Community structure and carbon and nitrogen storage of sagebrush desert under grazing exclusion in Northwest China

Overgrazing is regarded as one of the key factors of vegetation and soil degradation in the arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China.Grazing exclusion(GE)is one of the most common pathways used to restore degraded grasslands and to improve their ecosystem services.Nevertheless,there are still significant controversies concerning GE’s effects on grassland diversity as well as carbon(C)and nitrogen(N)storage.It remains poorly understood in the arid desert regions,whilst being essential for the sustainable use of grassland resources.To assess the effects of GE on community characteristics and C and N storage of desert plant community in the arid desert regions,we investigated the community structure and plant biomass,as well as C and N storage of plants and soil(0-100 cm depth)in short-term GE(three years)plots and adjacent long-term freely grazing(FG)plots in the areas of sagebrush desert in Northwest China,which are important both for spring-autumn seasonal pasture and for ecological conservation.Our findings indicated that GE was beneficial to the average height,coverage and aboveground biomass(including stems,leaves and inflorescences,and litter)of desert plant community,to the species richness and importance values of subshrubs and perennial herbs,and to the biomass C and N storage of aboveground parts(P<0.05).However,GE was not beneficial to the importance values of annual herbs,root/shoot ratio and total N concentration in the 0-5 and 5-10 cm soil layers(P<0.05).Additionally,the plant density,belowground biomass,and soil organic C concentration and C storage in the 0-100 cm soil layer could not be significantly changed by short-term GE(three years).The results suggest that,although GE was not beneficial for C sequestration in the sagebrush desert ecosystem,it is an effective strategy for improving productivity,diversity,and C and N storage of plants.As a result,GE can be used to rehabilitate degraded grasslands in the arid desert regions of Northwest China.     

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.     

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。     

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,不同强度的放牧对地下土壤与地上植被的影响不同。本研究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。     

全放牧婆罗门牛和BMY牛的超数排卵效果及激素水平比较

为了比较婆罗门牛和BMY牛的雌二醇(E2)、孕酮(P4)水平及胚胎生产潜力,并探讨MOET技术在BMY牛扩繁中的应用前景,采用进口激素(日本产FSH 24~36 mg+美国产PG 35 mg)和国产激素(国产FSH 10~12 mg+国产PG 0.8 mg)对全放牧婆罗门牛和BMY牛进行超排,并于超排前(同期发情第7天)、超排开始、超排第3天、超排发情当天和胚胎回收当天采集血液,采用RIA法分析血浆中的E2和P4水平。结果表明,BMY牛的黄体数和获胚(卵)数、可用胚数分别较婆罗门牛高2.09个和0.95、0.36枚,但差异不显著(P>0.05);BMY牛的排卵率较婆罗门牛高18.46%(P<0.01),而可用胚率则较婆罗门牛低2.55%(P<0.01)。BMY牛在5个处理时段的E2和P4平均值分别较婆罗门牛高0.58 pg/mL(P<0.01)和1.44 ng/mL(P>0.05),在各处理时段的P4水平变化规律几乎与婆罗门牛一致,E2/P4值为婆罗门牛的5.16倍。结果提示,BMY母牛的E2和P4水平高于婆罗门牛,在激素水平和繁殖性能方面表现出一定的杂种优势;E2水平低是婆罗门牛发情微弱和排卵率低的主要原因之一;在同等放牧管理和超排处理条件下,婆罗门牛及其杂种BMY牛对外源激素的敏感性基本一致,具有同等的胚胎生产潜力。     

放牧对明油子-扭黄茅灌草丛生物多样性的影响

2005年，在云南元谋干热河谷采用样方调查法及生物多样性分析法研究了放牧干扰对明油子Dodonaea viscosa-扭黄茅Heteropogon contortus灌草丛生物多样性的影响。结果表明，无放牧干扰的明油子-扭黄茅灌草丛植物和节肢动物种类最丰富，节肢动物群落优势度最低，而多样性和均匀度最高，优势种为扁平虹臭蚁Iridomyrmex anceps；曾经过度放牧的明油子-扭黄茅灌草丛植物种类和节肢动物种类最贫乏，灌木-草本层节肢动物多样性最低；长期存在一定放牧干扰的明油子-扭黄茅灌草丛植物种类和节肢动物种类比较丰富，但节肢动物群落优势度最高而均匀度最低；经受或存在放牧干扰的明油子，扭黄茅灌草丛林下以刺吸类昆虫占优势，地表以迈氏小家蚁Monomorium mayri占优势。过度放牧导致明油子-扭黄茅灌草丛种类组成发生变化，生物多样性大大降低，群落趋于不稳定，栖息环境出现退化。放牧干扰对地表节肢动物群落的影响比对灌木-草本层节肢动物群落的影响突出。表6参21     

放牧对山地草甸草地植物多样性与生产力关系的影响

【目的】 研究不同放牧强度下,山地草甸草地植物群落变化,为合理利用该类草地提供科学依据。【方法】 2016~2018年连续3年采用野外取样和室内分析相结合的方法,以天山北坡中段山地草甸草地为研究对象,设置轻度放牧(LG)、重度放牧(HG)和无放牧对照(CK),分析山地草甸草地植物群落数量特征、多样性指数,以及多样性指数与地上生物量间的关系。【结果】 (1)不同放牧强度下山地草甸草地以多年生草本植物为绝对优势,主要优势种有细果苔草(Carex stenocarpa)、溚草(Koeleria cristata)、针茅(Stipa capillata)、醉马草(Achnatherum inebrians);在重度放牧(HG)条件下,家畜首先采食适口性较好的植物,群落中适口性好的植物数量减少,群落优势地位逐步被有毒植物醉马草所替代。(2)CK与LG、HG条件下,随着放牧强度的增加,2016~2018年间植物群落地上生物量、群落高度和盖度呈下降趋势(P<0.05);群落密度在2016~2017年间呈下降趋势(P<0.05)。(3)随着放牧强度的增加,植物群落物种Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Simpson优势度指数和Pielou均匀度指数均下降趋势,表现为CK＞LG＞HG;2016~2017年CK、LG、HG之间差异不显著(P＞0.05),2018年CK与LG、HG之间差异显著(P＜0.05)。(4)植物群落Pielou均匀度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Margalef丰富度指数与地上生物量在LG、HG和CK条件下,均呈现正线性相关关系(P＜0.05)。【结论】 不同放牧强度下,山地草甸植物群落Simpson优势度指数、Pielou均匀度指数和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数随放牧强度的增加而降低;群落地上生物量与均匀度指数、多样性指数和丰富度指数均有显著的正线性相关关系(P<0.05)。