放牧强度对草甸草原植物群落特征及营养品质的影响

【目的】 植物群落特征是草地生态系统功能变化的敏感指标,是判别干扰条件下植被退化的重要生态学指标之一。研究不同放牧强度下温性草甸草原植物特征及品质变化情况,以了解放牧作用下草原植物退化的过程和机制,为退化草地生态恢复提供理论依据。【方法】 以呼伦贝尔草甸草原肉牛控制放牧试验为平台,分析6种不同放牧强度（对照区G0.00:0,轻度放牧G0.23:0.2 cow.AU/hm²,较轻度放牧G0.34:0.34 cow.AU/hm²,中度放牧G0.46:0.46 cow.AU/hm²,较重度放牧G0.69:0.69 cow.AU/hm²,重度放牧G0.92:0.92 cow.AU/hm²）下温性草甸草原植物群落数量特征、多样性、功能群与营养品质的变化,并探讨他们之间的相关性。【结果】 放牧强度大于0.34 cow.AU/hm²时,群落盖度、群落高度、群落地上生物量、原有优势植物（羊草(Leymus chinensis))和贝加尔针茅(Stipa baicalensis)）生物量、地下生物量、枯落物生物量均呈现显著降低（P<0.05）,退化指示植物生物量（冷蒿、二裂委陵菜、星毛委陵菜和寸草苔）显著增加（P<0.05）;随着放牧强度的增加,群落α多样性指数呈现先升高后降低的趋势,放牧强度为0.34—0.46 cow.AU/hm²时,草地群落α多样性指数最高,符合中度干扰假说;植物功能群禾本科植物及其优势植物重要值随着放牧强度的增加逐渐降低,当放牧强度大于0.23 cow.AU/hm²时,优势植物重要值显著降低（P<0.05）,莎草科与退化指示植物重要值显著增加（P<0.05）。放牧不同程度增加了植物粗蛋白、粗灰分、总磷、钙和无氮浸出物含量,显著降低了植物粗脂肪、中性洗涤纤维和粗纤维含量（P<0.05）;群落α多样性指数相互之间呈极显著正相关（P<0.01）,与植物功能群豆科植物和杂类草重要值呈显著正相关、与禾本科植物重要值呈负相关;植物功能群禾本科和毛茛科植物重要值与植物酸性洗涤纤维和钙呈显著负相关、与中性洗涤纤维呈显著正相关,莎草科植物重要值与之相反。【结论】 不同放牧强度下植物群落特征及营养品质发生不同程度的变化,放牧强度为0.23—0.34 cow.AU/hm²较为适宜,适度放牧有利于提高群落物种多样性,保持草地植物群落稳定,促进草地生态系统可持续发展。     

退化草原恢复中草原植物群落特征的变化

【目的】分析实施禁牧和草畜平衡后的退化草原植被群落特征,研究退化草原生态环境恢复情况,为乌鲁木齐市退化草地的恢复重建提供科学指导。【方法】选取乌鲁木齐市实施禁牧和草畜平衡的天然草地为对象,对不同恢复年限禁牧区和草畜平衡区的植被长势变化及植物群落平均高度、盖度和地上生物量等进行实地调查和分析,研究退化草地在恢复过程中植物群落特征的变化。【结果】(1)实施草原补奖政策后,恢复5 a后较恢复1 a,恢复8 a较恢复5 a草原植物长势明显变好。(2)禁牧区不同草地类型的植被盖度、高度和生物量随恢复时间的延长呈上升趋势,草畜平衡区不同草地类呈现先升高后降低的趋势,在恢复8 a时出现下降趋势,这可能与2018年乌鲁木齐市降雨量较低有关。【结论】通过实施禁牧和草畜平衡,乌鲁木齐市草地退化的现象得到了一定程度的遏制和改善,在政策实施8 a后草地植被恢复较好,但不同草地类型的变化有所差异,需继续加强草地资源监测。     

