Effect of moderate livestock grazing on soil and vegetation characteristics in zokor mounds of different ages
Abstract Mounds formed by plateau zokors (Eospalax baileyi) in alpine meadows are easily disturbed by livestock. We aimed to reveal the effect of moderate livestock grazing (from October 15 to March 15 of the following year) on plant and soil characteristics of zokor mounds. This study explored the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39530-7 |
| _version_ | 1827875566600060928 |
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| author | Qian Zhang Yan Lu Caijun Zhang Baohui Yao Junhu Su |
| author_facet | Qian Zhang Yan Lu Caijun Zhang Baohui Yao Junhu Su |
| author_sort | Qian Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Mounds formed by plateau zokors (Eospalax baileyi) in alpine meadows are easily disturbed by livestock. We aimed to reveal the effect of moderate livestock grazing (from October 15 to March 15 of the following year) on plant and soil characteristics of zokor mounds. This study explored the effect of zokor mounds of different ages (2015–2018) on soil nutrient content, soil enzymatic activity, plant diversity, and aboveground biomass (AGB) at grazing and non-grazing sites. Compared with the non-grazing sites, soil organic carbon (SOC), total soil phosphorus, and ratio of SOC to total nitrogen were 16.6%–98.7% higher and soil urease activity was 8.4% and 9.6% higher in 1- and 3-year-old mounds, respectively, at the grazing sites. Grazing significantly increased the plant Pielou index, richness, and Shannon–Wiener diversity index of 4-year-old mounds by 20.7%–52.4%. Partial least squares path modeling showed that plant species diversity was the main factor affecting the plant AGB of mounds at the grazing sites, whereas soil enzyme activity was the primary factor at the non-grazing sites. We propose that moderate grazing increases soil nutrient content and the plant diversity in zokor mounds in alpine meadows, which should be considered in future grassland restoration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:08:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eed5f8ba63de4a3a9ec180e72b46b3ee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:08:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-eed5f8ba63de4a3a9ec180e72b46b3ee2023-08-06T11:14:57ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-08-0113111210.1038/s41598-023-39530-7Effect of moderate livestock grazing on soil and vegetation characteristics in zokor mounds of different agesQian Zhang0Yan Lu1Caijun Zhang2Baohui Yao3Junhu Su4College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural UniversityAbstract Mounds formed by plateau zokors (Eospalax baileyi) in alpine meadows are easily disturbed by livestock. We aimed to reveal the effect of moderate livestock grazing (from October 15 to March 15 of the following year) on plant and soil characteristics of zokor mounds. This study explored the effect of zokor mounds of different ages (2015–2018) on soil nutrient content, soil enzymatic activity, plant diversity, and aboveground biomass (AGB) at grazing and non-grazing sites. Compared with the non-grazing sites, soil organic carbon (SOC), total soil phosphorus, and ratio of SOC to total nitrogen were 16.6%–98.7% higher and soil urease activity was 8.4% and 9.6% higher in 1- and 3-year-old mounds, respectively, at the grazing sites. Grazing significantly increased the plant Pielou index, richness, and Shannon–Wiener diversity index of 4-year-old mounds by 20.7%–52.4%. Partial least squares path modeling showed that plant species diversity was the main factor affecting the plant AGB of mounds at the grazing sites, whereas soil enzyme activity was the primary factor at the non-grazing sites. We propose that moderate grazing increases soil nutrient content and the plant diversity in zokor mounds in alpine meadows, which should be considered in future grassland restoration.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39530-7 |
| spellingShingle | Qian Zhang Yan Lu Caijun Zhang Baohui Yao Junhu Su Effect of moderate livestock grazing on soil and vegetation characteristics in zokor mounds of different ages Scientific Reports |
| title | Effect of moderate livestock grazing on soil and vegetation characteristics in zokor mounds of different ages |
| title_full | Effect of moderate livestock grazing on soil and vegetation characteristics in zokor mounds of different ages |
| title_fullStr | Effect of moderate livestock grazing on soil and vegetation characteristics in zokor mounds of different ages |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of moderate livestock grazing on soil and vegetation characteristics in zokor mounds of different ages |
| title_short | Effect of moderate livestock grazing on soil and vegetation characteristics in zokor mounds of different ages |
| title_sort | effect of moderate livestock grazing on soil and vegetation characteristics in zokor mounds of different ages |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39530-7 |
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