Soil respiration and its Q₁₀ response to various grazing systems of a typical steppe in Inner Mongolia, China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As one of the important management practices of grassland ecosystems, grazing has fundamental effects on soil properties, vegetation, and soil microbes. Grazing can thus alter soil respiration (Rs) and the soil carbon cycle, yet its impacts and mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods

To explore the response of soil carbon flux and temperature sensitivity to different grazing systems, Rs, soil temperature (ST), and soil moisture (SM) were observed from December 2014 to September 2015 in a typical steppe of Inner Mongolia under three grazing systems: year-long grazing, rest-rotation grazing, and grazing exclusion. In addition, plant aboveground and root biomass, soil microbial biomass and community composition, and soil nutrients were measured during the pilot period.

SUBMITTER: Nie C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6571130 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature