Dynamic of aboveground biomass and soil moisture as affected by short-term grazing exclusion on eastern alpine meadow of Qinghai-Tibet plateau, China

Abstract

Short-term grazing exclusion has large impacts on grassland vegetation and nutrition. In order to study the effects of the short-term rest on aboveground biomass, forage quality, and soil moisture on alpine pasture of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, cages were used to exclude grazing from July to October on summer pasture used by three typical farms with different stocking rates. The results showed that, within the same month during the forage growth period, the dry weights of the edible forage in the cages were significantly higher than that out of the cages (P < 0.05) under heavy grazing pressure (from 2.47 to 2.48 animal unit equivalent AUE ha -1 ). Within the same soil depth, soil moisture was significantly different in, and out of, the cages (P < 0.05) and it decreased with depth. The crude protein content for forages in cages was significantly higher than that out of the cages for the farm with a heavy stocking rate and the neutral detergent fiber was significantly lower. This shows that short-term rest periods could effectively increase dry weight and crude protein content of the edible forage for farms with heavy stocking rates. This short-term rest management strategy is recommended for farms with a heavy stocking rate.

Stages of grassland degradation in subalpine ecosystems of the Central Caucasus, Russia

“…However, there was a difference (P < 0.05) between DS0 and DS3 in these parameters (Figure 5). Soil moisture was also the lowest due to the highest animal load in the eastern alpine meadows of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau in China (Liu et al, 2016). Intensive grazing negatively affects the soil moisture capacity by changing soil aggregate structure and decreasing organic matter (Guo et al, 2020).…”

Rumen microbiota of indigenous and introduced ruminants and their adaptation to the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau

“…These indigenous Tibetan ruminants have evolved several adaptive traits to withstand the severe environmental conditions, especially cold, with night-time temperatures averaging around −20°C and routinely dropping below −30°C in winter ( Wang et al, 2004 ). In addition, low oxygen partial pressure, high altitude, strong UV radiation, Low precipitation, and poor forage availability on the alpine rangelands all present physiological challenges for its fauna ( Long et al, 1999 ; Yao et al, 2012 ; Liu et al, 2016 ; Friedrich and Wiener, 2020 ; Jing et al, 2022 ). Despite the challenges to husbandry associated with the need for enhanced adaptation, several domesticated ruminants have also been successfully introduced to the alpine pasture regions for meat and dairy production, such as hybrid sheep, goats, and cattle ( Huang et al, 2016 ; Zhang et al, 2022 ).…”