CK(1.796) G(1.361),表明放牧样地大针茅、羊草和糙隐子草所形成的空间分布格局相比围封样地较为复杂,大针茅空间分布对羊草和糙隐子草空间分布的依赖性较弱;通过立体图分析,在放牧利用过程中,羊草处于中低密度时,及糙隐子草处于高密度时,均与大针茅种群间的关系从围封中的竞争关系变为放牧过程中的亲和关系,可见放牧导致种间关系改变。     

放牧强度对短花针茅荒漠草原甲虫群落分布格局的影响

放牧对脆弱的荒漠草原生态系统有着重要影响,且随放牧强度及持续时间不同而变化。鞘翅目昆虫是环境监测与生物多样性变化的指示生物。利用巴氏罐诱法对短花针茅荒漠草原不同放牧强度草地的甲虫群落组成和多样性进行调查,探究放牧对荒漠草原甲虫群落的影响。结果表明:(1)步甲科、金龟科为短花针茅荒漠草原甲虫群落优势类群,埋葬甲科、芫菁科、拟步甲科和花金龟科为常见类群。(2)放牧强度增加不利于维持更多的捕食性甲虫;对照和轻度放牧样地可维持更多的腐食性甲虫。(3)甲虫数量随放牧强度增加而递减;群落多样性以重度放牧草地最大,轻度放牧草地最小;群落优势度为对照、中度、重度显著高于轻度放牧草地。各甲虫类群在不同放牧强度草地出现时间、高峰期均不同。(4)对照、轻度、重度放牧样地的甲虫优势类群群落结构不同于其他生境,但均与中度放牧样地存在相似性。轻度、中度、重度放牧样地的甲虫稀有类群群落结构不同于其他生境,但均与对照样地存在相似性。(5)甲虫群落个体数与植物群落物种丰富度、盖度、植物平均高度、生物量呈显著正相关。Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Margalef丰富度指数均与植物群落物种丰富度、生物量显著负相关。研究结果为荒漠草原甲虫多样性保护提供参考依据。     

氮素添加和功能群去除对糙隐子草和大针茅根系特征的影响

由于草地不合理利用,中国北方草原严重退化,导致生态系统结构性破坏甚至功能性紊乱。随着草原退化,中能值功能群植物糙隐子草会取代高能值功能群植物大针茅成为群落中优势度最大的植物。为了解大针茅和糙隐子草在氮素添加以及去除功能群的情况下根系特征的变化趋势,选取锡林郭勒盟典型草原中的退化草原群落,分别开展两项实验,实验1:氮素添加梯度实验(0、10.5、17.5、28 gN/m~2),实验2:同时进行功能群的去除和氮素的添加,功能群去除实验(将植物分为高能值植物功能群、中能值植物功能群、低能值植物功能群3个功能群;每个处理分别剪除另外两个功能群,留取单一功能群),并同时进行氮素添加实验(0、17.5 gN/m~2)。在进行两年的实验处理后,通过Delta-T SCAN根系分析仪测量大针茅和糙隐子草根系的长度、直径、面积、体积指标。分析植物根系对氮素添加的响应,以及功能群去除是否改变这两种植物对氮素添加的响应格局。实验1研究结果表明:在受到其他功能群的竞争压力下,大针茅根系长度、面积、体积均在高氮素添加(28 gN/m~2)情况下显著增加,糙隐子草根系直径和体积在中氮素添加(17.5 gN/m~2)的情况下显著高于其他3个处理,退化样地中土壤氮素的增加,促使大针茅根系主要通过增加根系长度扩大在土壤中的空间分布,而促使糙隐子草主要通过增粗生长来扩大土壤分布空间。实验2研究结果表明:功能群的去除,中氮素添加对根系的影响,只有糙隐子草的根系直径显著增加。综合来看,功能群去除实验对大针茅的根系长度和面积有影响,对糙隐子草的根系长度、直径和面积有影响。功能群去除处理与氮素添加的交互作用对大针茅根系没有影响,对糙隐子草的根系直径和体积有影响。     

