生态学报2024，Vol.44Issue(15)：6609-6617,9.DOI:10.20103/j.stxb.202312232798
放牧强度对典型草原积雪及融雪土壤水分的影响
Effects of grazing intensities on snow accumulation and soil water after snowmelt in a typical grassland
摘要
Abstract
Snow accumulation is a critical factor influencing spring soil water dynamics in grassland ecosystems,with snow mass primarily affected by snowfall and redistribution processes.Nevertheless,there exists a paucity of research investigating the potential impacts of grazing on snow accumulation and subsequent soil water content during the spring thaw period.This study aims to elucidate the effects and underlying mechanisms of various grazing intensities on snow accumulation and the soil water content following snowmelt in spring in a representative grassland ecosystem.By doing so,it seeks to provide a scientific foundation for the rational utilization and optimal management of grasslands.Utilizing a long-term controlled grazing experimental setup established in the Xilingol grasslands,we quantified vegetation characteristics,snow accumulation,and soil water content under five grazing intensities,including ungrazed(GO),lightly grazed(G0.75),moderately grazed(G1.50),heavily grazed(G2.25),and extremely heavy grazed(G3.00)during 2016 and 2017.The results revealed a gradual reduction in snow mass with the increasing grazing intensity,with an average snow mass in 2016 being 57.63％higher compared to 2017.Specifically,extremely heavy grazing led to a substantial decrease in snow mass by 75.20％and 74.53％in 2016 and 2017,respectively,when compared to the ungrazed treatment.Soil water content tended to decrease gradually in the spring as grazing intensity increased.In the ungrazed treatment,spring soil water content(0-40 cm)measured 14.91％and 10.70％in 2016 and 2017,respectively,representing 1.5 and 1.4 times higher values than those observed in the extremely heavily grazed treatment.Our analysis indicated significant positive correlation between soil water content and vegetation characteristics(aboveground biomass and plant height),as well as snow accumulation metrics(snow mass and snow depth).The top soil layer(0-5 cm)water exhibited greater sensitivity to grazing compared to deeper soil layers.The results of structural equation modeling showed that snowfall,vegetation characteristics and snow accumulation had significant positive effect on spring soil water.Grazing activities exerted a detrimental effect on snow mass and spring soil water content by depleting vegetation cover.Hence,to obtain increased amounts of snow accumulation and spring soil water,land managers should consider to mitigate the grazing intensity or implementing ungrazed plots as management strategies.关键词
放牧/积雪/土壤水分/植被特征/典型草原Key words
grazing/snow accumulation/soil water/vegetation properties/typical grassland引用本文复制引用
刘嘉慧,李乐,罗玉红,丁勇,徐诺,包雨凡,闫玉春..放牧强度对典型草原积雪及融雪土壤水分的影响[J].生态学报,2024,44(15):6609-6617,9.基金项目
国家自然科学基金项目(32230065,42071070) （32230065,42071070）
重点研发计划课题(2023YFF1304102) （2023YFF1304102）
内蒙古科技计划项目(2023KYPT0006) （2023KYPT0006）
