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Tang H, Li Q, Bao Q, Tang B, Li K, Ding Y, Luo X, Zeng Q, Liu S, Shu X, Liu W, Du L. Interplay of soil characteristics and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi diversity in alpine wetland restoration and carbon stabilization. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1376418. [PMID: 38659977 PMCID: PMC11039953 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1376418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Alpine wetlands are critical ecosystems for global carbon (C) cycling and climate change mitigation. Ecological restoration projects for alpine grazing wetlands are urgently needed, especially due to their critical role as carbon (C) sinks. However, the fate of the C pool in alpine wetlands after restoration from grazing remains unclear. In this study, soil samples from both grazed and restored wetlands in Zoige (near Hongyuan County, Sichuan Province, China) were collected to analyze soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), soil properties, and plant biomass. Moreover, the Tea Bag Index (TBI) was applied to assess the initial decomposition rate (k) and stabilization factor (S), providing a novel perspective on SOC dynamics. The results of this research revealed that the mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) was 1.40 times higher in restored sites compared to grazed sites, although no significant difference in particulate organic carbon (POC) was detected between the two site types. Furthermore, the increased MAOC after restoration exhibited a significant positive correlation with various parameters including S, C and N content, aboveground biomass, WSOC, AMF diversity, and NH4+. This indicates that restoration significantly increases plant primary production, litter turnover, soil characteristics, and AMF diversity, thereby enhancing the C stabilization capacity of alpine wetland soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Tang
- Key Laboratory of Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring in Southwest (Sichuan Normal University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
- The Faculty of Geography Resource Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qian Li
- College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qian Bao
- Key Laboratory of Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring in Southwest (Sichuan Normal University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
- The Faculty of Geography Resource Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Biao Tang
- Sichuan Provincial Cultivated Land Quality and Fertilizer Workstation, Chengdu, China
| | - Kun Li
- Sichuan Academy of Forestry, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Ding
- Key Laboratory of Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring in Southwest (Sichuan Normal University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
- The Faculty of Geography Resource Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaojuan Luo
- The Faculty of Geography Resource Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiushu Zeng
- The Faculty of Geography Resource Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Size Liu
- Research Center for Carbon Sequestration and Ecological Restoration, Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiangyang Shu
- Key Laboratory of Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring in Southwest (Sichuan Normal University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
- The Faculty of Geography Resource Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Weijia Liu
- Chengdu Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Du
- Key Laboratory of Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring in Southwest (Sichuan Normal University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
- The Faculty of Geography Resource Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
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Wang Y, Wang Z, Kang Y, Zhang Z, Bao D, Sun X, Su J. Assessing the win-win situation of forage production and soil organic carbon through a short-term active restoration strategy in alpine grasslands. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 14:1290808. [PMID: 38273956 PMCID: PMC10808524 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1290808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Grassland degradation has seriously affected the ecological environment and human livelihood. To abate these, implementing effective management strategies to restore and improve the service functions and productivity of degraded grasslands is crucial. Methods To evaluate the influences of restoration measures combined with different grazing intensities on short-term (1 year) grassland restoration, the changes in soil physicochemical properties, as well as plant traits under restoration measures of different grazing intensities, reseeding, and fertilization, were analyzed. Results Soil organic carbon (SOC) increased to varying degrees, whereas available nutrients decreased under all combined restoration measures. Reseeding, alone and in combination with fertilization, substantially increased SOC, improved grassland vegetation status, and enhanced grassland productivity. The aboveground biomass of Gramineae and the total aboveground biomass increased under the combined restoration measures of transferring livestock out of the pasture 45 days in advance, reseeding, and fertilization (T4). Redundancy analysis revealed a strong correlation between grassland vegetation characteristics, SOC, and available potassium. Considering soil and vegetation factors, the short-term results suggested that the combination measures in T4had the most marked positive impact on grassland restoration. Discussion These findings offer valuable theoretical insights for the ecological restoration of degraded grasslands in alpine regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhicheng Wang
- College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yukun Kang
