Influences of continuous grazing and livestock exclusion on soil properties in a degraded sandy grassland, Inner Mongolia, northern China

Overgrazing is one of the main causes of desertification in the semiarid Horqin sandy grassland of northern China. Excluding grazing livestock is considered as an alternative to restore vegetation in degraded sandy grassland in this region. However, few data are available concerning the impacts of continuous grazing and livestock exclusion on soil properties. In this paper, characteristics of vegetation and soil properties under continuous grazing and exclusion of livestock for 5 and 10 years were examined in representative degraded sandy grassland. Continuous grazing resulted in a considerable decrease in ground cover, which accelerates soil erosion by wind, leading to a further coarseness in surface soil, loss of soil organic C and N, and a decrease in soil biological properties. The grassland under continuous grazing is in the stage of very strong degradation. Excluding livestock grazing enhances vegetation recovery, litter accumulation, and development of annual and perennial grasses. Soil organic C and total N concentrations, soil biological properties including some enzyme activities and basal soil respiration improved following 10-year exclusion of livestock, suggesting that degradation of the grassland is being reversed. The results suggest that excluding grazing livestock on the desertified sandy grassland in the erosion-prone Horqin region has a great potential to restore soil fertility, sequester soil organic carbon and improve biological activity. Soil restoration is a slow process although the vegetation can recover rapidly after removal of livestock. A viable option for sandy grassland management should be to adopt proper exclosure in a rotation grazing system in the initial stage of grassland degradation.     

Soil properties following cultivation and non-grazing of a semi-arid sandy grassland in northern China

Cultivation and overgrazing are widely recognized as the primary causes of desertification of sandy grassland in the semi-arid region of northern China. Very little is known about the effect of cultivation and overgrazing on soil physical, chemical and biological properties in this region. The objective of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the magnitude of changes in soil properties due to 3 years of cultivation (3CGS) and 5 years of ungrazed exclosure (5RGS) in a degraded grassland ecosystem of the semi-arid Horqin sandy steppe. Short-term cultivation resulted in a 18–38% reduction in concentration of soil organic C, and total N and P in the 0–15 cm plow layer. Cultivation had a significant influence on N and P availability and soil biological properties, with lower basal soil respiration (BSR) and enzyme activities than the grassland soils. This was mostly due to strong wind erosion when sandy grassland was cultivated. Data indicated a considerable difference in soil particle size distribution between the cultivated and grassland soils, and fine fraction (<0.1 mm) in the cultivated soil was lower than that in the grassland soils. Moreover, grassland vegetation recovery in the 5RGS resulted in significant improvement in soil properties measured at the 0–7.5 cm depth. From the perspective of soil resource management and environmental conservation, a viable option for these sandy grasslands would be to stop conversion of grassland to cropland and adopt proper fencing practices to limit overgrazing.     

Vegetation characteristics and soil properties in grazing exclusion areas of the Inner Mongolia desert steppe

In arid and semi-arid desert steppe areas, grazing exclusion with fencing is widely regarded as an effective strategy for restoring degraded vegetation and enhancing the quality of degraded soil. In this study, we hypothesized that grazing exclusion caused by fencing enhances both vegetation and soil properties, and that the longer an area is fenced, the more considerable the improvement. We conducted an observational study wherein random sampling was utilized to select 9 plots fenced for ten or more years, 25 plots fenced for four to nine years, 25 plots fenced for one to three years and 29 free-grazing plots within an area of approximately 63,000 km² of Inner Mongolia desert steppe. A one-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences in the characteristics of grassland vegetation or soil properties between grasslands fenced for one to three years and free-grazing grassland. After 4 years of fencing, noticeable increases in above-ground biomass, litter content, Simpson index, soil organic carbon, and available nitrogen were observed. Significant positive differences in vegetation coverage, height, species richness, soil available phosphorus, and available potassium were associated with plots with a minimum of 10 years of fencing. The soil layer with the greatest difference in the fenced-in areas for soil organic carbon was at 0–25 cm. For available nitrogen and available phosphorus, fencing produced the most significant differences in the 0–20 cm soil layer, while for available potassium, fencing produced the most significant differences in the 0–30 cm soil layer. However, the fencing did not indicate any statistically significant differences in terms of clay, silt, and sand content in any soil layer. The data support our hypothesis that grazing exclusion improves both vegetation and soil properties, and that longer periods of grazing exclusion result in greater degrees of improvement. This research offers technical guidance for the reasonable choice of fencing time across a vast area of the Inner Mongolian desert steppe.     

