Grazing intensity alters soil microbial diversity and network complexity in alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Jing, Luhuai; Mipam, Tserang Donko; Ai, Yi; Jiang, Ao; Gan, Tian; Zhang, Sihu; Liu, Jianquan; Tian, Lanlan

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2023.108541

Cited by 19 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“… Wu et al (2022) conducted a regional-scale grazing experiment on the Mongolian Plateau (covered three typical vegetation types) and showed that grazing increased the diversity of both bacterial and fungal compared with enclosure. Conversely, largely previous studies have found that grazing had negative ( Fan et al, 2021a ; Wang et al, 2022b ) or no ( Fan et al, 2021b ; Jing et al, 2023 ) effects on soil bacterial diversity. For example, Wang et al (2022b) conducted a grazing experiment with five grazing intensities in Inner Mongolian desert steppe and found that highly intensive grazing ( i.e., heavy and over-grazing) significantly reduced the diversity of both bacteria and fungi, due to the change in soil organic content and pH value.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…The return of dung and urine from livestock may alter soil microbial community by changing soil nutrient availability or other properties ( e.g. , soil pH value; Kohler et al, 2005 ; Bai et al, 2012 ; Jing et al, 2023 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies have reported that grazing may affect soil microbial diversity ( Zhang et al, 2016 ; Wang et al, 2022a ; Jing et al, 2023 ), however, findings have been mixed. Wu et al (2022) conducted a regional-scale grazing experiment on the Mongolian Plateau (covered three typical vegetation types) and showed that grazing increased the diversity of both bacterial and fungal compared with enclosure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…In livestock grazing systems, microbial diversity may be driven by different underlying mechanisms due to the complex effects of livestock grazing on grassland systems ( i.e., feeding, dung and urine return, and trampling; Liu et al, 2015 ).First, feeding effect of livestock grazing may reduce the above-ground biomass and affect below-ground biased allocation, as well as change in root exudates, then may affect soil microbial community ( Yang et al, 2013 ; Liu et al, 2015 ; Chung & Rudgers, 2016 ; Fan et al, 2021a ). Second, the return of dung and urine from livestock may alter soil microbial community by changing soil nutrient availability ( Kohler et al, 2005 ; Bai et al, 2012 ; Jing et al, 2023 ). Third, trampling effect of livestock grazing may compact the soil and change soil bulk density, soil water potential, aeration, and redox conditions, thus alter soil microbial community ( Kauffman, Thorpe & Brookshire, 2004 ; Liu et al, 2015 ; Wang & Wesche, 2016 ; Fan et al, 2021a ; Jing et al, 2023 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, the return of dung and urine from livestock may alter soil microbial community by changing soil nutrient availability ( Kohler et al, 2005 ; Bai et al, 2012 ; Jing et al, 2023 ). Third, trampling effect of livestock grazing may compact the soil and change soil bulk density, soil water potential, aeration, and redox conditions, thus alter soil microbial community ( Kauffman, Thorpe & Brookshire, 2004 ; Liu et al, 2015 ; Wang & Wesche, 2016 ; Fan et al, 2021a ; Jing et al, 2023 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Heavy grazing reduces soil bacterial diversity by increasing soil pH in a semi-arid steppe

Wang,

Zhou,

Zuo

et al. 2024

PeerJ

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Background In a context of long-term highly intensive grazing in grassland ecosystems, a better understanding of how quickly belowground biodiversity responds to grazing is required, especially for soil microbial diversity. Methods In this study, we conducted a grazing experiment which included the CK (no grazing with a fenced enclosure undisturbed by livestock), light and heavy grazing treatments in a desert steppe in Inner Mongolia, China. Microbial diversity and soil chemical properties (i.e., pH value, organic carbon, inorganic nitrogen (IN, ${\mathrm{NH}}_{4}^{+}$-N and ${\mathrm{NO}}_{3}^{-}$-N), total carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and available phosphorus content) both in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils were analyzed to explore the responses of microbial diversity to grazing intensity and the underlying mechanisms. Results The results showed that heavy grazing only deceased bacterial diversity in the non-rhizosphere soil, but had no any significant effects on fungal diversity regardless of rhizosphere or non-rhizosphere soils. Bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere soil was higher than that of non-rhizosphere soil only in the heavy grazing treatment. Also, heavy grazing significantly increased soil pH value but deceased NH4+-N and available phosphorus in the non-rhizosphere soil. Spearman correlation analysis showed that soil pH value was significantly negatively correlated with the bacterial diversity in the non-rhizosphere soil. Combined, our results suggest that heavy grazing decreased soil bacterial diversity in the non-rhizosphere soil by increasing soil pH value, which may be due to the accumulation of dung and urine from livestock. Our results highlight that soil pH value may be the main factor driving soil microbial diversity in grazing ecosystems, and these results can provide scientific basis for grassland management and ecological restoration in arid and semi-arid area.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Heavy grazing reduces soil bacterial diversity by increasing soil pH in a semi-arid steppe