- College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhiming Zhang
- College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Duanhong Bao
- College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaomei Sun
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- College of Resource and Environmental Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Junhu Su
- College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
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Chen Y, Xu C, Ma K, Hou Q, Yu X. Responses of community traits and soil characteristics of Achnatherum inebrians-type degraded grassland to grazing systems in alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1270304. [PMID: 37868308 PMCID: PMC10587598 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1270304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Scientific grazing management is of great significance for the ecological health and sustainable use of alpine meadows. Methods To explore appropriate management methods of alpine grasslands of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau degraded by Achnatherum inebrians (Hance) Keng ex Tzvele presence, we studied the effects of different grazing systems on the A. inebrians population, grassland vegetation community traits, soil characteristics and soil microbial community structure for cold- season grazing plus supplementary feeding pasture (CSF) and four-season open public pasture (FOP) in Tianzhu County, Gansu Province. Results Compared with FOP, the CSF site showed significantly inhibited reproduction of A. inebrians, especially the crown width, seed yield and number of reproductive branches per plant were as high as 50%, significantly increased the aboveground biomass of edible forage and soil water content by 57% and 43-55%, better soil nutrients, and significantly reduced soil bulk density by 10- 29%. Different grazing systems affected the composition and diversity of soil microbial communities, with a greater effect on fungi than on bacterial flora. The most abundant phyla of bacteria and fungi were Proteobacteria and Ascomycota for CSF (by 30-38% and 24-28%) and for FOP (by 67-70% and 68-73%), and the relative abundance and species of bacterial and fungal genera were greater for CSF than FOP. The α-diversity indexes of fungi were improved, and the β-diversity of fungi was significant difference between CSF and FOP. However, the grazing utilization time was prolonged in FOP, which reduced the diversity and abundance of soil bacteria and increased soil spatial heterogeneity. The use of A. inebrians-type degraded grassland in the cold season, and as a winter supplementary feeding and resting ground, could effectively inhibit expansion of A. inebrians, promote edible forage growth, enhance grassland productivity and community stability, and improve soil structure. Discussion The results guide healthy and sustainable utilization of A. inebrians-type degraded grassland in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Xiaojun Yu
- Grassland Ecosystem Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Sino-U.S. Research Center for Grazing Land Ecosystem Sustainability, Grassland Pratacultural College of Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
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Guan H, Zhang S, Huangpu Y, Yan H, Niklas KJ, Mipam TD, Sun S. Moderate Grazing Promotes Arthropod Species Diversity in an Alpine Meadow. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:778. [PMID: 37372063 DOI: 10.3390/biology12060778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Livestock grazing is an important tool used in grassland land management practices. Studies have substantially addressed the effect of grazing on plant species diversity, revealing that moderate grazing increases plant species diversity. However, few studies have dealt with the relationship between grazing and arthropod species diversity, which remains unclear. Here, we hypothesize that moderate grazing promotes arthropod species diversity because arthropods are directly or indirectly dependent on plant diversity. In this study, we conducted a two-year plant and arthropod survey from 2020 to 2021 at four levels of grazing intensity, i.e., nongrazing (as a control), light grazing, moderate grazing, and heavy grazing, of the long-term grazing experiment starting in 2016. The data show that plant species diversity peaked in the moderate grazing treatment, and herbivore species diversity was positively correlated with plant species diversity (and hence peaked in the moderate grazing treatment). Moderate grazing promoted parasitoid species diversity, which was positively correlated with herbivore species diversity. However, predator species diversity did not significantly differ among the four treatments. In addition, saprophage species diversity decreased, whereas coprophages increased with increasing grazing levels, such that species richness (but not species diversity of detritivores statistically) was highest in the moderate grazing treatment. Consequently, the species diversity of arthropods as a whole peaked at the moderate grazing level, a phenomenology that is consistent with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Considering that moderate grazing has been found to increase plant species diversity, facilitate soil carbon accumulation, and prevent soil erosion, we suggest that moderate grazing would maximize multi-functional ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Guan
- Department of Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shangyun Zhang
- Department of Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yifei Huangpu
- Department of Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Han Yan
- Department of Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Karl J Niklas
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Tserang Donko Mipam
- Sichuan Zoige Alpine Wetland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Shucun Sun
- Department of Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China
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