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Biennial Mowing Maintains the Biomass and Functional Diversity of Semi-Arid Grassland

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  • Tianqi Zhao

    (College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010018, China
    Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Swift Current Research and Development Centre, Swift Current, SK S9H 3X2, Canada)

  • Feng Zhang

    (College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010018, China)

  • Rongzhen Suo

    (College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010018, China
    Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Morden Research and Development Centre, Morden, MB R6M 1Y5, Canada)

  • Chen Gu

    (College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010018, China
    Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Swift Current Research and Development Centre, Swift Current, SK S9H 3X2, Canada)

  • Daling Chen

    (College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010018, China)

  • Tony Yang

    (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Swift Current Research and Development Centre, Swift Current, SK S9H 3X2, Canada)

  • Mengli Zhao

    (College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010018, China)

Abstract

Understanding the functional diversity relationship between biomass and plants is a key issue in biodiversity–ecosystem functionality and the utility of grassland. We conducted a five-year mowing experiment to examine the effects of the mowing frequency on biomass, plant species, and functional diversity of a natural plant community in a semiarid region of Inner Mongolia. A secondary objective was to test whether unmowed refuge areas within plots would mitigate the disturbance effect of mowing. The result showed that mowing disturbance reduced biomass by the greatest amount with mowing once every year (M1) and the least with M2. The biomass composition of M2 consisted of a greater mass of perennial species than in the other mowing treatments but was equivalent to the control (CK). However, mowing disturbances increased the plant species richness and M2 had the largest number of species. The community-weighted means (CWM) indices indicated that M2 produced the least detrimental effects on the grassland. Retaining unmowed refuge areas appeared to be ineffective in promoting beneficial community traits under M1 mowing regimes. Based on our results, we recommend that the semi-arid grassland be mowed every other year in order to optimize sustainable production.

Suggested Citation

  • Tianqi Zhao & Feng Zhang & Rongzhen Suo & Chen Gu & Daling Chen & Tony Yang & Mengli Zhao, 2020. "Biennial Mowing Maintains the Biomass and Functional Diversity of Semi-Arid Grassland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-11, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:4:p:1507-:d:321969
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yating He & Minggang Xu & Yuchun Qi & Yunshe Dong & Xinhua He & Jianwei Li & Xinchao Liu & Liangjie Sun, 2017. "Differential Responses of Soil Microbial Community to Four-Decade Long Grazing and Cultivation in a Semi-Arid Grassland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Nitu Wu & Aijun Liu & Yongfang Wang & Lanhua Li & Lumengqiqige Chao & Guixiang Liu, 2019. "An Assessment Framework for Grassland Ecosystem Health with Consideration of Natural Succession: A Case Study in Bayinxile, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-17, February.
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