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Wang M, Zhang C, Chen S, Zhang Y, Yu T, Xue X, Wu L, Zhou W, Yun X, Yan R, Bai K. Moderate grazing increased carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus storage in plants and soil in the Eurasian meadow steppe ecosystem. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 914:169864. [PMID: 38185148 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The effects of grazing on the cycling of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in grassland ecosystems are complex. Uncertainty still exists as regards the allocation of C, N and P storage amounts in grazed ecosystems in Inner Mongolia, situated at the eastern end of the Eurasian dryland. Based on the long-term cattle grazing experimental platform in the Hulun Buir meadow steppe of Inner Mongolia, a 3-year (2019-2021) field control experiment was conducted to assess how the grazing intensity influenced the quantities of C, N and P stored in canopy biomass, root, litter and soil compartments. We examined the relationships between the different pools and their regulatory pathways at the ecosystem level across six grazing intensities. In general, grazing increased the aboveground N and P contents but decreased the aboveground biomass C content and nutrient storage amounts in aboveground biomass, roots and litter. The grazing intensity of 0.34 AU ha-1 increased soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus storage amounts, with the soil accounting for 98 % of total reserves on average. Grazing affected soil pH, nutrient contents, above- and belowground biomass and soil environmental factors such as soil bulk density, which in turn affected C, N and P storage in the ecosystem according to the results of the structural equation model; therefore, grazing intensity can be an important factor regulating the input and output of nutrients in the ecosystem. In the future, for adaptive management of grasslands, moderate grazing could effectively increase C, N and P storage in meadow steppe ecosystems and ensure the nutrient balance and long-term sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semiarid Arable Land in Northern China/Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12, Zhonguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China; Beijing Digital Agriculture Rural Promotion Center, Building 3, No. 7 Beisha Beach, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Chu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semiarid Arable Land in Northern China/Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12, Zhonguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Sisi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semiarid Arable Land in Northern China/Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12, Zhonguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Tianqi Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semiarid Arable Land in Northern China/Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12, Zhonguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xiaojuan Xue
- Beijing Digital Agriculture Rural Promotion Center, Building 3, No. 7 Beisha Beach, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Lianhai Wu
- Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, Okehampton EX20 2SB, UK
| | - Wenneng Zhou
- School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiangjun Yun
- Grassland Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China
| | - Ruirui Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semiarid Arable Land in Northern China/Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12, Zhonguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Keyu Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semiarid Arable Land in Northern China/Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12, Zhonguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China.
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Tang Y. Impact of livestock grazing management on carbon stocks: a case study in sparse elm woodlands of semi-arid lands. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16629. [PMID: 38107561 PMCID: PMC10722980 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Livestock grazing is a widespread practice in human activities worldwide. However, the effects of livestock grazing management on vegetation carbon storage have not been thoroughly evaluated. In this study, we used the system dynamic approach to simulate the effects of different livestock grazing management strategies on carbon stock in sparse elm woodlands. The livestock grazing management strategies included rotational grazing every 5 years (RG5), prohibited grazing (PG), seasonal prohibited grazing (SPG), and continuous grazing (CG). We evaluated the carbon sequestration rate in vegetation using logistical models. The results showed that the carbon stock of elm trees in sparse woodlands was 5-15 M g ha-1. The values of the carbon sequestration rate were 0.15, 0.13, 0.13, and 0.09 Mg C ha-1 year-1 in RG5, PG, CG, and SPG management, respectively. This indicates that rotational grazing management might be the optimal choice for improving vegetation carbon accumulation in sparse woodlands. This study contributes to decision-making on how to choose livestock grazing management to maintain higher carbon storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Tang
- School of Emergency Management, Institute of Disaster Prevention, Sanhe, Hebei Province, China
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3