模拟氮沉降对克氏针茅草原土壤有机碳的短期影响

为更好地了解天然草地土壤有机碳对氮沉降增加的响应,2011年在内蒙古太仆寺旗的克氏针茅(Stipa krylovii)草原上开展了模拟氮沉降的控制实验,设置对照(CK)和5个模拟氮沉降(NO-3)处理,分别为2(N1)、5(N2)、10(N3)、25(N4)和50 g N m-2a-1(N5)。生长季末,采集每个样地中0—2 cm和2—10 cm深度土壤进行有机碳含量及组成的分析,并进行实验室矿化培养。结果表明,土壤颗粒态有机碳(POC)对氮添加响应敏感,N1和N2处理下的POC含量高于CK,N3、N4和N5处理则低于CK。5个模拟氮沉降处理下的矿质结合态有机碳(MOC)含量均高于对照,但差别不显著。不同氮沉降水平下0—2 cm土层的碳矿化潜势为N2N1N4N3CKN5,且N1,N2,N3和N4处理均显著高于CK和N5;2—10 cm土层的碳矿化潜势为N2N1N3CKN4N5,N1、N2和N3显著高于CK、N4及N5。不同施氮处理对群落净第一性生产力有明显影响,N5的净第一性生产力和地上生物量显著低于对照和其它施氮处理,N1的0—10 cm地下生物量显著高于对照和其它处理,N5的凋落物量显著高于对照。模拟氮沉降短期内对土壤总有机碳(SOC)含量无显著影响。     

放牧对内蒙古典型草原大针茅凋落物中土壤动物组成及其分解功能的影响

放牧是影响草地生态系统中土壤动物组成和凋落物分解的重要因素.2010—2012年,选择内蒙古锡林郭勒盟白音锡勒牧场境内的禁牧草地、放牧草地和沙地为研究样地,以凋落物袋法研究了大针茅凋落物分解过程中主要理化特性以及其中土壤动物群落的变化特征.共采集到土壤动物67056头52类,隶属于5门8纲,其中螨类23科,昆虫19科.大针茅凋落物的初始有机质含量为92.5%,分解780 d后分别降至40.0%(禁牧草地)和41.3%(放牧草地),差异不显著;凋落物残留率分别降低至50.0%(禁牧草地)和23.0%(放牧草地),差异显著.放牧影响下,大针茅残留凋落物中土壤动物多度显著降低.将大针茅凋落物置入沙地环境,有机质分解速率无显著变化,但凋落物残留率显著降低,螨类群落组成发生显著变化.在内蒙古典型草原环境下,放牧显著改变了植物凋落物中的土壤动物群落组成和多度,但凋落物中有机质分解速率未发生显著变化;半干旱地区土壤动物的凋落物分解功能较为微弱.     

羊草与大针茅根系构型对水分梯度响应的比较研究

羊草(Leymus chinensis)与大针茅(Stipa grandis)是内蒙古锡林郭勒典型草原的两大建群种,也是内蒙古草原的重要优良牧草。选取锡林郭勒草原以大针茅和羊草为优势种的围封草场为研究样地,通过原状土柱移栽,进行了两年的水分梯度控制实验(150、300、450、600 mm),分别模拟当地年降雨量由干旱年到是湿润年的变化情况,分析比较羊草种群和大针茅种群地上高度和根系构型对水分梯度的响应情况。结果表明:相比大针茅种群,羊草种群对水分梯度的响应更敏感,随着水分梯度的增加,羊草地上高度和根系直径显著增加,根系长度和根系深度显著减少;而大针茅的地上高度和根系特征各项指标均没有显出与水分梯度的相关性,显然大针茅比羊草更能适应干旱生境。在干旱条件(模拟年降雨量150 mm处理)下,大针茅种群地上高度达到峰值,生长状况良好;羊草种群则采用地上个体小型化,地下主根变细,分叉,向土壤深层扩展的生长策略。因此,在气候变化背景下,干旱化的气候将导致大针茅种群在群落中的优势地位逐渐增加,反之羊草种群则会随着气候湿润化而占据更大的优势。     

Distribution of soil organic matter between fractions and aggregate size classes in grazed semiarid steppe soil profiles