Wang,

Zhou,

Zuo

et al. 2024

PeerJ

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Divergent Effects of Grazing Intensity on Soil Nutrient Fractions in Alpine Meadows

Mipam,

Jiang,

Jing

et al. 2024

Land Degrad Dev

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Large herbivore grazing plays a key role in regulating ecosystem functioning and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the effects and mechanisms of large herbivore grazing intensity on soil nutrient fractions remain largely unclear in alpine grasslands. Here, we determine 20 indicator variables associated with soil nutrient fractions (e.g., particulate organic carbon, POC; mineral‐associated organic carbon, MAOC) to investigate how grazing intensity on labile fractions through a well‐controlled grazing experiment in an alpine meadow on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Our results show that microbial biomass carbon, dissolved organic carbon, light fraction organic carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen and phosphorus, total potassium, and available potassium significantly decrease with increased grazing intensity, whereas other fractions (e.g., POC, MAOC, dissolved organic nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, available nitrogen, etc.) have marginal or non‐significant responses to grazing intensity. Further analysis reveals that above‐and below‐ground biomass, soil moisture, and soil pH jointly determine the grazing effects on soil nutrient fractions, without the impact of species richness. Moreover, correlation analyses indicate that grazing intensity decouples carbon and nitrogen from phosphorus and potassium in alpine meadows. Collectively, our results emphasize the importance of grazing intensity effects on nutrient cycling in alpine grasslands and incorporate the impacts of grazing intensity into terrestrial ecosystem models may help accurately predict carbon sequestration potential in grazinglands.

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Intercropped Flemingia macrophylla successfully traps tea aphid (Toxoptera aurantia) and alters associated networks to enhance tea quality

Gao,

Tang,

Zhang

et al. 2023

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUNDThe tea aphid, Toxoptera aurantia is a destructive pest causing severe damage to the quality and yield of tea, Camellia sinensis. Relying on chemical insecticides to control this pest causes adverse ecological and economic consequences. Trap plants are an eco‐friendly alternative strategy to mitigate pest damage on focal plants by attracting target insects and natural enemies. Yet, the utilization of trap plants in tea plantations remains limited. Besides, the effects of the trap plant on the tea aphid‐ant‐predator community and tea quality and yield are unknown.RESULTSIntercropped Flemingia macrophylla successfully trapped tea aphids and enhanced the complexity of aphid–ant–predator networks over three consecutive years compared to monoculture management. Moreover, F. macrophylla significantly increased the abundance of natural predators by 3100% and species richness by 57%. The increasing predators suppressed the aphid population and hampered its spillover to neighbouring tea plants. Consequently, F. macrophylla improved tea quality by an 8% increase in soluble sugar and a 26% reduction in polyphenols to amino acids ratio.CONCLUSIONThe study illustrated that F. macrophylla is a suitable trap crop for tea aphid control in tea plantations. This legume increases species nodes and strengthens multiple connections in aphid‐associated communities through its cascade effects, improving tea quality. These findings shed light on the potential application of trap plants in tea plantations as an efficient integrated pest management (IPM) strategy.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Grazing intensity alters soil microbial diversity and network complexity in alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Cited by 19 publications

References 54 publications

Heavy grazing reduces soil bacterial diversity by increasing soil pH in a semi-arid steppe

Heavy grazing reduces soil bacterial diversity by increasing soil pH in a semi-arid steppe

Divergent Effects of Grazing Intensity on Soil Nutrient Fractions in Alpine Meadows

Intercropped Flemingia macrophylla successfully traps tea aphid (Toxoptera aurantia) and alters associated networks to enhance tea quality

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