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Carbon Stock and Change Rate under Different Grazing Management Practices in Semiarid Pastoral Ecosystem of Eastern Ethiopia. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11050639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Grazing management strategies tend to have different effects on rangeland plant production. Changes in grazing management can, therefore, affect the carbon stock potential of rangelands. Despite rangeland ecosystems being important global sinks for carbon, we know relatively little about the effect of traditional grazing management practices on their potential to store carbon. In this study, we evaluated the carbon stock and change rate of rangelands using three traditional grazing management practices in the semiarid pastoral ecosystem of eastern Ethiopia. By comparing data on vegetation and soil carbon stocks, we found that there was a strong significant difference (p < 0.001) between these different management practices. In particular, the establishment of enclosures was associated with an annual increase in carbon stocks of soil (3%) and woody (11.9%) and herbaceous (57.6%) biomass, when compared to communal open lands. Both enclosure and browsing management practices were found to have the highest levels of soil organic carbon stocks, differing only in terms of the amount of woody and herbaceous biomass. Thus, modest changes in traditional grazing management practices can play an important role in carbon storage and sequestration. Further research is required on a wider range of traditional pastoral management practices across space and time, as understanding these processes is key to combating global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Xin Ma
- Institute of Environment & Sustainable Development in Agriculture Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Beijing P.R. China
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Jiang ZY, Hu ZM, Lai DYF, Han DR, Wang M, Liu M, Zhang M, Guo MY. Light grazing facilitates carbon accumulation in subsoil in Chinese grasslands: A meta-analysis. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:7186-7197. [PMID: 32870565 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Grazing by livestock greatly affects the soil carbon (C) cycle in grassland ecosystems. However, the effects of grazing at different intensities and durations on the dynamics of soil C in its subsoil layers are not clearly understood. Here, we compiled data from 78 sites (in total 122 published studies) to examine the effects of varying grazing intensities and durations on soil C content at different depths for grasslands in China. Our meta-analysis revealed that grazing led to an overall decrease in soil C content and productivity of above-ground vegetation (e.g., above-ground biomass and litter) but an increase in below-ground biomass. Specifically, the effects of grazing on soil C content became less negative or even positive with increasing soil depths. An increase of soil C content was consequently found under light grazing (LG), although soil C content still decreased under moderate and heavy grazing. The increase in soil C content under LG could be largely attributed to the increase of soil C content in subsoil layers (>20 cm), despite that soil C content in surface soil layer (0-20 cm) decreased. Moreover, the magnitude of increase in soil C content under LG in subsoil layers increased with grazing duration. A possible reason of the increase in soil C content in the subsoil layers was due to the increases in below-ground biomass. Our study highlights that LG may modify the allocation of C input and promote its accumulation in subsoil layers, thus offsetting the negative impact of grazing on surface soil C content, a finding that has significant implications for C sequestration in grasslands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Yun Jiang
- School of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhong-Min Hu
- School of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, China
| | - Derrick Y F Lai
- Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Environmental Policy and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Dao-Rui Han
- School of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mei Wang
- School of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tourism and Resources Environment in Taishan University, Taian, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China
| | - Ming-Yan Guo
- School of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
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Wang Z, Jimoh SO, Li X, Ji B, Struik PC, Sun S, Lei J, Ding Y, Zhang Y. Different responses of plant N and P resorption to overgrazing in three dominant species in a typical steppe of Inner Mongolia, China. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9915. [PMID: 32999765 PMCID: PMC7505080 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nutrient resorption from senesced leaves is an important mechanism for nutrient conservation in plants. However, little is known about the effect of grazing on plant nutrient resorption from senesced leaves, especially in semiarid ecosystems. Here, we evaluated the effects of grazing on N and P resorption in the three most dominant grass species in a typical steppe in northern China. We identified the key pathways of grazing-induced effects on N and P resorption efficiency. Grazing increased N and P concentrations in the green leaves of Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis but not in Cleistogenes squarossa. Both L. chinensis and S. grandis exhibited an increasing trend of leaf N resorption, whereas C. squarrosa recorded a decline in both leaf N and P resorption efficiency under grazing. Structural equation models showed that grazing is the primary driver of the changes in N resorption efficiency of the three dominant grass species. For L. chinensis, the P concentration in green and senesced leaves increased the P resorption efficiency, whereas the senesced leaf P concentration played an important role in the P resorption efficiency of C. squarrosa. Grazing directly drove the change in P resorption efficiency of S. grandis. Our results suggest that large variations in nutrient resorption patterns among plant species depend on leaf nutritional status and nutrient-use strategies under overgrazing, and indicate that overgrazing may have indirect effects on plant-mediated nutrient cycling via inducing shifts in the dominance of the three plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Saheed Olaide Jimoh
- Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
- Sustainable Environment Food and Agriculture Initiative (SEFAAI), Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Xiliang Li
- Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Baoming Ji
- College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Paul C. Struik
- Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Shixian Sun
- Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Ji Lei
- Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Yong Ding
- Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
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7
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Hou D, Guo K, Liu C. Asymmetric effects of grazing intensity on macroelements and microelements in grassland soil and plants in Inner Mongolia Grazing alters nutrient dynamics of grasslands. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:8916-8926. [PMID: 32884667 PMCID: PMC7452780 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Grazing is a traditional grassland management technique and greatly alters ecosystem nutrient cycling. The effects of grazing intensity on the nutrient dynamics of soil and plants in grassland ecosystems remain uncertain, especially among microelements. A 2-year field grazing experiment was conducted in a typical grassland with four grazing intensities (ungrazed control, light, moderate, and heavy grazing) in Inner Mongolia, China. Nutrient concentration was assessed in soil and three dominant plant species (Stipa krylovii, Leymus chinensis, and Cleistogenes squarrosa). Assessed quantities included four macroelements (carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg)) and four microelements (copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn)). Soil total C, total N, total P, available N, and available P concentrations significantly increased with grazing intensity but soil Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn concentrations had no significant response. Plant C concentration decreased but plant N, P, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations significantly increased with grazing intensity. In soil, macroelement dynamics (i.e., C, N, and P) exhibited higher sensitivity with grazing intensity, conversely in plants, microelements were more sensitive. This result indicates macroelements and microelements in soil and plants had asymmetric responses with grazing intensity. The slopes of nutrient linear regression in C. squarrosa were higher than that of S. krylovii and L. chinensis, indicating that C. squarrosa had higher nutrient acquisition capacity and responded more rapidly to heavy grazing. These findings indicate that short-term heavy grazing accelerates nutrient cycling of the soil-plant system in grassland ecosystems, elucidate the multiple nutrient dynamics of soil and plants with grazing intensity, and emphasize the important function of microelements in plant adaptation in grazing management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongjie Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Ke Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Changcheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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8
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Ji L, Qin Y, Jimoh SO, Hou X, Zhang N, Gan Y, Luo Y. Impacts of livestock grazing on vegetation characteristics and soil chemical properties of alpine meadows in the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. ECOSCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2019.1710908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Ji
- Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology and Restoration, Ministry of Agriculture, Hohhot, China
- School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yan Qin
- Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology and Restoration, Ministry of Agriculture, Hohhot, China
| | - Saheed Olaide Jimoh
- Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology and Restoration, Ministry of Agriculture, Hohhot, China
| | - Xiangyang Hou
- Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology and Restoration, Ministry of Agriculture, Hohhot, China
| | - Na Zhang
- Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology and Restoration, Ministry of Agriculture, Hohhot, China
| | - Youmin Gan
- Department of Grassland Science, Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yuanjia Luo
- Department of Grassland Science, Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an, Sichuan Province, China
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9
