Effects of Grazing Intensity on Plant Community Composition and Nutrient Quality of Forage in a Desert Steppe

doi:10.11733/j.issn.1007-0435.2025.09.021

Acta Agrestia Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (9): 2962-2972.DOI: 10.11733/j.issn.1007-0435.2025.09.021

Previous Articles Next Articles

Effects of Grazing Intensity on Plant Community Composition and Nutrient Quality of Forage in a Desert Steppe

JU Xin¹, WANG Xin-ya¹, WANG Bing-ying², HAN Guo-dong¹, WU Qian¹

1. College of Grassland Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010011, China;
2. Forest and Grassland Protection and Development Center, Bairin Right Banner, Inner Mongolia 025150, China

Received:2025-02-05 Revised:2025-04-22 Online:2025-09-15 Published:2025-09-22

放牧强度对荒漠草原植物群落组成和营养品质的影响

鞠馨¹, 王新雅¹, 王冰莹², 韩国栋¹, 武倩¹

1. 内蒙古农业大学草业学院/草地资源教育部重点实验室, 内蒙古呼和浩特 010011;
2. 巴林右旗森林草原保护发展中心, 内蒙古巴林右旗 025150

通讯作者: 武倩，E-mail：qianwu@imau.edu.cn
作者简介:鞠馨（1997-），女，汉族，内蒙古赤峰人，博士研究生，主要从事草地资源生态与管理研究，E-mail：juxinimau@163.com
基金资助:
内蒙古自然科学基金优秀青年基金项目（2025YQ019）；国家自然科学基金重大项目（32192463）资助

Abstract

Abstract: In this study， based on a long-term grazing experiment established in 2004 in a Stipa breviflora desert steppe， the changes in plant nutritional quality under different grazing intensities （control CK， light grazing LG， moderate grazing MG， and heavy grazing HG） and their relationships with plant community composition and soil nutrients with were analyzed. The results showed that heavy grazing significantly reduced aboveground and belowground biomass as well as the biomass of perennial grasses， shrubs， and semi-shrubs compared to the control， while significantly increasing the biomass of annual and biennial species （P<0.05）. Light grazing increased crude protein content by 5.12%， whereas heavy grazing significantly elevated neutral detergent fiber， acid detergent fiber by 43.97% and 23.54%， respectively， and decreased crude fat content by 39.16% （P<0.05）. Moreover， crude protein content was positively correlated with perennial grass biomass， soil organic carbon， total nitrogen， and nitrate nitrogen， while acid detergent fiber was negatively correlated with the biomass of perennial forbs， shrubs and semi-shrubs， soil organic carbon， and soil nitrogen-related nutrients. Therefore， in desert steppe ecosystems， light grazing-characterized by a diverse plant community， high biomass， elevated crude protein content， and reduced fiber levels is conducive to maintaining productivity and forage quality and represents a suitable grazing intensity for achieving long-term sustainable use of grasslands.

Key words: Desert steppe, Grazing, Stocking rate, Plant community composition, Nutritional quality

摘要： 本研究基于短花针茅（Stipa breviflora）荒漠草原建立的长期放牧试验平台，分析不同放牧强度下（对照CK、轻度放牧LG、中度放牧MG、重度放牧HG）植物营养品质变化及其与植物群落组成和土壤养分的关系。结果表明：与对照相比，重度放牧群落生物量、多样性、多年生禾草、灌木及半灌木生物量均显著降低（P<0.05）；轻度放牧群落粗蛋白含量显著增加了5.13%，重度放牧群落中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维分别显著增加了43.97%和23.55%，重度放牧粗脂肪含量显著降低了39.16%（P<0.05）；粗蛋白含量与多年生禾草生物量、土壤有机碳、土壤氮相关养分显著正相关，酸性洗涤纤维与多年生杂类草、灌木及半灌木生物量、土壤有机碳、土壤氮相关养分呈显著负相关。在荒漠草原，轻度放牧植物群落组成丰富、生物量高，粗蛋白含量高而纤维含量低，有利于生产力维持和牧草品质健康，是实现草地可持续利用的适宜放牧强度。

关键词: 荒漠草原, 放牧, 载畜率, 植物群落组成, 营养品质

CLC Number:

S812

JU Xin, WANG Xin-ya, WANG Bing-ying, HAN Guo-dong, WU Qian. Effects of Grazing Intensity on Plant Community Composition and Nutrient Quality of Forage in a Desert Steppe[J]. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2025, 33(9): 2962-2972.

