Asset Details
Do you wish to reserve the book?
Short-term grazing diminished ecosystem multifunctionality of grassland in northern China
Hey, we have placed the reservation for you!
By the way, why not check out events that you can attend while you pick your title.
Oops! Something went wrong.
Looks like we were not able to place the reservation. Kindly try again later.
Are you sure you want to remove the book from the shelf?
Short-term grazing diminished ecosystem multifunctionality of grassland in northern China
Do you wish to request the book?
Short-term grazing diminished ecosystem multifunctionality of grassland in northern China
Please be aware that the book you have requested cannot be checked out. If you would like to checkout this book, you can reserve another copy
We have requested the book for you!
Your request is successful and it will be processed during the Library working hours. Please check the status of your request in My Requests.
Oops! Something went wrong.
Looks like we were not able to place your request. Kindly try again later.
Journal Article
Short-term grazing diminished ecosystem multifunctionality of grassland in northern China
2024
Overview
Background and Aims
Grasslands play important roles in production as well as having ecological functions. Grazing affects grassland ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF). However, the underlying grazing processes that influence grassland ecosystems in the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China remain unclear.
Methods
We conducted a three-year (2018–2020)
in-situ
experiment under four grazing intensities: no grazing, light grazing, moderate grazing, and heavy grazing. Plant community structure, productivity, and plant–soil–microbial stoichiometric characteristic indices were monitored throughout the study to compute nutrient storage. We then analyzed the effects of grazing intensity and the number of grazing years on EMF.
Results
Short-term grazing during the growing season lowers multiple functional indicators and multifunctionality of grassland ecosystems. Moreover, the negative effects of grazing on grassland EMF were primarily related to grazing intensity. Moderate grazing had the least impact on EMF, whereas heavy grazing had the greatest impact. Grazing intensity substantially diminished aboveground multifunctionality, whereas the interannual impact of grazing years on belowground multifunctionality was modified by growing season precipitation. Short-term grazing mostly reduced nutrient storage by reducing dominant species (
Leymus secalinus
) biomass and litter biomass, thereby diminishing grassland EMF.
Conclusion
Short-term grazing during the growing season could reduce grassland EMF, further highlighting that grazing intensity indirectly controls grassland EMF by reducing dominant species biomass. When grazing production activities were conducted in the study region, moderate grazing could preserve critical ecological functions. Our study contributes to the sustainable use and ecological protection of agro-pastoral ecotone grasslands.