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Fan F, Liang C, Tang Y, Harker-Schuch I, Porter JR. Effects and relationships of grazing intensity on multiple ecosystem services in the Inner Mongolian steppe. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 675:642-650. [PMID: 31035202 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Grassland ecosystems are one of the most important terrestrial ecosystems in the world, producing essential both goods and ecosystem services (ES) for human beings. The Inner Mongolian steppe is a major grassland ecosystem in Northern China, covering 13.5% of the northern Chinese grassland area, and playing important ecological roles for the adjacent region of the capital Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei. Quantification of grassland ES under the different utilization patterns is vital for the maintenance of multiple ES and mitigation against ES loss in this region. We made a manipulative experiment with four grazing intensities (grazing exclusion, GE; light grazing intensity, LG; medium grazing intensity, MG; heavy grazing intensity, HG). We then quantified the intensities of eight different grassland ES (1. herbage intake, HT; 2. biodiversity conservation, BI; 3. soil nutrient retention, SN; 4 soil carbon stocks SC; 5. soil erosion prevention, SEP; 6. soil water storage, SWC; 7. potential nutrient recycling, PNC; 8. carbon sequestration from atmosphere. CS) and total ES via a series of field measurements. Pearson coefficients and trade-offs index were used to access the above ES relationships and degree of trade-offs between ES. Grazing intensities significantly (p < 0.05) affected the grassland intensities of 'regulating', 'culture' and 'provisioning' services, but the 'supporting' services. We found three types of relationships (trade-offs, synergy or neutral) have been found in this study. Trade-offs occurred between 'provisioning' and 'regulating' services. Although GE management presented significantly higher intensity of total ES (0.64) than LG (0.52), LG management significantly weakened the trade-offs between 'provisioning' and 'regulating' services (Trade-offs index 0.22) in comparison with GE (Trade-offs index 11.02). Our study suggests, therefore, that LG is the most suitable grassland utilization practice in the Inner Mongolian steppe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Fan
- College of Resource & Environmental Sciences; National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolia Plateau & Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China.
| | - Cunzhu Liang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolia Plateau & Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China.
| | - Yongkang Tang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolia Plateau & Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China; Alxa League Meteorological Bureau, Alxa 750300, China
| | - Inez Harker-Schuch
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, College of Science, Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, Australia
| | - John R Porter
- System Montpellier SupAgro, INRA, CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, Montpellier 34000, France; Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Frederiskberg 1870, Denmark
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10
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Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review. SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/su10124769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Grazing land ecosystem services including food provision and climate regulation are greatly influenced by soil health. This paper provides a condensed review of studies on the response of three important soil properties related to soil health to grazing land management: water infiltration, carbon (C) sequestration, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Impacts of management strategies that are often used in grazing lands are discussed in this review including vegetation composition, grazing methods, and other factors such as fertilizer use and climatic conditions. In general, proper grazing management such as continuous moderate grazing and rotational/deferred-rotational grazing with low or moderate stocking rates tends to benefit all three soil properties. Water infiltration can usually be increased with full vegetation cover, increased soil C, and aggregate stability, or be decreased with greater soil bulk density. Adoption of highly productive plant species with faster turnover rates can promote soil C sequestration by increasing C input. However, excessive C removal from ecosystems due to overgrazing or improper soil fertilization management results in higher C loss, which can have detrimental effects on soil C sequestration. Proper stocking rate and a balanced manure/fertilizer management was found to be critical for enhancing NUE. Grazing land management sometimes simultaneously influence the three soil properties. Techniques that can increase soil C such as introduction of high productive plant species can often promote water infiltration and soil nitrogen (N). Some other practices such as adoption of N fertilizer may enhance C sequestration while being detrimental to NUE. An integrated management plan for a specific location or farm should be considered carefully to improve soil health as well as ecosystem production. This review provides farmers and policy makers the current state of general knowledge on how health-related soil processes are affected by grazing land management.