放牧对土壤理化性状及植被多样性的影响

放牧是家畜饲养方式之一,是草地最简单而又有效的利用方式,但放牧中的家畜家禽通过采食牧草、践踏土壤和牧草以及粪便排泄影响着草地植被和土壤,不同的强度的放牧对地下土壤与地上植被的影响不同,本文综述了近几年来放牧对地下部土壤有机质、氮、磷、钾,土壤容重、有机碳以及微生物多样性的影响,对植被多样性及草群成分的影响等,旨在为今后家畜放牧行为研究以及放牧科学研究提供理论依据。     

Performance,milk fatty acid composition and behaviour of high-yielding Holstein dairy cows given a limited grazing period

The effects of a limited grazing period on the performance, behaviour and milk composition of high-yielding dairy cows were examined. A total of 56 Holstein cows yielding 44.7 ± 0.42 kg/day were allocated to one of four treatments in one of two, 4-week periods. Treatments were as follows: control (C)—cows housed and offered TMR ad libitum; early grazing (EG)—cows grazed for 6 hr after morning milking then housed; delayed grazing (DG)—cows returned to housing for 1 hr after morning milking followed by grazing for 6 hr, then housed; restricted TMR (RT)—cows grazed for 6 hr after morning milking, then housed and fed TMR at 75% of ad libitum. Intake of TMR was highest in cows receiving C, intermediate in EG and DG, and lowest in RT at 26.9, 23.6, 24.7 and 20.3 kg DM/day respectively. Pasture intake was similar in cows receiving EG or DG, but was higher in RT at 2.4, 2.0 and 3.5 kg DM/day respectively. Milk yield was similar between cows receiving C, EG or DG, but lowest in RT at 45.7, 44.2, 44.9 and 41.7 kg/cow, respectively, while milk fat content of C18:3 n-3 was increased by grazing. Cows in C spent more than 55 min/day longer lying and had three additional lying bouts/day, while lying bouts were shorter than for cows receiving EG, RT or DG. It is concluded that high-yielding cows can be grazed for 6 hr/day with little impact on performance, provided TMR is available ad libitum when housed.     

An investigation into the grazing efficiency of perennial ryegrass varieties

The objective of this study was to compare the grazing efficiency of 30 perennial ryegrass varieties, differing in ploidy and heading date. Plots were grazed by lactating dairy cows and managed under a rotational grazing system with 19 grazing events occurring over two years. Pre-grazing and post-grazing compressed sward heights were measured with a rising plate meter. A mixed model was used to predict the post-grazing sward height of each variety based on year, grazing event, block and pre-grazing sward height. Residual grazed height (RGH) was derived as the difference between the actual and predicted post-grazing sward height and was used as the measure of grazing efficiency. Negative RGH values indicated that the actual herbage removed was greater than that predicted and so indicated a superior grazing efficiency. Varieties differed in their level of grazing efficiency (p < .001), with RGH values ranging from −0.38 to +0.34 cm. Tetraploid varieties exhibited significantly greater grazing efficiency performance than diploids (p < .001), with average RGH values of −0.13 and +0.13 cm respectively. A significant difference in grazing efficiency was found among recommended perennial ryegrass varieties that are not being recorded by mechanically harvested simulated grazing protocols. A variety reappraisal that included grazing efficiency could identify varieties capable of improving on-farm livestock productivity from grass.     

Primary productivity in patches of heterogeneous swards after 12 years of low-intensity cattle grazing

