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Effects of Stocking Rate on the Variability of Peak Standing Crop in a Desert Steppe of Eurasia Grassland

Author

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  • Zhongwu Wang

    (Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Department of Grassland Science, College of Ecology and Environmental Science)

  • Shuying Jiao

    (Shandong Agricultural University, College of Resources and Environment)

  • Guodong Han

    (Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Department of Grassland Science, College of Ecology and Environmental Science)

  • Mengli Zhao

    (Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Department of Grassland Science, College of Ecology and Environmental Science)

  • Haijun Ding

    (Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Department of Grassland Science, College of Ecology and Environmental Science)

  • Xinjie Zhang

    (Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Department of Grassland Science, College of Ecology and Environmental Science)

  • Xiaoliang Wang

    (Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Department of Grassland Science, College of Ecology and Environmental Science)

  • Eldon L. Ayers

    (Tristar Land Technologies)

  • Walter D. Willms

    (Lethrridge Research Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

  • Kris Havsatad

    (USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range)

  • Lata A

    (Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences)

  • Yongzhi Liu

    (Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences)

Abstract

Proper grazing management practices can generate corresponding compensatory effects on plant community production, which may reduce inter-annual variability of productivity in some grassland ecosystems. However, it remains unclear how grazing influences plant community attributes and the variability of standing crop. We examined the effects of sheep grazing at four stocking rate treatments [control, 0 sheep ha−1 month−1; light (LG), 0.15 sheep ha−1 month−1; moderate (MG), 0.30 sheep ha−1 month−1; and heavy (HG), 0.45 sheep ha−1 month−1] on standing crop at the community level and partitioned by species and functional groups, in the desert steppe of Inner Mongolia, China. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized block design over a 9-year period. Standing crop was measured every August from 2004 to 2012. Peak standing crop decreased (P

Suggested Citation

  • Zhongwu Wang & Shuying Jiao & Guodong Han & Mengli Zhao & Haijun Ding & Xinjie Zhang & Xiaoliang Wang & Eldon L. Ayers & Walter D. Willms & Kris Havsatad & Lata A & Yongzhi Liu, 2014. "Effects of Stocking Rate on the Variability of Peak Standing Crop in a Desert Steppe of Eurasia Grassland," Environmental Management, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 266-273, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:envman:v:53:y:2014:i:2:d:10.1007_s00267-013-0186-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s00267-013-0186-6
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