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.