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Spatial variability of soil properties affected by grazing intensity in Inner Mongolia grassland

Author

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  • Zhao, Ying
  • Peth, Stephan
  • Krümmelbein, Julia
  • Horn, Rainer
  • Wang, Zhongyan
  • Steffens, Markus
  • Hoffmann, Carsten
  • Peng, Xinhua

Abstract

Analysis of the spatial variability of soil properties is important to interpret the site-specific ecosystems not only with respect to process investigations but also to model upscaling. This paper aims to study the effects of the grazing intensity on soil physical and mechanical properties and their interactions in a Leymus chinensis steppe of the Xilin River Basin, Inner Mongolia, China. The investigated sites were subjected to five grazing intensities (ungrazed since 1979, ungrazed since 1999, winter grazing, continuous grazing and heavy grazing). Soil water content (SWC), hydraulic conductivity (K), water drop penetration time (WDPT), shear strength (SS), soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration, bulk density (BD), and soil texture were measured at a grid with 15m sampling distance on the surface soil during the period of 2004–2005. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and geostatistics. The correlation and interaction between soil properties were analyzed by the methods of Pearson correlation, partial correlation and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that spatial distributions of soil properties could be well described by spherical or exponential models. The ranges of spatial dependence were the highest for WDPT and the lowest for SS. Grazing decreased SWC, SOC and WDPT but increased BD and SS. Multiple regression analysis showed significant correlations among SWC, K, WDPT, SOC and BD; as well as between SS and silt content. Soil compaction induced by sheep trampling, especially in the heavily grazed site, inclined to a homogenous spatial distribution of soil properties, which will possibly enhance soil vulnerability to water and nutrient loss, and consequently reduce the plant available water and thus grassland productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao, Ying & Peth, Stephan & Krümmelbein, Julia & Horn, Rainer & Wang, Zhongyan & Steffens, Markus & Hoffmann, Carsten & Peng, Xinhua, 2007. "Spatial variability of soil properties affected by grazing intensity in Inner Mongolia grassland," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 205(1), pages 241-254.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:205:y:2007:i:1:p:241-254
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2007.02.019
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ahmed Ibrahim Ahmed & Lulu Hou & Ruirui Yan & Xiaoping Xin & Yousif Mohamed Zainelabdeen, 2020. "The Joint Effect of Grazing Intensity and Soil Factors on Aboveground Net Primary Production in Hulunber Grasslands Meadow Steppe," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Jiao Chen & Haiping Tang, 2016. "Effect of Grazing Exclusion on Vegetation Characteristics and Soil Organic Carbon of Leymus chinensis Grassland in Northern China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, January.
    3. Deepak Singh & Alok Kumar Mishra & Sridhar Patra & Anuj Kumar Dwivedi & Chandra Shekhar Prasad Ojha & Vijay P. Singh & Sankar Mariappan & Subhash Babu & Nisha Singh & Devideen Yadav & Prabhat Ranjan O, 2023. "Effect of Long-Term Tillage Practices on Runoff and Soil Erosion in Sloping Croplands of Himalaya, India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-21, May.
    4. Wang, Yuhui & Zhou, Guangsheng & Jia, Bingrui, 2008. "Modeling SOC and NPP responses of meadow steppe to different grazing intensities in Northeast China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 217(1), pages 72-78.
    5. Saldaña, A. & Ibáñez, J.J., 2007. "Pedodiversity, connectance and spatial variability of soil properties, what is the relationship?," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 208(2), pages 342-352.
    6. Moret-Fernández, D. & Pueyo, Y. & Bueno, C.G. & Alados, C.L., 2011. "Hydro-physical responses of gypseous and non-gypseous soils to livestock grazing in a semi-arid region of NE Spain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(12), pages 1822-1827, October.
    7. Yunqing Hao & Zhengwei He, 2019. "Effects of grazing patterns on grassland biomass and soil environments in China: A meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, April.
    8. Chen, Jun & Shiyomi, Masae & Morita, Satoru, 2023. "Phytomass productivity of cutting and grazing grasslands with special reference to small-scale spatial variation in plant nutrient resources," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 486(C).

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