Management effects on the vegetation and soil seed bank of calcareous grasslands: An 11-year experiment

Calcareous grasslands, most of which are man made and therefore depend on some kind of human interference for their maintenance, are among the most species-rich communities on Earth at a small scale. For many centuries, most of these grasslands have been used as extensive pasture. However, after 1900, and particularly from 1940 onwards, livestock grazing has declined throughout Europe leading to the abandonment of low intensity grasslands over large areas. To conserve the remaining grasslands or to restore recently abandoned grasslands, better insights about the effects of grassland management on above and belowground species diversity are needed. Here, we describe the results of an 11-year experiment to investigate the role of grassland management (grazing, mowing and abandonment) in determining species composition and diversity both in the aboveground vegetation and the seed bank of a calcareous grassland in Belgium. Species diversity declined by about 60% 11 years after abandonment, from 29 species m⁻² to as few as 12 species m⁻². Plots that were grazed remained constant in species richness, whereas mown sites lost about 20% of their original species. Abandoned plots were largely dominated by a few grass species, in particular Festuca rubra. Concomitant with changes in the aboveground vegetation, both the number of species found in the seed bank and seed density (number of seeds m⁻²) had changed significantly 11 years after abandonment. Species diversity and seed density were significantly lower in abandoned plots than in grazed or mown plots. We conclude that abandonment of calcareous grasslands may lead to rapid decline of plant species diversity both in the aboveground vegetation and in the seed bank. As a result, seed banks probably have a limited role to play in the restoration of recently abandoned grasslands.     

Resilience of South African communal grazing lands after the removal of high grazing pressure

A paired site study was conducted of communally grazed eutrophic and dystrophic grasslands and adjacent ungrazed areas of varying periods of exclusion from communal grazing. This allowed determination of the rate and extent of change of a number of vegetation and soil variables following the removal of high and continuous grazing pressure characteristic of communal lands. Similarity indices for grass species composition between the grazed and adjacent ungrazed areas showed a significant exponential decrease with increasing time since protection from continuous grazing. Most change in grass species composition occurred within four to nine years of protection from communal grazing in eutrophic grasslands, and in six to nine years in dystrophic grasslands. In both grassland types palatability increased with time since protection. In eutrophic sites the abundance of perennials showed a significant increase with time since protection, while the abundance of annuals showed a concomitant decrease. This relationship was not evident in dystrophic grasslands. Grass species diversity, basal cover and density showed no relationship with time since protection in the eutrophic sites, but a general increase with time since protection was found in dystrophic sites. Soil bulk density, field capacity, pH and soil nutrients showed no evidence of a relationship with time since protection for either grassland type, while soil porosity increased significantly with time since protection at eutrophic sites, but not dystrophic sites. These relatively rapid changes following the removal of the high grazing pressure indicate that these systems are characterized by relatively high resilience. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soil microbial activity and litter turnover in native grazed and ungrazed rangelands in a semiarid ecosystem

Long-term overgrazing is known to influence soil microbiological properties and C sequestration in soil organic matter. However, much remains to be known concerning overgrazing impacts on soil microbial activity and litter turnover in heavily grazed rangelands of Central Iran. Aboveground litter decomposition of three dominant species (Agropyron intermedium, Hordeum bulbosum, and Juncus sp.) were studied using a litter bag experiment under field conditions in three range sites of Central Iran, a site with continuous grazing, a site ungrazed for 17 years with dominant woody species (80% cover), and a site ungrazed for 17 years with dominant pasture species (70% cover). Soil samples were taken from 0 to 30 cm depth and analyzed for their chemical and microbiological properties. Results demonstrate that soil organic C and total N contents and C/N ratios were similar for both ungrazed and grazed sites, while available P and K concentrations significantly decreased under grazed conditions. It was also evident that range grazing decreases soil respiration and microbial biomass C, suggesting a lower recent annual input of decomposable organic C. Nevertheless, grazing conditions had no significant effect on litter decomposition indicating soil microclimate is not affected by grazing animals in this ecosystem. It is concluded that overgrazing may presumably depress microbial activity through either reduced input of fresh plant residue into the surface soil or lack of living roots and exudates for stimulating microbial activity. This study also suggests that 17 years of livestock exclusion might be insufficient time for expected C accumulation in soil.     

