Soil function, properties and plant diversity-biomass patterns differ between grazed and non-grazed steppe ecosystems.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Grazing and enclosure are two major grassland management techniques, which are used to preserve plant variety, productivity, and ecosystem function.

Methods

In order to compare plant diversity and ecosystem function under grazing and enclosure conditions, this study observed three typical grassland locations in southeast of Inner Mongolia via medium-scale line transect surveys.

Results

Our results showed that soil nutrients in enclosed grasslands control the diversity of plant species and aboveground biomass (AGB), which in turn regulates the amount of belowground biomass (BGB) by allocation. Enclosure consistently enhanced AGB and plant height compared to grazing, while increasing the relative contribution of perennial grasses and forbs to productivity t

SUBMITTER: Mi J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12280993 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature