Changes in soil organic carbon in a clay loam soil following ploughing and reseeding of permanent grassland under temperate moist climatic conditions

This study investigated changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) in a poorly drained clay loam soil under (i) permanent grassland (PG) over 7 years and (ii) after PG renovation over 2·5 years. The experimental area was divided into four blocks with four paddocks per block. Composite soil samples from each PG block were taken to 30‐cm depth on five occasions between 2004 and 2011. In June 2008, one paddock per block was renovated by ploughing and reseeding and sampled as above on the latter four occasions. Renovation decreased SOC (P < 0·05) by 32·2 t ha^?1 in the 2·5 years following ploughing; the difference developed almost entirely (86%) in the first four months. Renovation had no effect on above‐ground productivity, standing root and stubble phytomass or on dissolved organic matter leaching. Therefore, soil respiration was considered to be a single potential pathway responsible for the SOC loss from renovated grassland. Although a simple linear regression indicated a tendency for PG to accumulate SOC, there was no evidence of recovery in SOC to previous levels following renovation during the study period. These results could have implications for greenhouse gas inventories in countries where PG is an important land‐use type.     

Biomass from landscape management of grassland used for biogas production: effects of harvest date and silage additives on feedstock quality and methane yield

Biogas production from grassland biomass harvested during landscape management may help to maintain species‐rich grassland biotopes, but extensive management and late harvests often result in low‐quality biomass. Biogas production from the vegetation of Alopecuretum pratensis, Molinietum caeruleae and Caricetum gracilis, three typical grassland biotopes in north German nature reserves, was investigated in relation to harvest date. In addition, the A. pratensis vegetation was investigated for ensiling and the application of bacterial silage additives. Results indicate that biogas production might be a reasonable utilization pathway for grassland biomass from landscape management if the first cut occurs up to late summer. Methane yields of grassland biomass decreased substantially with later harvest, from up to 309 l_N kg^?1 organic dry matter (ODM) in May to below 60 l_N kg^?1 ODM in February, in correlation with increasing crude fibre contents. Caricetum gracilis vegetation was the least suitable feedstock for biogas production. It showed a rapid decline in methane yields with later harvest and 25% lower methane yields compared with other types of grassland vegetation. Application of silage additives is recommended for adequate preservation of grassland biomass from landscape management by ensiling. Addition of homofermentative lactic acid bacteria improved acidification during ensiling if sufficient fermentable sugar was available. The use of inoculant and molasses enhanced methane yields by 3–55%. Additional carbohydrate source is necessary to ensure proper ensilage when grasses are harvested after late autumn.     

Effects of livestock breed and rearing experience on foraging behaviour of yearling beef cattle grazing unimproved grasslands

The relative importance of breed versus rearing experience on the grazing behaviour and diet selection of beef cattle when grazing unimproved grassland was examined over 4 years. Suckler‐reared calves of a traditional (T) breed (North Devon) or a commercial (C) breed (Simmental × Hereford Friesian) were cross‐fostered and then reared either extensively (E) on unimproved grassland or intensively (I) on agriculturally improved fertilized grassland. As yearlings, the four groups of calves (Traditional breed + Extensive rearing (TE); Traditional breed + Intensive rearing (TI); Commercial breed + Extensive rearing (CE) and Commercial breed + Intensive rearing (CI)) grazed unimproved grassland dominated by Molinia caerulea, for 2 months, and foraging behaviour was studied in a test phase. There was a breed effect on total (bites + chews; TJM) jaw movement rate (T, 78·2 vs. C, 76·5 min^?1; F prob. = 0·041) during grazing and on the proportion of bites taken from plant communities with sward height ≥6 cm (T, 0·83 vs. C, 0·76; F prob. = 0·018). Rearing experience affected TJM rate in the first year in July (E, 80·0 vs. I, 76·8 min^?1; F prob. = 0·015) and August (E, 78·5 vs. I, 75·5 min^?1; F prob. = 0·046). The intensively reared animals grew less well on average during the test phase than those that had previous experience of the unimproved grassland as calves with their mothers (E, 0·16 vs. I, 0·09 kg day^?1; F prob. = 0·033). Our findings indicate that the rearing experience of livestock appears to be as important as the breed when designing grazing managements for nature conservation areas.     