In low-intensity grazing systems, patch grazing leads to a mosaic structure of short (frequently defoliated) and tall (rarely defoliated) patches, with the stocking rate determining the proportion of these patch types on the pasture. Little is known about the long-term effects of patch grazing on the productivity of contrasting sward height patches developed under varying stocking rates. On a 12-year low-intensity cattle pasture we investigated aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and its seasonal variation in different patch types (‘short’, ‘medium’ and ‘tall’) under three stocking rates (‘moderate’, ‘lenient’ and ‘very lenient’) over two years. Additionally, we determined stocks of soil phosphorus, potassium and magnesium as well as soil pH. ANPP was affected by an interaction of patch type and stocking rate and ranged from less than 300 g/m² in short patches under very lenient stocking to more than 1,000 g/m² in medium patches under moderate stocking. In contrast with observations at the start of the experiment, ANPP in short patches was similar to or less than that in medium and tall patches. As topsoil phosphorus and potassium stocks were lowest in short patches, this indicates a long-term redistribution of nutrients by grazing animals, which limits short-patch productivity. Productivity of medium patches increased with stocking rate, and soil potassium concentration showed a similar trend, pointing towards enhanced nutrient cycling under more intensive stocking. We conclude that nutrient redistribution may lead to increasing trade-offs between ecological and agronomic aims in long-term low-intensity grazing systems.     

An improved method for extraction of sorghum polymeric protein complexes

A method for fractionating sorghum proteins using extraction solvents and techniques designed to obtain polymeric protein structures (especially disulfide linked) was developed. Extraction and separation conditions were optimized in terms of completeness of protein extraction, sample stability, and analytical resolution. After pre-extraction of albumins and globulins, a 3-step sequential procedure involving no reducing agents was applied to ground whole sorghum flour. The three fractions obtained represented proportionally different protein polymer contents and molecular weight distribution as evidenced by comparative size exclusion chromatography. Protein composition also varied among the extracts with differences in kafirin composition and non-kafirin proteins detected in the fractions by RP-HPLC and SDS-PAGE analysis. The ability to quantify and further characterize sorghum polymeric protein complexes will be useful for additional studies linking protein structures with functionality and digestibility and variations for these properties within diverse sorghum germplasm.     

基于农牧户视角的荒漠化治理中退牧还草技术综合评价——以内蒙古鄂托克旗为例

农牧户作为退牧还草技术的实施者和重要利益相关者,其对技术的感知度和认可度对于调整和完善退牧还草技术具有重要的现实意义。本文以草地荒漠化典型区域——内蒙古鄂托克旗为例,采用主观层次分析法和客观熵权法相结合的方法,构建包括技术成熟度、技术应用难度、技术相宜性、技术效益和技术推广潜力5个方面的退牧还草技术综合评价指标体系,基于农牧户视角对内蒙古鄂托克旗退牧还草技术进行综合评价。结果表明:1)基于农牧户视角的鄂托克旗退牧还草技术综合评价结果为0.469 8,说明农牧户对于退牧还草技术的综合评价处于中等水平,技术满意度一般,技术可持续性较弱。具体表现为农牧户对于技术自身的草地生态系统退化修复功能持以肯定态度,生态效益评价较高;而对于经济效益和技术可持续性评价较低。2)分项退牧还草技术评价结果由高到低的排序为:技术相宜性、技术效益、技术成熟度、技术应用难度、技术推广潜力。3)分区域研究得出,鄂托克旗退牧还草技术综合评价的区域差异性较小。因此,退牧还草技术的综合评价结果能够反映农牧户对于该项技术的满意程度,为退牧还草技术的持续有效实施提供参考。     

返青期休牧对祁连山区中度退化草原化草甸草地的影响

为解决祁连山区高寒草地牧草返青期季节性超载过牧问题,自2015年5月至7月起连续两年在青海省祁连县默勒镇瓦日尕村的冬春放牧地上进行了为期60d的返青期休牧试验,休牧期间放牧家畜全部采用舍饲圈养,并于2016年8月中旬对休牧草地进行植被调查。结果表明,返青期休牧可使草地群落的总盖度、总植物量显著增加(P0.05),使禾本科牧草株高、分盖度和植物量显著增加(P0.05),对莎草科植物影响不显著(P0.05);阔叶型毒杂草的株高、盖度、生物量均有下降的趋势。休牧两年与休牧一年相比,群落中禾本科植物的株高、盖度、植物量均在继续增加,阔叶型毒杂草的各项指标继续下降。结果证明,返青期休牧可有效促进祁连山区草原化草甸退化草地的植被恢复,并大幅度提高草地生产力。