Investigation into the Effects of Different Restoration Techniques on the Soil Nutrient Status in Degraded <i>Stipa grandis</i> Grassland
The degradation and desertification of grassland ecosystems have garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally. Grassland restoration techniques are widely considered a principal measure to promote the sustainable utilization of grasslands, with soil nutrient content being a c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/1/57 |
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| author | Peiqing Zhang Tianqi Yu Dan Shan Ruirui Yan Lianyun Zhang Junjie Wang Qiqige Wuren |
| author_facet | Peiqing Zhang Tianqi Yu Dan Shan Ruirui Yan Lianyun Zhang Junjie Wang Qiqige Wuren |
| author_sort | Peiqing Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The degradation and desertification of grassland ecosystems have garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally. Grassland restoration techniques are widely considered a principal measure to promote the sustainable utilization of grasslands, with soil nutrient content being a core indicator for assessing the effectiveness of restoration in degraded grasslands. This study aims to explore the differential impacts of various grassland restoration methods on soil nutrient distribution in degraded <i>Stipa grandis</i> grasslands. Three major restoration methods, i.e., root cutting, enclosure, and fertilization, were applied in the study area. The soil nutrient content was measured and analyzed under the different restoration methods and at varying depths. The results revealed that under all three restoration methods and at different soil depths (0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–30 cm), the organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, alkali-hydrolyzable phosphorus, and available potassium contents were significantly higher than those in the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Furthermore, as soil depth increased, the contents of organic matter and all nutrients gradually decreased. Specifically, regarding the contents of different nutrients, the order of organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, and available phosphorus was as follows: fertilization > enclosure > root cutting > control, while the contents of total potassium and available potassium followed the sequence: fertilization > enclosure > control > root cutting. Additionally, based on the canonical correlation analysis (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.88), the total phosphorus content in soil had the greatest impact on soil nutrients, while vegetation cover and plant height contributed the most to vegetation characteristics. In grassland restoration, the increase in soil total phosphorus led to higher vegetation cover and height, mildly influenced plant diversity and density, and simultaneously promoted biomass accumulation. These research findings provide a solid theoretical foundation for the application of grassland restoration techniques, contributing to the sustainable development of grassland ecosystems. |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:08:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
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| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-041ca94e4ef6424ba0b005a2677a1a1c2024-01-26T14:22:06ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952023-12-011415710.3390/agronomy14010057Investigation into the Effects of Different Restoration Techniques on the Soil Nutrient Status in Degraded <i>Stipa grandis</i> GrasslandPeiqing Zhang0Tianqi Yu1Dan Shan2Ruirui Yan3Lianyun Zhang4Junjie Wang5Qiqige Wuren6Key Laboratory of Forage Cultivation, Processing and High Efficient Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010019, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-Arid Arable Land in Northern China, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, ChinaAgricultural College, Hulunbuir University, Hailar 021008, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-Arid Arable Land in Northern China, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, ChinaHulunbuir Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Technology Promotion Center, Hailar 021008, ChinaKey Laboratory of Forage Cultivation, Processing and High Efficient Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010019, ChinaAgricultural College, Hulunbuir University, Hailar 021008, ChinaThe degradation and desertification of grassland ecosystems have garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally. Grassland restoration techniques are widely considered a principal measure to promote the sustainable utilization of grasslands, with soil nutrient content being a core indicator for assessing the effectiveness of restoration in degraded grasslands. This study aims to explore the differential impacts of various grassland restoration methods on soil nutrient distribution in degraded <i>Stipa grandis</i> grasslands. Three major restoration methods, i.e., root cutting, enclosure, and fertilization, were applied in the study area. The soil nutrient content was measured and analyzed under the different restoration methods and at varying depths. The results revealed that under all three restoration methods and at different soil depths (0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–30 cm), the organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, alkali-hydrolyzable phosphorus, and available potassium contents were significantly higher than those in the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Furthermore, as soil depth increased, the contents of organic matter and all nutrients gradually decreased. Specifically, regarding the contents of different nutrients, the order of organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, and available phosphorus was as follows: fertilization > enclosure > root cutting > control, while the contents of total potassium and available potassium followed the sequence: fertilization > enclosure > control > root cutting. Additionally, based on the canonical correlation analysis (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.88), the total phosphorus content in soil had the greatest impact on soil nutrients, while vegetation cover and plant height contributed the most to vegetation characteristics. In grassland restoration, the increase in soil total phosphorus led to higher vegetation cover and height, mildly influenced plant diversity and density, and simultaneously promoted biomass accumulation. These research findings provide a solid theoretical foundation for the application of grassland restoration techniques, contributing to the sustainable development of grassland ecosystems.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/1/57restoration methodsnutrient characteristicssoil organic mattersoil total nutrientssoil available nutrients |
| spellingShingle | Peiqing Zhang Tianqi Yu Dan Shan Ruirui Yan Lianyun Zhang Junjie Wang Qiqige Wuren Investigation into the Effects of Different Restoration Techniques on the Soil Nutrient Status in Degraded <i>Stipa grandis</i> Grassland Agronomy restoration methods nutrient characteristics soil organic matter soil total nutrients soil available nutrients |
| title | Investigation into the Effects of Different Restoration Techniques on the Soil Nutrient Status in Degraded <i>Stipa grandis</i> Grassland |
| title_full | Investigation into the Effects of Different Restoration Techniques on the Soil Nutrient Status in Degraded <i>Stipa grandis</i> Grassland |
| title_fullStr | Investigation into the Effects of Different Restoration Techniques on the Soil Nutrient Status in Degraded <i>Stipa grandis</i> Grassland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation into the Effects of Different Restoration Techniques on the Soil Nutrient Status in Degraded <i>Stipa grandis</i> Grassland |
| title_short | Investigation into the Effects of Different Restoration Techniques on the Soil Nutrient Status in Degraded <i>Stipa grandis</i> Grassland |
| title_sort | investigation into the effects of different restoration techniques on the soil nutrient status in degraded i stipa grandis i grassland |
| topic | restoration methods nutrient characteristics soil organic matter soil total nutrients soil available nutrients |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/1/57 |
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