鞠馨, 王新雅, 王冰莹, 韩国栋, 武倩. 放牧强度对荒漠草原植物群落组成和营养品质的影响[J]. 草地学报, 2025, 33(9): 2962-2972.

References

[1] WHITE R P，MURRAY S，ROHWEDER M. Pilot analysis of global ecosystems：grassland ecosystems[M]. Washington， DC：World Resources Institute，2000：1-4
[2] LI L，ZHANG J，HE X Z，et al. Different effects of sheep excrement type and supply level on plant and soil C：N：P stoichiometry in a typical steppe on the Loess Plateau[J]. Plant and Soil，2021，462（1）：45-58
[3] ZHANG M N，LI G Y，LIU B，et al. Effects of herbivore assemblage on the spatial heterogeneity of soil nitrogen in eastern Eurasian steppe[J]. Journal of Applied Ecology，2020，57（8）：1551-1560
[4] JÄSCHKE Y，HEBERLING G，WESCHE K. Environmental controls override grazing effects on plant functional traits in Tibetan rangelands[J]. Functional Ecology，2020，34（3）：747-760
[5] 康萨如拉，韩国栋，赵萌莉，等. 放牧背景下短花针茅荒漠草原研究进展[J]. 草地学报，2023，31（12）：3587-3596
[6] 宋伟江，苏纪帅，张梦迪，等. 中国北方草地植物补偿性生长与合理放牧强度：基于放牧实验的整合分析[J]. 科学通报，2023，68（11）：1330-1342
[7] 张子凡，熊茂秋，李福杰，等. 内蒙古草原自然资源大区植被净初级生产力时空变化及其影响因子分析[J]. 草业科学，2022，39（12）：2492-2502
[8] TILMAN D，REICH P B，KNOPS J，et al. Diversity and productivity in a long-term grassland experiment[J]. Science，2001，294（5543）：843-845
[9] LIU B，ZHAO W Z，LIU Z L，et al. Changes in species diversity，aboveground biomass，and vegetation cover along an afforestation successional gradient in a semiarid desert steppe of China[J]. Ecological Engineering，2015，81：301-311
[10] 王琪，张峰，赵萌莉，等. 放牧强度对短花针茅荒漠草原植物群落组成及种间关系的影响[J]. 生态环境学报，2021，30（10）：1961-1967
[11] 朱爱民，韩国栋，康静，等. 长期放牧对短花针茅荒漠草原不同功能群植物重要值的影响[J]. 草原与草坪，2020，40（5）：59-67
[12] LÓPEZ-MÁRSICO L，OYARZABAL M，ALTESOR A，et al. Grazing exclusion reduces below-ground biomass of temperate subhumid grasslands of South America：A meta-analysis and a database[J]. Austral Ecology，2024，49（1）：e13304
[13] GAO J J，CARMEL Y. Can the intermediate disturbance hypothesis explain grazing–diversity relations at a global scale？[J]. Oikos，2020，129（4）：493-502
[14] 牛钰杰，杨思维，王贵珍，等. 放牧强度对高寒草甸土壤理化性状和植物功能群的影响[J]. 生态学报，2018，38（14）：5006-5016
[15] 张小红，宋彦涛，乌云娜，等. 放牧强度对克氏针茅草原植物功能群的影响[J]. 草业科学，2017，34（10）：2033-2041
[16] IRISARRI J G N，DERNER J D，PORENSKY L M，et al. Grazing intensity differentially regulates ANPP response to precipitation in North American semiarid grasslands[J]. Ecological Applications，2016，26（5）：1370-1380
[17] 孙逊，俞玥，梁俊毅. 放牧对中国北方天然草地群落营养品质影响的Meta分析[J]. 草地学报，2023，31（9）：2843-2852
[18] MYSTERUD A，HESSEN D O，MOBÆK R，et al. Plant quality，seasonality and sheep grazing in an alpine ecosystem[J]. Basic and Applied Ecology，2011，12（3）：195-206