Grazing‐induced alterations of soil hydraulic properties and functions in Inner Mongolia,PR China

Increasing grazing intensities of sheep and goats can lead to an increasing degradation of grasslands. We investigated four plots of different grazing intensities (heavily grazed, winter‐grazed, ungrazed since 1999, and ungrazed since 1979) in Inner Mongolia, PR China, in order to study the effects of trampling‐induced mechanical stresses on soil hydraulic properties. Soil water transport and effective evapotranspiration under “heavily grazed” and “ungrazed since 1979” were modeled using the HYDRUS‐1D model. Model calibration was conducted using data collected from field studies. The field data indicate that grazing decreases soil C content and hydrophobicity. Pore volume is reduced, and water‐retention characteristics are modified, the saturated hydraulic conductivity decreases, and its anisotropy (vertical vs. horizontal conductivity) is influenced. Modeling results revealed higher evapotranspiration on the ungrazed site (ungrazed since 1979) compared to the grazed site (heavily grazed) due to wetter soil conditions, more dense vegetation, litter cover, and decreased runoff and drainage, respectively. Grazing modified the partitioning of evapotranspiration with lower transpiration and higher evaporation at the grazed site owing to reduced root water uptake due to reduced evaporation and a patchy soil cover.     

贵州喀斯特地区草地开垦对土壤微量元素的影响与评价

为探明生态脆弱区土地利用方式转换对土壤有效态微量元素的影响,以贵州喀斯特地区草地及其相应开垦的农田为对象,采用成对设计的方法研究了草地开垦对土壤微量元素（铜、锰、铁、钼、硼、锌）的影响,并探索基于土壤微量元素密度的区域土壤微量元素丰缺评价指标。结果表明：研究区土壤有效态微量元素在土壤剖面上呈表面富集现象,其含量随土层深度的增加而降低;草地开垦导致土壤有效态铜、铁、硼和钼的含量出现不同程度的降低,降幅为4.97%～79.17%,而土壤有效锌含量则增加,增幅为11.76%～46.06%;开垦导致土壤有效锰含量在剖面上的下降速率加快。建立了研究区6种有效微量元素的丰缺评价指标,该指标以土壤微量元素密度为参数,以参数值的不同范围界定微量元素的丰缺程度,消除了微量元素空间异质性对判定结果的影响。根据该评价指标,研究区土壤有效铁、锰处于极高水平,草地开垦导致土壤有效铜、钼、硼的丰度下降,而有效锌的丰度上升;结合微量元素有效性评价指数,整个研究区土壤有效硼处于低水平,不能够满足植物正常生长发育的需要。该研究结果可为生态脆弱区土地的科学管理和土壤微量元素科学评价体系的建立提供参考。     

不同管理模式下干旱草地粒度特征

土壤粒径分布及空间变化对土壤溶质和水盐运移、土壤肥力状况等有重要意义,是土壤重要物理特性之一。基于新疆准噶尔北部、阿勒泰山南麓不同管理模式下的草地(荒漠草地、天然草地、弃耕草地、季节草地和禁牧草地),运用质地分类和分形理论探讨草地粒度特征。结果发现:研究区土壤颗粒中黏粒含量最低,最小值仅有0.17g/kg,砂粒含量最高,最大值可达900.37 g/kg,粒径分布呈现单峰特征,表明土壤发育较差;砂粒和粉粒含量之间呈极显著负相关关系,相关系数为0.999 8(P0.01),推测成土母质和地域差异导致土壤中砂粒和粉粒几乎占了全部;荒漠草地、天然草地和弃耕草地黏粒含量的平均值随着土层深度增加而减小,呈现出负相关特征,而季节草地和禁牧草地并无此特征;荒漠草地的分形维数D值最大,可能是因为灌木作为该生态系统中的优势植物,能有效地减缓荒漠草地逆向演替和消亡的进程,对土壤颗粒具有一定的细化作用;所有土壤样品分形维数D与黏粒含量均具有较强相关性,天然草地、荒漠草地和弃耕草地的分形维数D分别与粉粒和砂粒含量的相关性较强,与禁牧和季节草地的相关性较差,说明春、秋轮牧对土壤的干扰可能超过了土壤本身承载能力,对土壤颗粒组成破坏比较大,影响了土壤发育,放牧向禁牧转化时期的长短可能决定了土壤的发育是否良好。     

