北方风沙区放牧和封育对水土保持植被效益的影响分析

为了从宏观层面科学认识北方风沙区放牧和封育对草地水土保持生态效益的影响,搜集并筛选了大量文献,从中采集相关数据,采用荟萃分析方法,研究了典型草原和荒漠草原放牧强度、放牧年限和封育年限对植被地上生物量和植被盖度的影响。结果表明:(1)无论是荒漠草原还是典型草原,随着放牧强度增加,植被相对地上生物量和植被盖度均明显下降;(2)放牧年限对植被地上生物量的影响极显著,长期的放牧会使草原植被地上生物量显著降低;(3)随着封育年限的增加,荒漠草原与典型草原的植被地上生物量和植被盖度都明显增加。综上,放牧和封育都是影响北方风沙区植被生态效益的重要因素,应重点关注其对植被水土保持效益的影响,以实现对该区域的水土保持生态效益进行综合分析,为该区做好水土保持工作提供技术支撑。     

长期围栏封育对天山中部草地土壤有机碳及微生物量碳的影响

以天山中部中科院巴音布鲁克草原生态观测站三种类型草地长期（26 a）围栏封育样地为研究对象,通过野外调查取样结合室内分析的方法,研究了长期（26 a）围栏封育对草地土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量的影响,结果表明：（1）围栏外（自然放牧条件下）,表层的土壤有机碳含量为高寒草甸（165.29 g·kg-1）〉高寒草甸草原（98.73 g·kg-1）〉高寒草原（83.54 g·kg-1）,微生物量碳含量依次为高寒草甸草原（181.70 mg·kg-1）〉高寒草甸（146.37 mg·kg-1）〉高寒草原（43.06 mg·kg-1）。围栏封育后,高寒草甸、高寒草甸草原、高寒草原表层土壤有机碳含量分别提高了11.37%、3.26%和2.21%;高寒草甸草原和高寒草甸微生物量碳含量分别增长2.89%和12.04%,而高寒草原降低40.36%。（2）从围栏内外土壤剖面来看,土壤有机碳、微生物量碳含量随着土壤深度的增加依次降低,微生物熵也随土壤深度的增加呈现降低的趋势。（3）微生物量碳含量与土壤速效钾、全磷含量达到极显著负相关（P〈0.01）,与速效磷含量达到极显著正相关（P〈0.01）,与土壤有机碳、全氮、全钾含量呈显著正相关（P〈0.05）与土壤速效氮含量正相关,但不显著。     

围栏封育对荒漠草原灌丛草地土壤优先流的影响研究

为探究围封对灌丛草地土壤优先流的影响,以宁夏吴忠市盐池县典型荒漠草原区为研究区,通过野外入渗染色试验、图像处理分析等方法,对围封荒漠草原灌丛草地土壤优先流的影响进行评价。结果表明:(1)围栏封育与放牧管理样地土壤水分入渗特征存在差异,在围栏封育样地,草地、天然柠条林地、人工柠条林地的入渗染色图像分别在0—125,0—115,0—105 cm呈现均匀分布,而在125—240,115—150,105—140 cm呈现染色分支,在放牧管理样地,草地、天然柠条林地、人工柠条林地入渗染色图像分别在0—80,0—70,0—80 cm呈现均匀分布,围栏封育导致土壤优先流发生深度更大;(2)土壤剖面染色面积比表现为围栏封育草地＞围栏封育天然柠条林地＞围栏封育人工柠条林地＞放牧管理人工柠条林地＞放牧管理天然柠条林地＞放牧管理草地,土壤染色深度表现为围栏封育草地＞围栏封育天然柠条林地＞放牧管理草地＞放牧管理天然柠条林地＞围栏封育人工柠条林地＞放牧管理人工柠条林地,围栏封育管理会导致土壤剖面染色面积比及染色深度增大;(3)土壤优先流变异系数表现为放牧管理天然柠条林地＞放牧管理人工柠条林地＞围栏封育天然柠条林地＞放牧管理草地＞围栏封育人工柠条林地＞围栏封育草地,放牧管理导致土壤优先流程度增加,而围栏封育降低灌木林地及草地的优先流程度。因此,在荒漠草原等干旱半干旱地区,围栏封育可作为提升土壤水分均匀入渗深度、降低优先流发生程度、提高土壤水分利用效率的重要管理方式。     