[19] JENSEN K B，ROBINS J G，RIGBY C，et al. Comparative trends in forage nutritional quality across the growing season in thirteen grasses[J]. Canadian Journal of Plant Science，2017，97（1）：72-82
[20] 张正义，胡逸，张振豪，等. 高寒草甸功能群组成及营养品质对不同放牧强度的响应[J]. 草业科学，2024，41（1）：151-162
[21] 张伟娜. 不同年限禁牧对藏北高寒草甸植被及土壤特征的影响[D]. 北京：中国农业科学院，2015：30-32
[22] 刘芳，韩国栋，王忠武，等. 载畜率对短花针茅荒漠草原不同季节植物营养成分的影响[J]. 草原与草业，2015，27（2）：40-44
[23] 张宇，侯路路，闫瑞瑞，等. 放牧强度对草甸草原植物群落特征及营养品质的影响[J]. 中国农业科学，2020，53（13）：2550-2561
[24] 张新永，李少伟，刘增辉，等. 藏北高寒天然草地常见牧草营养品质影响因素分析[J]. 草地学报，2024，32（12）：3797-3806
[25] 高雪峰，韩国栋. 荒漠草原土壤酶与土壤养分的动态研究[J]. 土壤，2011，43（5）：793-797
[26] ZHANG R Y，WANG Z W，HAN G D，et al. Grazing induced changes in plant diversity is a critical factor controlling grassland productivity in the Desert Steppe，Northern China[J]. Agriculture，Ecosystems & Environment，2018，265：73-83
[27] 卫智军，韩国栋，赵钢，等. 中国荒漠草原生态系统研究[M]. 北京：科学出版社，2013：326-364
[28] VAN SOEST P J，ROBERTSON J B，LEWIS B A. Methods for dietary fiber，neutral detergent fiber，and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition[J]. Journal of Dairy Science，1991，74（10）：3583-3597
[29] 王志军，包健，丁霞，等. 品种和生育期对紫花苜蓿的生产性能、营养品质和矿物质元素的影响[J]. 饲料研究，2024，47（10）：105-112
[30] 张振，李元恒，丁勇，等. 典型草原群落及功能群物种多样性对放牧因素分解的响应[J]. 中国草地学报，2020，42（5）：48-54
[31] NIU K C，HE J S，LECHOWICZ M J. Grazing-induced shifts in community functional composition and soil nutrient availability in Tibetan alpine meadows[J]. Journal of Applied Ecology，2016，53（5）：1554-1564
[32] 王岭，张敏娜，徐曼，等. 草地多功能提升的多样化家畜放牧理论及应用[J]. 科学通报，2021，66（30）：3791-3798
[33] LI W H，HOOPER D U，WU L J，et al. Grazing regime alters plant community structure via patch-scale diversity in semiarid grasslands[J]. Ecosphere，2021，12（6）：e03547
[34] ZHANG F，ZHENG J H，BENNETT J A，et al. The legacy effects of grazing and precipitation variability on grassland productivity in a temperate steppe[J]. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology，2023，343：109788
[35] 王琪，郑佳华，张峰，等. 放牧强度对短花针茅荒漠草原植物种群生态位的影响[J]. 中国草地学报，2022，44（10）：1-9
[36] ZHENG J H，WANG Q，YUAN S，et al. Soil deterioration due to long-term grazing of desert-steppe promotes stress-tolerant ecological strategies in plants[J]. Science of the Total Environment，2024，907：168131
[37] 武倩，鞠馨，王煜鑫，等. 放牧强度影响荒漠草原家畜牧食行为及食性选择[J]. 科学通报，2025，70（11）：1587-1600.
[38] GUO N，WU Q F，SHI F Y，et al. Seasonal dynamics of diet-gut microbiota interaction in adaptation of yaks to life at high altitude[J]. NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes，2021，7（1）：38