Land-use history has a stronger impact on soil microbial community composition than aboveground vegetation and soil properties

The response of soil microbial communities following changes in land-use is governed by multiple factors. The objectives of this study were to investigate (i) whether soil microbial communities track the changes in aboveground vegetation during succession; and (ii) whether microbial communities return to their native state over time. Two successional gradients with different vegetation were studied at the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan. The first gradient comprised a conventionally tilled cropland (CT), mid-succession forest (SF) abandoned from cultivation prior to 1951, and native deciduous forest (DF). The second gradient comprised the CT cropland, early-succession grassland (ES) restored in 1989, and long-term mowed grassland (MG). With succession, the total microbial PLFAs and soil microbial biomass C consistently increased in both gradients. While bacterial rRNA gene diversity remained unchanged, the abundance and composition of many bacterial phyla changed significantly. Moreover, microbial communities in the relatively pristine DF and MG soils were very similar despite major differences in soil properties and vegetation. After >50 years of succession, and despite different vegetation, microbial communities in SF were more similar to those in mature DF than in CT. In contrast, even after 17 years of succession, microbial communities in ES were more similar to CT than endpoint MG despite very different vegetation between CT and ES. This result suggested a lasting impact of cultivation history on the soil microbial community. With conversion of deciduous to conifer forest (CF), there was a significant change in multiple soil properties that correlated with changes in microbial biomass, rRNA gene diversity and community composition. In conclusion, history of land-use was a stronger determinant of the composition of microbial communities than vegetation and soil properties. Further, microbial communities in disturbed soils apparently return to their native state with time.     

宁夏盐池县草地沙化对植被与土壤特征的影响

通过野外调查和室内分析相结合的方法,研究了盐池县不同沙化程度下草地植被特征和土壤特性的变化,以探讨植被和土壤对沙化的响应机制。结果表明,随着草地沙化程度的加剧,植被组成发生变化,多年生草本植物呈逐渐减少,一年生草本植物呈逐渐增加的趋势;生物多样性指数变化趋势为轻度沙化草地到中度沙化草地增加,自中度沙化草地至极度沙化草地先降低后又增加,中度沙化阶段是草地植物群落特征变化的重要转折时期。随着草地沙化加剧,土壤含水量、有机质、氮含量降低;重度沙化阶段土壤磷、钾含量最高,pH值和可溶性盐无明显变化规律。     

Impacts of land-use pattern on soil water-content variability on the Loess Plateau of China

Abstract

Long-term vegetation restoration carried out on the slopes of the Loess Plateau of China employed different spatial and temporal land-use patterns but very little is known about the effects of these patterns on soil water-content variability. For this study the small Donggou catchment was selected to investigate soil water-content distributions for three spatial scales, including the entire catchment area, sampling transects, and land-use systems. Gravimetric soil water contents were determined incrementally to a soil depth of 1.20 m, on 10 occasions from April to October, 2007, at approximately 20-day intervals. Results indicated that soil water contents were affected by the six land-use types, resulting in four distinct patterns of vertical distribution of soil moisture (uniform, increasing, decreasing, and fluctuating with soil depth). The soil water content and its variation were also influenced in a complex manner by five land-use patterns distributed along transects following the gradients of five similar slopes. These patterns with contrasting hydrological responses in different components, such as forage land (alfalfa)–cropland–shrubland or shrubland–grassland (bunge needlegrass)–cropland–grassland, showed the highest soil water-content variability. Soil water at the catchment scale exhibited a moderate variability for each measurement date, and the variability of soil water content decreased exponentially with increasing soil water content. The minimum sample size for accurate data for use in a hydrological model for the catchment, for example, required many more samples for drier (69) than for wet (10) conditions. To enhance erosion and runoff control, this study suggested two strategies for land management: (i) to create a mosaic pattern by land-use arrangement that located units with higher infiltration capacities downslope from those with lower soil infiltrabilities; and (ii) raising the soil-infiltration capacity of units within the spatial mosaic pattern where possible.     