放牧与围栏内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物生物量碳、氮变化及微生物群落结构PLFA分析

以内蒙古贝加尔针茅草原、大针茅草原和克氏针茅草原为研究对象,采用氯仿熏蒸法和磷脂脂肪酸（PLFA）分析方法研究了放牧与围栏条件下内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物生物量和群落结构特征的变化情况。研究表明放牧与围栏草地土壤微生物生物量和群落结构差异显著。氯仿熏蒸法分析结果表明内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物生物量碳的含量介于166.6-703.5mg·kg^-1之间,微生物生物量氮含量介于30.34-92.15mg·kg^-1之间,其中贝加尔针茅草原土壤微生物生物量碳、氮最高,大针茅草原次之,克氏针茅草原则最低。放牧条件下,贝加尔针茅草原、大针茅草原土壤微生物生物量碳、氮显著低于围栏草地,克氏针茅草原则无显著变化。PLFA分析结果显示,内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物群落PLFAs种类、含量丰富,共检测出28种PLFA生物标记磷脂脂肪酸,并且以直链饱和脂肪酸和支链饱和脂肪酸为主,相对含量占总量的2/3左右,其中贝加尔针茅草原土壤微生物含量最丰富,其围栏样地土壤的PLFA含量达到27.3nmol·g-1,大针茅草原和克氏针茅草原依次降低。围栏条件下,各类型草原土壤细菌脂肪酸与总PLFA含量均显著高于放牧草地,真菌脂肪酸含量则因草原类型不同各有差异;放牧导致各类型草原革兰氏阳性细菌PLFAs/革兰氏阴性细菌PLFAs（GPPLFAs/GNPLFAs）比值显著降低,而除了克氏针茅草原,细菌PLFAs/真菌PLFAs比值则显著升高。PLFAs主成分分析表明,放牧和围栏处理对内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物群落结构产生影响,且围栏处理的影响程度大于放牧处理。经相关分析表明,氯仿熏蒸法和PLFA分析方法之间有很好的一致性,且土壤微生物PLFAs与土壤有机质、全磷、硝态氮显著相关。     

Carbon storage under different grazing management in the typical steppe

Understanding the carbon storage is necessary to understand how grassland ecosystems would respond to natural and anthropogenic disturbances under different management strategies. Carbon storage was investigated in aboveground biomass, litter, roots and soil organic matter (SOM) in eight sites that were floristically and topographically similar, but had been subjected to different years of grazing exclusion and different grazing intensities. The primary objective of this study was to ascertain the effect of different grazing management regimes on carbon storage in the typical steppe ecosystem of China. The results revealed that the total carbon stored in aboveground biomass, litter, roots and SOM (the top 100cm soil layer) varied from 9.29 to 18.51 kg m². Over 94% of the carbon stored in the SOM, with minor storage in other pools. Soil carbon storage decreased substantially with grazing intensity and the six years of grazing exclusion had a higher storage than 32 and 15 years grazing exclusion. The carbon storage trend observed in these treatments suggests that moderate grazing as well as mowing can improve the carbon sequestration and the longer fencing year is not better for carbon accumulation of typical steppe in China.     

荒漠草原不同植被恢复模式的水土保持生态效益

[目的]以内蒙古四子王旗境内退化荒漠草原为研究区域,研究不同植被恢复模式对植物群落组成、土壤含水量、土壤侵蚀的影响,为退化草原水土流失治理和草原生态建设提供理论依据。[方法]针对退化草原特点、水土流失特征,分析不同植被恢复模式下植物群落特征、土壤水分、地表径流和侵蚀量的变化,运用主成分分析对不同植被恢复模式的水土保持生态效益进行评价。[结果]退化荒漠草原的3种植被恢复模式试验样地的植物种类组成、群落总盖度、地上生物量均高于放牧天然草地,"围栏封育+灌木条带+施肥复壮"、"围栏封育+松土补播+草种包衣"2种植被恢复模式的地上生物量与放牧天然草地之间变化差异达到显著水平(p0.05);3种植被恢复模式的实施有效控制了土壤侵蚀,径流量和土壤侵蚀量均低于天然草地。[结论]"围栏封育+松土补播+草种包衣"植被恢复模式在保持水土资源,增加群落稳定性等方面的生态效益最好。     