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Abdalla M, Hastings A, Chadwick D, Jones D, Evans C, Jones M, Rees R, Smith P. Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands. AGRICULTURE, ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT 2018; 253:62-81. [PMID: 29398743 PMCID: PMC5727677 DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2017.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Livestock grazing intensity (GI) is thought to have a major impact on soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and soil quality indicators in grassland agroecosystems. To critically investigate this, we conducted a global review and meta-analysis of 83 studies of extensive grazing, covering 164 sites across different countries and climatic zones. Unlike previous published reviews we normalized the SOC and total nitrogen (TN) data to a 30 cm depth to be compatible with IPCC guidelines. We also calculated a normalized GI and divided the data into four main groups depending on the regional climate (dry warm, DW; dry cool, DC; moist warm, MW; moist cool, MC). Our results show that taken across all climatic zones and GIs, grazing (below the carrying capacity of the systems) results in a decrease in SOC storage, although its impact on SOC is climate-dependent. When assessed for different regional climates, all GI levels increased SOC stocks under the MW climate (+7.6%) whilst there were reductions under the MC climate (-19%). Under the DW and DC climates, only the low (+5.8%) and low to medium (+16.1%) grazing intensities, respectively, were associated with increased SOC stocks. High GI significantly increased SOC for C4-dominated grassland compared to C3-dominated grassland and C3-C4 mixed grasslands. It was also associated with significant increases in TN and bulk density but had no effect on soil pH. To protect grassland soils from degradation, we recommend that GI and management practices should be optimized according to climate region and grassland type (C3, C4 or C3-C4 mixed).
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Abdalla
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
- Corresponding author at: Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological, Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK.Institute of Biological and Environmental SciencesSchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of AberdeenAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
| | - A. Hastings
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
| | - D.R. Chadwick
- School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - D.L. Jones
- School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - C.D. Evans
- School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - M.B. Jones
- Department of Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - R.M. Rees
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH93JG, UK
| | - P. Smith
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
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12
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Zhou G, Zhou X, He Y, Shao J, Hu Z, Liu R, Zhou H, Hosseinibai S. Grazing intensity significantly affects belowground carbon and nitrogen cycling in grassland ecosystems: a meta-analysis. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2017; 23:1167-1179. [PMID: 27416555 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Livestock grazing activities potentially alter ecosystem carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles in grassland ecosystems. Despite the fact that numerous individual studies and a few meta-analyses had been conducted, how grazing, especially its intensity, affects belowground C and N cycling in grasslands remains unclear. In this study, we performed a comprehensive meta-analysis of 115 published studies to examine the responses of 19 variables associated with belowground C and N cycling to livestock grazing in global grasslands. Our results showed that, on average, grazing significantly decreased belowground C and N pools in grassland ecosystems, with the largest decreases in microbial biomass C and N (21.62% and 24.40%, respectively). In contrast, belowground fluxes, including soil respiration, soil net N mineralization and soil N nitrification increased by 4.25%, 34.67% and 25.87%, respectively, in grazed grasslands compared to ungrazed ones. More importantly, grazing intensity significantly affected the magnitude (even direction) of changes in the majority of the assessed belowground C and N pools and fluxes, and C : N ratio as well as soil moisture. Specifically,light grazing contributed to soil C and N sequestration whereas moderate and heavy grazing significantly increased C and N losses. In addition, soil depth, livestock type and climatic conditions influenced the responses of selected variables to livestock grazing to some degree. Our findings highlight the importance of the effects of grazing intensity on belowground C and N cycling, which may need to be incorporated into regional and global models for predicting effects of human disturbance on global grasslands and assessing the climate-biosphere feedbacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiyao Zhou
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Xuhui Zhou
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Center for Global Change and Ecological Forecasting, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Yanghui He
- Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of Yangtze River Estuary, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Biodiversity Science, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Junjiong Shao
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Center for Global Change and Ecological Forecasting, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Zhenhong Hu
- Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of Yangtze River Estuary, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Biodiversity Science, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Ruiqiang Liu
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Huimin Zhou
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Shahla Hosseinibai
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, DC, Qld, 4558, Australia
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Carbon storage in Chinese grassland ecosystems: Influence of different integrative methods. Sci Rep 2016; 6:21378. [PMID: 26883467 PMCID: PMC4756709 DOI: 10.1038/srep21378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The accurate estimate of grassland carbon (C) is affected by many factors at the large scale. Here, we used six methods (three spatial interpolation methods and three grassland classification methods) to estimate C storage of Chinese grasslands based on published data from 2004 to 2014, and assessed the uncertainty resulting from different integrative methods. The uncertainty (coefficient of variation, CV, %) of grassland C storage was approximately 4.8% for the six methods tested, which was mainly determined by soil C storage. C density and C storage to the soil layer depth of 100 cm were estimated to be 8.46 ± 0.41 kg C m(-2) and 30.98 ± 1.25 Pg C, respectively. Ecosystem C storage was composed of 0.23 ± 0.01 (0.7%) above-ground biomass, 1.38 ± 0.14 (4.5%) below-ground biomass, and 29.37 ± 1.2 (94.8%) Pg C in the 0-100 cm soil layer. Carbon storage calculated by the grassland classification methods (18 grassland types) was closer to the mean value than those calculated by the spatial interpolation methods. Differences in integrative methods may partially explain the high uncertainty in C storage estimates in different studies. This first evaluation demonstrates the importance of multi-methodological approaches to accurately estimate C storage in large-scale terrestrial ecosystems.