[39] ZHANG Y H，LOREAU M，HE N P，et al. Climate variability decreases species richness and community stability in a temperate grassland[J]. Oecologia，2018，188（1）：183-192
[40] 王德利，王岭. 草食动物与草地植物多样性的互作关系研究进展[J]. 草地学报，2011，19（4）：699-704
[41] 萨如拉，特木尔布和，阿拉腾布力格，等. 放牧方式对短花针茅（Stipa breviflora）荒漠草原植被和土壤的影响[J]. 内蒙古农业大学学报（自然科学版），2020，41（5）：44-48
[42] ZHANG H，LIU N，YANG G W，et al. Diet selection of sheep shifted from quality to quantity characteristics of forages as sward availability decreased[J]. Animal，2022，16（6）：100546
[43] 李亚奎，胡红莲，卢德勋. 利用饱和烷烃技术对短花针茅荒漠草原放牧绵羊食性的测定[J]. 畜牧兽医学报，2011，42（5）：665-670
[44] ZHANG J J，MIAO Y，ZHANG T，et al. Drought timing and primary productivity in a semiarid grassland[J]. Land Degradation & Development，2020，31（15）：2185-2195
[45] CUI G X，YUAN F，DEGEN A A，et al. Composition of the milk of yaks raised at different altitudes on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau[J]. International Dairy Journal，2016，59：29-35
[46] SCHÖNBACH P，WAN H，GIERUS M，et al. Effects of grazing and precipitation on herbage production，herbage nutritive value and performance of sheep in continental steppe[J]. Grass and Forage Science，2012，67（4）：535-545
[47] 刘程，李慧，黄晶，等. 天然草地牧草营养变化及羔羊消化代谢、能量需求的研究[J]. 草地学报，2023，31（11）：3415-3422
[48] HERNÁNDEZ-AGRAMONTE I M，SEMMARTIN M. The role of grazing intensity and preference on grass-fungal endophyte symbiosis in a Patagonian steppe[J]. Journal of Arid Environments，2016，134：122-124
[49] ČOP J，LAVRENČIČ A，KOŠMELJ K. Morphological development and nutritive value of herbage in five temperate grass species during primary growth：analysis of time dynamics[J]. Grass and Forage Science，2009，64（2）：122-131
[50] WANG L，XU H K，ZHANG H，et al. Grazing and mowing affect the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of plants by changing the soil available nitrogen content and soil moisture on the meadow steppe，China[J]. Plants，2022，11（3）：286
[51] 李丹丹，巩皓，刘国富，等. 不同叶面肥对紫花苜蓿生长、产草量和品质的影响及效益比较[J]. 草地学报，2019，27（6）：1718-1724
[52] 鲁星鑫，陈天赐，尉剑飞，等. 新疆伊犁不同草地类型牧草营养价值及其影响因素[J/OL]. 草业科学，http：//kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/62.1069.S.20241219.1437.013.html，2024-12-19/2025-04-22
[53] KLEINEBECKER T，WEBER H，HÖLZEL N. Effects of grazing on seasonal variation of aboveground biomass quality in calcareous grasslands[J]. Plant Ecology，2011，212（9）：1563-1576
[54] 姚喜喜，王立亚，严振英，等. 放牧对温性荒漠草原植物群落特征与牧草营养品质的影响[J]. 草地学报，2021，29（S1）：165-172