Grazed steppe ecosystems are discussed as one of the big global carbon sinks that may have the potential to sequester large amounts of atmospheric CO₂ and mitigate the effects of global change if grazing is abandoned or management improved. But until today, little is known about sequestration potentials and stabilisation mechanisms in complete soil profiles of semiarid grasslands and how these systems react to grazing cessation. We applied a combined aggregate size, density and particle size fractionation procedure to sandy steppe soils under different grazing intensities (continuously grazed = Cg, winter grazing = Wg, ungrazed since 1999 = Ug99, ungrazed since 1979 = Ug79). Higher inputs of organic matter in ungrazed treatments led to higher amounts of OC in coarse aggregate size classes (ASC) and especially in particulate organic matter (POM) fractions across all depth. These processes started in the topsoil and took more than 5 years to reach deeper soil horizons (>10 cm). After 25 years of grazing cessation, subsoils showed clearly higher POM amounts. We found no grazing-induced changes of soil organic matter (SOM) quantity in fine ASC and particle size fractions. Current C-loading of fine particle size fractions was similar between differently grazed plots and decreased with depth, pointing towards free sequestration capacities in deeper horizons. Despite these free capacities, we found no increase in current C-loading on fine mineral soil fractions after 25 years of grazing exclusion. Silt and clay fractions appeared to be saturated. We suppose empirical estimations to overestimate sequestration potentials of particle size fractions or climatic conditions to delay the decomposition and incorporation of OM into these particle size fractions. POM quality was analysed using solid-state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy to clarify if grazing cessation changed chemical composition of POM in different ASC and soil depths via changing litter quality or changing decomposition dynamics. We found comparable POM compositions between different grazing intensities. POM is decomposed hierarchically from coarse to fine particles in all soil depths and grazing cessation has not affected the OM decomposition processes. The surplus of OM due to grazing cessation was predominately sequestered in readily decomposable POM fractions across all affected horizons. We question the long-term stabilisation of OM in these steppe soils during the first 25 years after grazing cessation and request more studies in the field of long-term OM stabilisation processes and assessment of carbon sequestration capacities to consider deeper soil horizons.     

Effects of Grazing on Restoration of Southern Mixed Prairie Soils

A comparative analysis of soils and vegetation from cultivated areas reseeded to native grasses and native prairies that have not been cultivated was conducted to evaluate restoration of southern mixed prairie of the Great Plains over the past 30 to 50 years. Restored sites were within large tracts of native prairie and part of long‐term grazing intensity treatments (heavy, moderate, and ungrazed), allowing evaluation of the effects of grazing intensity on prairie restoration. Our objective was to evaluate restored and native sites subjected to heavy and moderate grazing regimes to determine if soil nutrients from reseeded cultivated land recovered after 30 years of management similar to the surrounding prairie and to identify the interactive influence of different levels of grazing and history of cultivation on plant functional group composition and soils in mixed prairies. For this mixed prairie, soil nitrogen and soil carbon on previously cultivated sites was 30 to 40% lower than in uncultivated native prairies, indicating that soils from restored sites have not recovered over the past 30 to 50 years. In addition, it appears that grazing alters the extent of recovery of these grassland soils as indicated by the significant interaction between grazing intensity and cultivation history for soil nitrogen and soil carbon. Management of livestock grazing is likely a critical factor in determining the potential restoration of mixed prairies. Heavy grazing on restored prairies reduces the rate of soil nutrient and organic matter accumulation. These effects are largely due to changes in composition (reduced tallgrasses), reduced litter accumulation, and high cover of bare ground in heavily grazed restored prairies. However, it is evident from this study that regardless of grazing intensity, restoration of native prairie soils requires many decades and possibly external inputs to adequately restore organic matter, soil carbon, and soil nitrogen.     

Impact of historic grazing on steppe soils on the northern Tibetan Plateau

Aims

Few studies have focused on changes in the physical and chemical properties of soils that are induced by grazing at high altitudes. Our aim was to identify potential responses of soil to grazing pressure on the semiarid steppe of the northern Tibetan Plateau and their probable causes.

Methods

Fractal geometry to describe soil structure, soil dynamics, and physical processes within soil is becoming an increasingly useful tool that allows a better understanding of the performance of soil systems. In this study, we sampled four experimental areas in the northern part of the Tibetan Plateau under different grazing intensities: ungrazed, lightly grazed, moderately grazed and heavily grazed plots. Fractal methods were applied to characterise particle-size distributions and pore patterns of soils under different grazing intensities.

Results

Our results reveal a highly significant decrease in the fractal dimensions of particle size distributions (D ₁ ) and the fractal dimensions of all pores (D ₂ ) with increasing grazing intensity. Soil organic carbon (SOC), total N and total P concentrations increased significantly with decreasing grazing intensity. We did not find differences in soil pH in response to grazing.

Conclusions

Grazing induced a significant deterioration of the physical and chemical topsoil properties in the semiarid steppe of the northern Tibetan Plateau. Fractal dimensions can be a useful parameter for quantifying soil degradation due to human activities.