Density and success of bird nests relative to grazing on western Montana grasslands

Grassland birds are declining at a faster rate than any other group of North American bird species. Livestock grazing is the primary economic use of grasslands in the western United States, but the effects of this use on distribution and productivity of grassland birds are unclear. We examined nest density and success of ground-nesting birds on grazed and ungrazed grasslands in western Montana. In comparison to grazed plots, ungrazed plots had reduced forb cover, increased litter cover, increased litter depth, and increased visual obstruction readings (VOR) of vegetation. Nest density among 10 of 11 common bird species was most strongly correlated with VOR of plots, and greatest nest density for each species occured where mean VOR of the plot was similar to mean VOR at nests. Additionally, all bird species were relatively consistent in their choice of VOR at nests despite substantial differences in VOR among plots. We suggest that birds selected plots based in part on availability of suitable nest sites and that variation in nest density relative to grazing reflected the effect of grazing on availability of nest sites. Nest success was similar between grazed plots and ungrazed plots for two species but was lower for nests on grazed plots than on ungrazed plots for two other species because of increased rates of predation, trampling, or parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater). Other species nested almost exclusively on ungrazed plots (six species) or grazed plots (one species), precluding evaluation of the effects of grazing on nest success. We demonstrate that each species in a diverse suite of ground-nesting birds preferentially used certain habitats for nesting and that grazing altered availability of preferred nesting habitats through changes in vegetation structure and plant species composition. We also show that grazing directly or indirectly predisposed some bird species to increased nesting mortality. Management alternatives that avoid intensive grazing during the breeding season would be expected to benefit many grassland bird species.     

Variation in organic‐carbon concentration and bulk density in Flemish grassland soils

The different management regimes on grassland soils were examined to determine the possibilities for improved and/or changed land management of grasslands in Flanders (Belgium), with respect to article 3.4 of the Kyoto Protocol. Grassland soils were sampled for soil organic carbon (SOC) and for bulk density. For all grasslands under agricultural use, grazing and mowing + grazing led to higher SOC stocks compared with mowing, and grazing had higher SOC stocks compared with mowing + grazing. Overall, 15.1 ± 4.9 kg OC m^–2 for the clayey texture, 9.8 ± 3.0 kg OC m^–2 for the silty texture, and 11.8 ± 3.8 kg OC m^–2 for the sandy texture were found for grassland under agricultural use to a depth of 60 cm. For seminatural grasslands, different results were found. For both the clayey and silty texture, mowing and mowing + grazing led to higher SOC stocks compared with grazing. The clayey texture had a mean stock of 15.1 ± 6.6, the silty texture of 10.9 ± 3.0, and the sandy texture of 12.1 ± 3.9 kg OC m^–2 (0–60 cm). Lower bulk densities were found under grazed agricultural grassland compared with mown grassland but for seminatural grassland, no clear trends for the bulk density were found. The best management option for maintaining or enhancing SOC stocks in agricultural grassland soils may be permanent grazed grassland. For seminatural grassland, no clear conclusions could be made. The water status of the sampled mown fields was influencing the results for the clayey texture. Overall, the mean SOC stock was decreasing in the order clay > sand > silt. The higher mean SOC concentrations found for the sandy texture, compared to the finer silty texture, may be explained by the historical land use of these soils.     