三种影响条件下黄河源区高寒草地土壤物理及力学性质

为探讨放牧和鼠害对黄河源区高寒退化草地土壤物理力学性质的影响,该研究选取位于黄河源区青海河南县高寒草地作为研究区,分别设置禁鼠、禁牧和自然3种影响条件,并将草地依次划分为未退化、轻度退化、中度退化、重度退化4种退化类型。通过测定3种影响条件下4种退化类型草地的土壤含水率、密度、含根量、黏聚力和内摩擦角,分析3种影响条件对不同退化类型草地土壤物理力学性质的影响;采用灰色关联分析法探讨不同退化类型草地土壤含水率、密度、含根量对土壤黏聚力的影响程度。结果表明：随着草地退化程度加剧,土壤含水率、含根量及黏聚力均呈逐渐降低的变化趋势,而土壤密度则呈逐渐增大的变化趋势。进一步研究表明,同一退化类型草地,土壤黏聚力由大至小依次为禁鼠、禁牧和自然条件,且禁鼠条件土壤黏聚力显著大于自然条件（P<0.05）;未退化和轻度退化草地,土壤黏聚力与含根量间的关联度相对较高,关联度为0.706～0.778,而中度退化和重度退化草地,土壤黏聚力与密度和含水率间的关联度相对较大,关联度分别为0.586～0.785和0.622～0.779。研究结果对于科学有效防治黄河源区高寒草地退化及其所引起的水土流失、浅层滑坡等灾害现象的发生,具有实际指导意义。     

基于NDVI分区的全国草地生态系统覆盖区土壤水分遥感反演

为了建立土壤水分遥感反演模型,反演2016年全国草地生态系统土壤水分并分析其时空变化特征,通过结合表观热惯量(ATI)和温度植被干旱指数(TVDI)的混合模型反演2016年全国草地生态系统的土壤水分,并在实测数据与反演结果精度验证的基础上确定归一化植被指数(NDVI)阈值。结果表明:(1)NDVI≤0.2的像元区域,采用ATI模型反演精度较高; NDVI≥0.78的像元上,基于增强型植被指数(EVI)的TVDI反演精度较高; 0.2相似文献   

短期放牧强度对昭苏草甸草原植被特征及多样性影响

采用控制放牧试验,在昭苏研究了短期放牧强度对草甸草原植被特征及多样性的影响.结果表明,放牧后草群高度、盖度及地上生物量均明显降低（P＜0.05）,密度变化不显著,且轻度放牧、中度放牧、重度放牧间植被特征差异不显著（P＞0.05）;放牧显著增加了草原苔草重要值,降低了针茅重要值（P＜0.05）,其余草种相对较为稳定;放牧显著影响了Shannon-wiener指数、Pielous均匀度指数,且轻度放牧下达到最高（P＜0.05）,而对Margalef物种丰富度、Simpson指数、Mclntosh指数、Alatalo均匀度指数影响不显著（P＞0.05）.短期放牧强度对草地植被特征的影响较缓慢,对植被多样性的影响相对较快.     

The Estimation of Soil Trace Elements Distribution and Soil-Plant-Animal Continuum in Relation to Trace Elements Status of Sheep in Huangcheng Area of Qilian Mountain Grassland,China

The purpose of the present study was to survey contents of trace elements of Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn in the surface layer （0-20 cm） in the soil, pasture and serum of sheep in Huangcheng area of Qilian mountain grassland, China. Also the soil-plantanimal continuum was analyzed. Soil （n=300）, pasture （n=60）, and blood serum samples from sheep （n=480） were collected from Huangcheng area of Qilian mountain grassland, China. The contents of trace element in the samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer after digestion. The soil trace elements density distribution shows a ladder-like pattern distribution. Equations developed in the present study for prediction of Fe （R2=0.943） and Zn （R2=0.882） had significant R2 values.     