Effects of Grazing Intensity on Plant Community Composition and Nutrient Quality of Forage in a Desert Steppe

放牧强度对荒漠草原植物群落组成和营养品质的影响

PDF

Knowledge

Abstract

Cite this article

share this article

References

Related Articles 15

Recommended Articles

Metrics

Comments

[1]	WANG Xue-li, WANG Yun-ling, QI Kai-yuan, YAN Hai-jun, WANG Xian-guo, MENG Gen-qi-ge-mu, ZHOU Li-ye. Effects of Water Regulation on the Production Performance of Different Alfalfa （Medicago sativa L.） Varieties and Soil Enzymes [J]. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2025, 33(9): 2808-2819.
[2]	GUO Fang, ZHANG Wei-qing, GUAN Hai-bo, WAN Zhi-qiang, YUAN Ya-nan, TSEDEVDORJ Ser-od, ZHANG Li. Characteristics of Ground-dwelling Arthropods Communities in Typical Grasslands of Inner Mongolia under Different Grazing Intensities [J]. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2025, 33(9): 2950-2961.
[3]	YUAN Yu-tao, WU Li, WEI Xiao-xing, LIU Wen-hui, CHEN You-jun, HE Ke-yan, ZHOU Qing-ping. Production Performance and Quality Evaluation of 12 Alfalfa Varieties in the Semiarid Region of Hexi Corridor [J]. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2025, 33(9): 3088-3098.
[4]	WANG Shu-ping, QI Shuai, CHEN Yan-long, ZHANG Bei, CAO Wen-xia, JIAO Ting. Comprehensive Evaluation of the Production Performance and Fermentation Quality of Different Silage Maize Varieties in Hexi Irrigated Area [J]. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2025, 33(9): 3099-3107.
[5]	WANG Rui, SU Shi-feng, YIN Ya-li, ZHAO Wen, WANG Yan-long, LI Shi-xiong. Effects of Grazing on Soil Phosphorus Conversion Rate in Alpine Meadow in Spring Pasture [J]. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2025, 33(8): 2502-2511.
[6]	ZHANG Li, ZHANG Wei-qing, GUAN Hai-bo, YUAN Ya-nan, CHUN Feng, WAN Zhi-qiang, GUO Fang. Characteristics of Soil Aggregate Nematode Community in Typical Steppe of Inner Mongolia under Different Grazing Intensities [J]. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2025, 33(8): 2531-2540.
[7]	ZHANG Lei, ZHANG Yu-juan, SUN Shi-xian, XU Xue-bao, XING Yue, LIU Xiao-li, GAO Cui-ping, WANG Cheng-jie. Effects of Different Grazing Intensities on Soil Organic Carbon Content in Desert Steppe [J]. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2025, 33(8): 2541-2547.
[8]	DUAN Jun-guang, FANG Kai, PEI Lu, CHU Jian-min, ZHANG Jin-xin, LI Xiao-xia, WANG Ying-xin. Changes of Trade-offs Between Aboveground and Belowground Plant Biomass Across Different Grazing Intensities of Alpine Meadow [J]. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2025, 33(8): 2575-2584.
[9]	CHEN Hao, GAO Wan-shun, WANG Xu-zhe, MA Chun-hui. Nutrients and Fermentation Quality of Different Varieties of Sesbania cannabina and Zea mays [J]. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2025, 33(8): 2713-2720.
[10]	CAI Chun-jiang, ZHANG Feng-ju, LIU Jin-long, WANG Xue-qin, XIANG Ling-fei, MA Qiao-li. Effects of Water and Fertilizer Coupling on Production Performance and Nutritional Quality of Echinochloa frumentacea [J]. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2025, 33(8): 2745-2754.
[11]	YAN Xu, HOU Xing-feng, WANG Hong-lin, ZUO Yan-chun, XIAO Lian, WU Zi-zhou, LI Yang, CHEN Hui, LIU Hong-mei, SUN Ru-ting, YANG Jian, ZHOU Hong-yan, LIU Jing-song, ZHANG Qiong-wen, DU Zhou-he. Quality Analysis of Silage in Agricultural Region of Sichuan Province [J]. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2025, 33(7): 2051-2058.
[12]	HE Hai-feng, MA Jin-yan, XU Xing. Study on the Relationship between Photosynthetic Fluorescence Parameters and Quality of Alfalfa in Saline-Alkali Land [J]. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2025, 33(7): 2123-2131.
[13]	LIU Li-ying, WANG Yu-zhi, LIU Zhi-gang, LIU Hong-mei, YANG Yi-wen, DING Xia, SUN Lin. Effects of Rainfall on Nutritional Quality and Fungal Community Structure in Alfalfa During Drying Process [J]. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2025, 33(7): 2132-2139.
[14]	DONG Jia-li, HE Jian-long, DU Jian-min, MA Xue-peng, CHEN Yan-long, ZHANG Bei, CAO Wen-xia. Adaptability Evaluation of Different Forage Oat Varieties in Yinbei Area of Ningxia [J]. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2025, 33(7): 2299-2308.
[15]	LIU Jian-liang, JIA Yu-shan, GE Gen-tu, WANG Zhi-jun, SI Qiang, SONG Chao-ran, MA Wei-qin, SHENG Pan-jie, ZHAO Jia-yu, ZHOU Yu-lei. The Effects of Drying Methods and Drying Time on the Nutritional Quality and Chlorophyll Content of Natural Grassland Forage [J]. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2025, 33(7): 2368-2373.