Cultivation and grazing altered evapotranspiration and dynamics in Inner Mongolia steppes

To examine the effects of cultivation and grazing on evapotranspiration (ET), continuous measurements of ET were conducted over almost two years, from December 2005 to September 2007, using the eddy-covariance technique in two paired ecosystems: a steppe and a cropland in Duolun and a fenced and a degraded steppe in Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, China. The ET of the four ecosystems approached or exceeded precipitation in both years. During the growing season (May–September), cultivation reduced the ecosystem ET in Duolun by 15% in the wet year (2006) and 7% in the dry year (2007). Grazing reduced the ET of the steppe in Xilinhot by 13% during the growing season of 2006, while there was similar ET between the degraded and fenced steppes in 2007. The low soil moisture in the cropland and the degraded steppe compared with the steppe at each area was the reason for the decrease in ET of the steppe ecosystems. In addition, a shorter growing period during the growing season, due to the changes in type and phenology characteristics of the vegetation associated with cultivation, was suspected for the reduction in ET in Duolun. The low soil moisture, due to the low precipitation in the dry year, limited vegetation growth and decreased canopy surface conductance (g_c), resulting in reduced plant transpiration. In addition, cultivation and grazing increased the sensitivity of ET to soil moisture in the dry year, suggesting that future changes in precipitation would not only affect ET by changing soil moisture directly, but would also influence the relationship between ET and soil moisture.     

放牧模式对内蒙古典型草原生长季土壤呼吸速率的影响

【目的】放牧改变了典型草原生产力和土壤养分循环,影响了植被和土壤微生物的生长状况,进而使草原土壤碳排放量发生变化。本研究通过分析不同放牧措施下内蒙古典型草原生长季土壤呼吸速率 (Rs) 的差异,了解不同放牧管理模式影响草原碳交换和碳平衡的主要途径。【方法】基于内蒙古典型草原全年放牧、休牧及禁牧三种放牧措施,于2014和2015年的7月和9月对Rs进行原位测定,并分析了不同放牧措施下Rs及其影响因子的差异。【结果】1) 三种放牧措施下,Rs表现为休牧样地 [CO₂ 2.00 μmol/(m2·s)] > 禁牧样地 [CO₂ 1.94 μmol/(m2·s)]> 全年放牧样地 [CO₂ 1.56 μmol/(m2·s)]。放牧对Rs的影响还存在季节效应,7月份放牧降低了Rs,而9月份放牧则提高了Rs。2) 与禁牧措施相比,放牧和休牧管理均降低了地上生物量(70.6%和47.3%)、土壤总碳含量(34.5%和32.0%)、土壤总氮含量(37.0%和34.5%),但休牧显著提高了根系生物量(37.2%)。全年放牧样地中土壤可溶性有机碳提高,但微生物磷脂脂肪酸含量下降。3) 7月份Rs主要与土壤湿度和地上生物量显著正相关,而9月份则与土壤温度和土壤PLFAs含量显著正相关。结构方程模型 (SEM) 结果显示,土壤温度 (0.905) 和湿度 (0.188) 通过影响微生物和根系的代谢环境对生长季Rs起主导作用,放牧通过降低土壤湿度和地上生物量对Rs有抑制作用 (–0.137)。【结论】全年放牧通过抑制微生物的生长降低了土壤呼吸速率,休牧通过提高根系生物量增加了土壤呼吸速率,说明放牧对内蒙古典型草原生长季土壤呼吸速率的影响途径因放牧模式的不同而不同。     

不同封育条件下荒漠草原生态系统健康评价

为定量评价围封对草原生态系统健康的影响,以宁夏盐池柳杨堡封育区为研究区域,采用生态系统健康指数对该区不同封育条件下荒漠草原进行评价分析.结果表明：1）从封育时间上看,封育时间越长,生态系统健康水平并非越好.2）从放牧压力上看,早期封育期间,放牧不利于草原生态系统健康恢复;封育达到一定年限后,适度放牧有利于草原生态系统健康恢复.因此,在荒漠草原植被恢复研究中,有必要调整封育年限、适度放牧,不仅能获得一定的经济效益,还能促进荒漠草原生态系统健康恢复.     