Field measurement of infiltration rate using an oscillating nozzle rainfall simulator in the cold, semiarid grassland of Mongolia

Recent intensive grazing in Mongolia may be significantly reducing the infiltration rate of rangeland. This study measured infiltration rates using simulated rainfall with high raindrop impact for small plots established on steppe grassland, desert grassland, and shrubland sites in Mongolia. The response of the infiltration rate to short-term livestock removal was also investigated. On the steppe grassland, a high infiltration rate was measured on an ungrazed plot with relatively dense vegetation cover; a statistically significant correlation was found between the total surface cover and final infiltration rate, indicating that surface cover by rock fragments also increased the infiltration rate to some extent. For desert grassland and shrubland, however, the surface cover condition was not a major factor controlling the final infiltration rate. After 4 years of livestock removal, the surface vegetation cover of the ungrazed plot was greater than that of the grazed plot, but no appreciable change occurred in soil penetration resistance. These results suggest that the high infiltration rate on the ungrazed plot was maintained mainly by the recovery of surface vegetation cover after the short-term livestock removal; this may indicate a potential mechanism of recovery from desertification processes for Mongolian rangeland.     

Soil degradation and restoration as affected by land use change in the semiarid Bashang area,northern China

The Bashang area, located in the semiarid agropastoral zone, represents a typical degraded ecosystem under intensified human activities. This region has undergone profound land use changes during the past century. Natural grasslands had been progressively cultivated, and subsequently, part of cultivated lands had been abandoned by farmers due to severe desertification. In this study, we collected soil samples (0–20 cm depth) from four farmlands on both flat and gentle slope lands where cultivation had occurred for 0, 8, 30, and 50 years to assess the effects of grassland cultivation on soil degradation. In addition, soil samples were taken and plant species were investigated from eight sites in age sequence of 0- to 50- year-old abandoned field to assess natural restoration process following field abandonment. The results showed that cultivation of grassland result in a significant soil degradation which is manifested by the coarsening in soil texture and the losses in organic C and nutrients. After 50 years of cultivation, soil organic C, total N, and total P concentrations had declined 73–79%, 60–70%, and 67–68% in the 0–20 cm plough layer, respectively. Over half of these losses occurred during the first 8 years of cultivation, and subsequent was slow. After fields were abandoned, vegetation got self-restoration, and plant species composition moved toward that of the natural grassland community with time. Soil organic C, total N, and total P levels gradually improved with increasing years of land abandonment, with a faster restoration rate in the early vegetation recovery stage and a slower rate in the late succession stage. The results suggested that soil degradation may occurred drastically by inappropriate land use and management with a short time, while soil restoration for a degraded ecosystem may take long period of time, especially in this fragile ecosystem. From the perspective of soil resource management and desertification control, conservational tillage and management for farmlands and proper grazing management for recovered grassland should be taken into account in this area.     

放牧干扰后自然恢复的退化沙质草地土壤性状的空间分布

用地统计学的方法 ,研究了科尔沁沙质退化草地不同强度放牧干扰 (重度放牧和适度放牧 )后自然恢复过程中 0～ 15cm土层土壤有机碳、全氮、pH和电导率在 10m尺度上的空间异质性特征。结果表明 ,重牧后的恢复草地比适度放牧后的恢复草地呈现出显著低的有机碳和全氮含量及其显著高的变异性。在取样尺度的空间分布上均表现出显著的空间结构特征 ,自相关尺度分别为 2 2 2～ 2 9 4m和 2 5 5～ 39m ,结构性方差占样本方差的 87 2 %～ 88 2 %和 6 5 5 %～ 85 9%。全氮的自相关尺度大于有机碳。土壤pH和电导率在取样的尺度内不存在局部格局 ,而可能受更大尺度的格局控制。放牧引起的植被斑块状分布和沙化裸斑的出现是土壤碳、氮空间变异的主要因素 ;土壤异质性尺度的改变又可能影响着植被的恢复演替和分布格局。     