长武县退耕还林对土壤有机质和团聚体水稳性的影响

[目的]研究渭北旱地退耕还林工程在提高土壤质量和改善土壤结构方面的作用。[方法]选取位于渭北旱塬的长武县马坊村人工林地、荒地和农地3种土地利用类型,利用快速湿润法测定表层土壤各粒级水稳性团聚体质量百分含量,并测定全土样和水稳性团聚体各组分的有机质和速效磷含量。[结果]水稳性团聚体平均质量直径、几何平均直径和土壤有机质含量在林地和荒地较农地大。有机质和速效磷含量在粒级0.05 mm的土壤团聚体中最小,0.5~0.1 mm土壤团聚体有机质含量最高,0.2~0.5 mm土壤团聚体速效磷含量最高。[结论]农地转化为人工林地后,土壤质量具有不同程度的提高,且小粒级团聚体向大粒级转化。土壤有机质和速效磷含量主要分布在较大粒级的水稳性团聚体中,并随着粒级由小变大,二者先增大后略微减少。     

青海湖流域高寒草原对放牧时间的响应

以青海湖北岸刚察县哈尔盖镇冬春草场高寒草原为研究对象,对比研究传统放牧样地与牧草返青前-种子成熟脱落后再放牧样地中植被群落的特征变化,为缓解青海湖流域高寒草原生态退化提供新的措施.采用野外随机样方调查方法,在刚察县哈尔盖镇冬春草场选定常规放牧与牧草返青前至种子脱落后放牧试验样地进行草地群落特征数据调查.研究表明:牧草返青前-种子成熟脱落后再放牧能显著提高高寒草原群落盖度与地上生物量;同时,放牧时间改变对高寒草原植物群落伴生种组成有一定影响,主要表现为优良牧草重要值显著增加,常规放牧时间下耐牧性品种占优;此外,放牧时间改变对群落丰富度有显著影响,但对群落多样性及均匀度没有显著影响.可见,牧草返青前-种子成熟脱落后再放牧能缓解高寒草原生态退化.     

祁连山中段高山草原蝗虫与植物群落关系研究

【目的】研究祁连山中段高山草原蝗虫与植物群落之间的生态关联性。【方法】于2011-05-09,在甘肃省肃南县皇城镇周边草场中设置12块样地,在样地内采用方框取样器和样方框(1 000mm×1 000mm)对蝗虫群落和植物群落进行系统随机抽样调查,利用典型相关分析(CCA)法对蝗虫群落与植物群落的相关性进行分析,并在此基础上,用主成分分析(PCA)法对群落特征进行进一步分析与排序。【结果】①捕获蝗虫成虫3 148头,隶属6科,10属,共12种;小翅雏蝗、狭翅雏蝗、永宁异爪蝗和宽须蚁蝗为优势类群,分别占捕获成虫总数的34.78%,18.43%,14.52%,11.76%;亚洲小车蝗、红翅皱膝蝗、短星翅蝗和白纹雏蝗为常见类群,分别占捕获成虫总数的5.72%,4.94%,4.15%,3.68%;宽翅曲背蝗、李氏大足蝗、青海痂蝗和裴氏短鼻蝗为稀有类群,分别占捕获成虫总数的0.63%,0.63%,0.54%,0.22%。②CCA分析结果表明,红翅皱膝蝗、宽翅曲背蝗、亚洲小车蝗以及宽须蚁蝗、小翅雏蝗种群的发生特征与栖息地内植物群落均匀度和莎草科优势度密切相关(P0.01);PCA分析结果显示,前3个主成分分别为白纹雏蝗、亚洲小车蝗、短星翅蝗种群特征与莎草科优势度和禾本科优势度关系的综合因子,小翅雏蝗、宽须蚁蝗和狭翅雏蝗种群特征与植被群落盖度关系的综合因子以及永宁异爪蝗种群特征与植被群落垂直结构关系的综合因子。③PCA排序结果显示,12块样地可归为5个类群,不同类群中蝗虫群落丰富度、多样性、均匀性、平均密度指标的排序结果有明显差异。【结论】植物群落中,禾本科类植物为食物广谱性蝗虫提供了充足食料,莎草科、菊科等非禾本科类植物对蝗虫群落的影响,不仅在于食物资源供应方面,更多地体现在植物自身的生物学特性对蝗虫发育不同时期群落结构的影响;蝗虫自身的生活习性以及植物群落的水平、垂直结构共同影响着蝗虫对栖息地的选择。