灌水和放牧对荒漠草原生态系统碳交换的影响

依托内蒙古乌兰察布市四子王旗境内短花针茅荒漠草原的10a放牧强度（不放牧、轻度放牧、重度放牧）试验平台,于2012年和2013年在荒漠草原生长季（5-10月）,设计放牧嵌套灌水的控制试验,以不灌水和不放牧为对照,研究净生态系统碳交换速率（net ecosystem exchange,NEE）、净生态系统呼吸速率（ecosystem respiration,RE）和总生态系统碳交换速率（gross ecosystem exchange,GEE）对不同水分条件（灌水、非灌水）和不同放牧强度的响应。结果表明：（1）荒漠草原生长季表现为净碳吸收（NEE和GEE<0）。不放牧条件下灌水通过增加土壤体积含水量（soli volumetric water content,Vwc）间接增加RE和生态系统碳吸收（P<0.01）,NEE、RE和GEE对灌水带来的土壤水分变化较为敏感。（2）不灌水条件下,NEE、RE和GEE在不同放牧强度处理中的差异并不显著,但8月后放牧带来的ΔNEE和ΔGEE正偏差显著大于8月前的负偏差（P<0.001）。（3）灌水和放牧的交互作用对NEE、RE和GEE均无显著影响,但放牧条件下增加Vwc可以增加生态系统碳吸收和呼吸作用。区分放牧强度时,RE和GEE对Vwc的线性回归模型斜率的绝对值在不放牧时最大（分别为0.26和0.61）,说明放牧导致荒漠草原生态系统碳交换对土壤水分变化的敏感性减小。     

Wild boar and red deer affect soil nutrients and soil biota in steep oak stands of the Eifel

In sloping oak forests of the German low mountain range high wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) population densities may affect soil ecological processes by grubbing, grazing, trampling and dunging. We simulated wild boar grubbing in a fenced exclosure and an unfenced replicate and established two adjacent control plots, one fenced, the other unfenced. We evaluated if repeated soil bioturbation and game exclusion by fencing influence soil texture, soil chemical and soil biotic properties in the upper soil over a time period of 2 years. Soil bioturbation was conducted in November 2000 and 2001 creating a grubbing pattern similar to that found in naturally grubbed areas. Soil and fauna sampling was performed in spring and fall of the years 2001 and 2002.Soil bioturbation did not affect soil texture, pH and the contents of organic carbon and nitrogen. In contrast, the contents of potassium and magnesium, the microbial activity and the abundance of saprophageous and predatory soil arthropods were generally lower in grubbed plots compared to ungrubbed control plots (p≤0.05).The exclusion of game did not improve soil quality. On the contrary, microbial activity and the contents of organic carbon and total nitrogen were elevated outside the fenced exclosure (p≤0.05) which may be related to the deposition of urine and dung.Our study found that large mammals affect soil nutrient cycling in sloping oak forests either directly by the deposition of urine and dung or indirectly by accelerating nutrient leaching and disturbing the decomposer system in the soils.     