农牧交错带草地开垦对土壤有效态微量元素的影响及评价

为明确草地利用方式转变对土壤微量元素的影响,以华北农牧交错带2种类型草地及其相应开垦的农田为对象,采用成对设计的方法研究了开垦对草地土壤表层(0～20cm)有效态微量元素(铜、铁、锰、锌、硼、钼)的影响并对其进行了评价,以期为农牧交错带的科学管理提供参考。结果表明:典型草地开垦导致土壤有效态铜、锌含量分别上升8.8%和16.4%,其他4种微量元素含量下降16.4%～28.1%。根据土壤有效态微量元素评价标准,典型草地区域有效态硼、钼含量处于高水平,有效态铜处于中等水平,有效态锌处于极低水平;有效态铁、锰在典型草地为高水平和中等水平,开垦为农田后分别降到中等水平和低水平。低湿草甸开垦导致微量元素含量下降10.6%～77.7%,其中有效态铁、硼、钼处于极高水平,有效态锰处于中等水平,有效态锌处于极低水平;有效态铜由低湿草甸的高水平降到农田的中等水平。整个研究区土壤有效锌含量限制草地植被和农作物生长发育,由典型草地开垦的农田其土壤有效锰含量不能够满足作物的需求。建议研究区禁止开垦草地并对已开垦的草地实行退耕还草,同时建议建立基于土壤微量元素密度的评价体系。     

不同植被恢复措施下高寒沙化草地植被与土壤变化特征

草地沙化是青藏高原草地生态环境恶化的显著问题之一，为研究不同恢复措施对高寒沙化草地植被与土壤的影响，以沙化草地（DG）、人工草本恢复草地（AG）、人工灌丛恢复草地（AS）以及天然草地（NG）为研究对象，基于植被群落和土壤特征的变化及两者的相互关系，评价了不同人工植被恢复措施对高寒沙化草地22年的恢复效果。结果表明：（1） AG和AS分别使DG的地上生物量增加至109.21，1 293.21 g/m²，但2种恢复措施的草本地上生物量均显著低于NG，而AG的植被群落物种丰富度比AS显著低31.48%（p<0.05）。（2）与DG的0—10 cm表层土壤相比，AG的土壤孔隙度、含水量、总碳和总氮含量分别显著提高7.94%，67.95%，22.09%和257.14%，AS的这些指标也分别显著提高6.41%，43.00%，17.18%和242.86%；但2种恢复措施的土壤碳氮养分含量均显著低于NG （p<0.05）。（3） AS和AG的土壤有机碳矿化总累积量分别比DG显著提高133.39%和116.96%，但均显著低于NG，2种恢复措施间无显著差异（p>0.05）。可见，人工植被恢复措施显著促进沙化草地植被以及土壤恢复，但灌丛恢复更有利于提高植被物种丰富度，而草本恢复更有利于增加沙化草地土壤水分。     

Abundance,diversity and connectance of soil food web channels along environmental gradients in an agricultural landscape

Soil food webs respond to anthropogenic and natural environmental variables and gradients. We studied abundance, connectance (a measure of the trophic interactions within each channel), and diversity in three different channels of the soil food web, each comprised of a resource-consumer pair: the microbivore channel (microbes and their nematode grazers), the plant–herbivore channel (plants and plant-feeding nematodes), and the predator–prey channel (predatory nematodes and their nematode prey), and their associations with different gradients in a heterogeneous agricultural landscape that consisted of intensive row crop agriculture and grazed non-irrigated grasslands in central California. Samples were taken at three positions in relation to water channels: water’s edge, bench above waterway, and the adjacent arable or grazed field. Nematode communities, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) biomarkers, and soil properties (NH₄⁺-N, NO₃⁻-N, total N, total C, pH, P, bulk density and soil texture) were measured, and riparian health ratings were scored. Environmental variables were obtained from publicly-available data sources (slope, elevation, available water capacity, erodability, hydraulic conductivity, exchangeable cation capacity, organic matter, clay and sand content and pH).The abundance and richness in most food web components were higher in grazed grasslands than in intensive agricultural fields. Consumers contributed less than their resources to the abundance and richness of the community in all channels. The association between richness and abundance for each component was strongest for the lowest trophic links (microbes, as inferred by PLFA) and weakest for the highest (predatory nematodes). The trophic interactions for the predator–prey and plant–herbivore channels were greater in the grassland than in the cropland. Fields for crops or grazing supported more interactions than the water’s edge in the plant–herbivore and microbivore channels. Connectance increased with the total richness of each community. Higher connectance within the microbivore and predator–prey soil food web channels were associated with soil NO₃⁻-N and elevation respectively, which served as surrogate indicators of high and low agricultural intensification.