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14
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Connecting soil organic carbon and root biomass with land-use and vegetation in temperate grassland. ScientificWorldJournal 2014; 2014:487563. [PMID: 25401142 PMCID: PMC4221899 DOI: 10.1155/2014/487563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2014] [Revised: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Soils contain much of Earth's terrestrial organic carbon but are sensitive to land-use. Rangelands are important to carbon dynamics and are among ecosystems most widely impacted by land-use. While common practices like grazing, fire, and tillage affect soil properties directly related to soil carbon dynamics, their magnitude and direction of change vary among ecosystems and with intensity of disturbance. We describe variability in soil organic carbon (SOC) and root biomass—sampled from 0–170 cm and 0–100 cm, respectively—in terms of soil properties, land-use history, current management, and plant community composition using linear regression and multivariate ordination. Despite consistency in average values of SOC and root biomass between our data and data from rangelands worldwide, broad ranges in root biomass and SOC in our data suggest these variables are affected by other site-specific factors. Pastures with a recent history of severe grazing had reduced root biomass and greater bulk density. Ordination suggests greater exotic species richness is associated with lower root biomass but the relationship was not apparent when an invasive species of management concern was specifically tested. We discuss how unexplained variability in belowground properties can complicate measurement and prediction of ecosystem processes such as carbon sequestration.
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15
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Li Y, Dong S, Wen L, Wang X, Wu Y. The effects of fencing on carbon stocks in the degraded alpine grasslands of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2013; 128:393-399. [PMID: 23792816 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.05.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2012] [Revised: 03/18/2013] [Accepted: 05/21/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying the carbon storage of grasslands under different management strategies can help us understand how this ecosystem responds to different land management practices. To assess the C cycle and the importance of soil microbial biomass carbon, we measured the levels of soil organic carbon, biomass carbon (above- and underground) and soil microbial biomass carbon in areas with different grazing intensities and different management strategy (fenced and unfenced) in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We also calculated the ratio of soil microbial biomass carbon to soil organic carbon as an indicator of the soil organic matter availability and quality. Results showed that degradation had significant effects on the soil organic carbon, biomass carbon and microbial biomass carbon (P < 0.05). However, fencing only had a significant effect on the non-degraded and moderately degraded grasslands (P < 0.05). We also found that the level of soil microbial biomass carbon was positively correlated with the biomass carbon and soil organic carbon. From our research, we concluded that the level of soil microbial biomass carbon was crucial to the C cycle in the alpine grasslands and that fencing may be an important management strategy for restoring lightly or moderately degraded grassland in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Li
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, 100875, China
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16
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Multivariate Analysis of Rangeland Vegetation and Soil Organic Carbon Describes Degradation, Informs Restoration and Conservation. LAND 2013. [DOI: 10.3390/land2030328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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