放牧对荒漠草原植物生物量及土壤养分的影响

以宁夏荒漠草原为研究对象,探讨放牧对荒漠草原植物多样性、 生物量及土壤养分特征的影响。结果表明, 放牧对荒漠草原植物群落多样性、 均匀度和丰富度影响显著。植物群落多样性和均匀度随着放牧强度的增加均呈先增加后降低的趋势,在轻度放牧达到最大值。同围封禁牧相比,重度、 中度和轻度放牧草地的植物地上和地下部生物量显著降低,分别降低了43.8%、 42.0%、 15.4% 和 27.7%、16.2%、11.9%。土壤有机碳随着放牧强度的增加而降低,而土壤全氮含量随着放牧强度的增加呈先增加后降低的趋势。围封禁牧草地土壤有机碳比重度放牧增加了18.1%,而土壤全磷、 速效磷和全钾含量分别降低了 21.1%、 51.9% 和 11.0%。土壤有机碳含量对植物群落地上和地下部生物量的影响大于土壤全氮、 全磷、 全钾、 速效磷和速效钾。放牧干扰下荒漠草原土壤环境及其养分含量,能在一定程度上反映植物群落多样性和生物量的变化。     

希拉穆仁荒漠草原风蚀地表颗粒粒度特征

以荒漠草原常见的耕作区、围封区、放牧区及旅游区4种土地利用类型表层土壤为研究对象,利用激光衍射技术分析了0~2 cm表层土壤粒度组成,计算并分析平均粒径、标准偏差、偏度、峰态及分形维数等粒度参数,探讨风蚀颗粒范围。结果表明:1希拉穆仁荒漠草原耕作区、围封区、放牧区及旅游区4种土地利用类型土壤粒度组成均表现为以砂粒和粉粒为主,黏粒含量较低,样地平均粒径数值依次变小,分选性逐渐变好,峰态平缓,分形维数数值逐渐减小,土壤颗粒组成依次粗化;偏度分别为负偏、近于对称、正偏和偏正偏,彼此差异明显,偏度可作为有效的粒度参数指标。2通过分析粒度分布频率曲线和土壤粒度累积频率间平均距离,显示研究区粒径为134μm和454μm附近颗粒为近自然状态下的易风蚀颗粒。各粒度参数及分维值均显示放牧和旅游加剧希拉穆仁草原表层土壤风蚀,土壤粒度分布范围变宽,整体向粗粒化方向发展。     

Microbial growth rate measurements reveal that land-use abandonment promotes a fungal dominance of SOM decomposition in grazed Mediterranean ecosystems

The present study investigated the effects of land-use abandonment on the soil decomposer community of two grazed Mediterranean ecosystems (an annual grassland with scattered holm oaks and a low-density shrubland). To test the influence of grazing abandonment, a set of plots within each site were fenced and kept undisturbed during 4–5 years, during which above-ground plant community structure was monitored. After that, soil samples were collected from grazed and abandoned plots corresponding to the three different soil conditions: away from (“grass”) and below tree canopies (“oak”) within the annual grassland, and from the shrubland (“shrub”). Soil samples were split into two different layers (0–5 and 5–15 cm) and then analyzed for saprotrophic fungal (acetate into ergosterol incorporation) and bacterial (leucine incorporation) growth rates. Ergosterol content (as a fungal biomass estimator) and a standard set of soil chemistry variables were also measured. After 5 years of grazing exclusion, saprotrophic fungal growth rate clearly increased in both grass and oak surface layers whereas bacterial growth rate was not altered. This translated into significantly higher fungal-to-bacterial (F/B) growth rate ratios within the ungrazed plots. Similar trends were observed for the shrub soils after 4 years of exclusion. On the contrary, abandonment of grazing had negligible effects on the ergosterol content, as well as on the soil chemical variables (soil organic carbon, total N, C/N ratio, and pH), in all the three soil conditions assessed. These results indicated a shift toward a more fungal-dominated decomposer activity in soils following cessation of grazing and highlighted the sensitivity of the microbial growth rate parameters to changes associated with land use. Moreover, there were evidences of a faster fungal biomass turnover in the ungrazed plots, which would reflect an accelerated, though not bigger, fungal channel in soil organic matter mineralization.     

Long-term changes in collembolan communities in grazed and non-grazed abandoned arable fields in Denmark

In order to explore long-term changes in microarthropod communities after introduction of livestock grazing in abandoned fields with herb–grass vegetation at Mols, E. Jutland, Denmark, soil and litter samples were collected from 7 pairs (blocks) of grazed and non-grazed plots over a period of 14 years. Sampling began just before fencing and initiation of cattle and sheep grazing in the spring of 1985. The total material included 76 collembolan species; 65 and 68 species were recorded in the grazed and non-grazed plots, respectively. The number of species recorded at individual sampling dates fluctuated considerably through the period. In the vegetation/litter layer the mean number of species per plot was significantly higher in the non-grazed than in the grazed plots at several sampling dates while in the soil no significant differences were observed. Grazing significantly reduced the abundance of total Collembola, three composite species groups and 12 species at one or more sampling dates. Only three species or species groups (excluding some accidental occurrences) showed significant population increment in response to grazing at one or more sampling dates, most pronounced towards the end of the study period. No species changed from being significantly highest in grazed plots to being significantly highest in the non-grazed plots or vice versa during the study period. Significant relationships between grazing pressure and grazing effect on population density were only found in the vegetation/litter layer and the combined vegetation/litter/soil strata but not in the soil. The three regularly occurring taxa that had highest population densities in the grazed plots were positively correlated with grazing intensity while this was not the case for the majority of those taxa which were most abundant in the non-grazed plots. Canonical correspondence analysis based on species composition suggests separate successional trends for grazed and non-grazed plots. Grazing pressure accumulated through the whole period from start of grazing and precipitation accumulated over one year preceding the sampling date were the most important environmental variables correlated with species composition. According to a permutation test based on a split-plot design water content of the soil measured at each sampling was not significantly correlated with the community development.     

Effects of crop abandonment and grazing exclusion on available soil water and other soil properties in a semi-arid Mongolian grassland

Improper cropping and overgrazing have led to land degradation in semi-arid regions, resulting in desertification. During desertification, vegetation changes have been widely observed, and are likely controlled to some extent by soil water. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in soil physical properties, organic C, and vegetation induced by land-use changes, with special reference to the dynamics of available soil water. We selected four study sites in a typical Mongolian steppe grassland: grassland protected from grazing, grazed grassland, abandoned cropland, and cultivated cropland. Grazing exclusion increased the cover of perennial grass, with little increase in the root weight. Since there was no difference in available water between the grasslands with and without grazing, there appears to be no serious soil compaction due to overgrazing. On the other hand, vegetation cover and the number of species were poor in both abandoned cropland and cultivated cropland. However, the root weight was greater in abandoned cropland. Although the abandonment of cultivation appeared to increase organic C, available water did not differ significantly in comparison with cultivated cropland. The silt contents were significantly lower in abandoned and cultivated cropland than in both grasslands, suggesting the effects of wind erosion. In addition, the silt contents were positively correlated with the volume fraction of storage pores for available water. Therefore, the lower silt contents may constrain the volume of available water in abandoned cropland. Moreover, the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity results indicated that the diameters of storage pores for available water at the present study sites were smaller than those suggested by previous studies. Although the differences in vegetation cover by different land-use types were observed at every site, differences in the volume of available water were observed at between abandoned cropland and cultivated cropland. The reason why the no differences in available water between grazed grassland and grasslands protected from grazing may be short time of grazing exclusion for 2 years for evaluating the effects of exclusion on soil properties.     

黄土高原草地土壤有机碳分布及其影响因素

以黄土高原水平方向的4种主要草地类型为研究对象,分析了不同草地类型土壤有机碳(SOC)的分布特征及其影响因素。结果表明:土壤有机碳含量随土壤深度的增加而降低,其中0～20 cm土壤有机碳含量与20～40、40～60、60～80、80～100 cm有机碳含量差异显著。4种草地类型土壤有机碳含量分布规律:0～40 cm为高山草甸草原>典型草原>森林草原>荒漠草原,40～100 cm为高山草甸草原>森林草原>典型草原>荒漠草原;4种草地类型中各土层土壤有机碳含量最高的是高寒草甸,其空间变异最大,最小的是荒漠草原,其变异最小。黄土高原上高寒草甸草原、森林草原、典型草原土壤有机碳均集中分布在浅表层0～40 cm,分别占0～100 cm的71%、50%、46%,而荒漠草原各层分布较均匀;黄土高原土壤有机碳含量与海拔高度呈显著正相关(p<0.01);0～40 cm土壤有机碳含量与土壤含水量呈显著正相关(p<0.01);与全氮有极显著的正相关性,相关系数达0.984 3;与年均温呈极显著负相关(p<0.01),几种草地类型100 cm深土壤有机碳含量与年降水量无明显相关。     

Grazing effects on soil chemical and physical properties in a semiarid steppe of Inner Mongolia (P.R. China)

It is not clear from the literature whether heavy grazing leads to a deterioration of physical and chemical parameters of topsoils in steppe ecosystems. We sampled five sites in northern China with different grazing intensities, ranging from ungrazed since 1979 to heavily grazed, at 540 sampling points to a depth of 0–4 cm. Each sample was analysed for bulk density, organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (N), total sulphur (S) and pH. The dataset was analysed using general statistics and explorative analysis (ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis). As a result of the large number of samples, we were able to detect a change in the mean value of all parameters of less than 10%, with a statistical power of 90% and a level of significance of 0.01. Bulk density increased significantly with increasing grazing intensity. Organic carbon, total N and total S concentrations decreased significantly with increasing grazing intensity. No effect on the pH or C/N ratio was detected. Significant differences in C/S and N/S ratios between differently grazed plots were found. These differences point towards a relative accumulation of sulphur in grazed compared to ungrazed areas following an increased organic matter decline or lower inputs of diluting litter. Elemental stocks of the upper 4 cm were calculated for OC, total N and total S using the measured bulk densities. The data revealed significantly lower amounts for all three elements on the heavily grazed site, but no significant differences for the other areas. In addition, elemental stocks were calculated using an equivalent mass instead of bulk density to take into account changes in bulk density following grazing. This revealed a highly significant decrease for OC, total N and total S with increasing grazing intensity. OC, total N and total S concentrations respond similarly to different grazing intensities, showing highly significant positive correlations. OC concentrations and bulk densities were significantly negatively correlated. We found effects of grazing cessation only in the long-term, as no ameliorating effects of reduced or excluded grazing could be detected five years after grazing cessation. After 25 years of exclusion, significantly different values were found for all parameters. Thus, physical and chemical parameters of steppe topsoils deteriorated significantly following heavy grazing, remained stable if grazing was reduced or excluded for five years, and recovered significantly after 25 years of grazing exclusion.     

Aggregate stability and physical protection of soil organic carbon in semi‐arid steppe soils

Spatial inaccessibility of soil organic carbon (SOC) for microbial decay within soil aggregates is an important stabilization mechanism. However, little is known about the stability of aggregates in semiarid grasslands and their sensitivity to intensive grazing. In this study, a combined approach using soil chemical and physical analytical methods was applied to investigate the effect of grazing and grazing exclusion on the amount and stability of soil aggregates and the associated physical protection of SOC. Topsoils from continuously grazed (CG) and ungrazed sites where grazing was excluded from 1979 onwards (UG79) were sampled for two steppe types in Inner Mongolia, northern China. All samples were analysed for basic soil properties and separated into free and aggregate‐occluded light fractions (fLF, oLF) and mineral‐associated fractions. Tensile strength of soil aggregates was measured by crushing tests. Undisturbed as well as artificially compacted samples, where aggregates were destroyed mechanically by compression, were incubated and the mineralization of SOC was measured. For undisturbed samples, the cumulative release of CO₂‐C was greater for CG compared with UG79 for both steppe types. A considerably greater amount of oLF was found in UG79 than in CG soils, but the stabilities of 10–20‐mm aggregates were less for ungrazed sites. Compacted samples showed only a slightly larger carbon release with CG but a considerably enhanced mineralization with UG79. We assume that the continuous trampling of grazing animals together with a smaller input of organic matter leads to the formation of mechanically compacted stable ‘clods’, which do not provide an effective physical protection for SOC in the grazed plots. In UG79 sites, a greater input of organic matter acting as binding agents in combination with an exclusion of animal trampling enhances the formation of soil aggregates. Thus, grazing exclusion promotes the physical protection of SOC by increasing soil aggregation and is hence a management option to enhance the C sequestration potential of degraded steppe 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.