Ecological and economic effects of intensive rotational grazing in a typical steppe

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2023.0009

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims The management policies of China’s rangeland have shifted from grassland fencing and grazing removal towards a more balanced approach between livestock loads and herbage biomass for grazing. This shift has led to a growing emphasis on the theoretical and practical significance of using smart grazing management to promote grassland restoration.

Methods In this study, we conducted a two-year experiment involving continuous grazing, traditional rotational grazing, and intensive rotational grazing as treatment groups and no grazing as a control group to estimate the ecological and economic impacts of implementing intensive rotational grazing in a typical steppe of Xilin Gol.

Important findings Intensive rotational grazing could restore the biomass of Leymus chinensis and Stipa spp., and significantly put weight on the adult sheep. Furthermore, the advantage of intensive rotational grazing lies in extending the post-grazing recovery time and curbing selective animal grazing through balanced livestock loads and herbage biomass. Therefore, our preliminary results suggest that employing intensive rotational grazing and following balanced livestock loads and herbage biomass could be a promising approach to achieve a harmonious blend of economic benefits and ecosystem services in rangeland management practices.

Key words: rangeland management, rotational grazing, balancing of livestock loads and herbage biomass, grassland restoration, typical steppe

RU Ya-Qian, XUE Jian-Guo, GE Ping, LI Yu-Lin, LI Dong-Xu, HAN Peng, YANG Tian-Run, CHU Wei, CHEN Zhang, ZHANG Xiao-Lin, LI Ang, HUANG Jian-Hui. Ecological and economic effects of intensive rotational grazing in a typical steppe[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2024, 48(2): 171-179.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2023.0009

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2024/V48/I2/171

Figures/Tables 6

Fig. 1 Layout of plots of the experiment for intensive rotational grazing study in Xilin Gol League. CG, continuous grazing; CK, no grazing; IG, intensive rotational grazing; TG, traditional rotational grazing.

Fig. 2 Effects of different grazing managements on biomass, richness, height and coverage in plant communities (mean ± SE). CG, continuous grazing; CK, no grazing; IG, intensive rotational grazing; TG, traditional rotational grazing. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences (p < 0.05).

Fig. 3 Effects of different grazing managements on biomass and its proportion of plant functional groups (mean ± SE). CG, continuous grazing; CK, no grazing; IG, intensive rotational grazing; TG, traditional rotational grazing. AB, annuals and biennials; PB, perennial bunch grasses; PF, perennial forbs; PR, perennial rhizome grasses; SS, dwarf shrubs and semi-shrubs. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences (p < 0.05).

Fig. 4 Effects of different grazing managements on biomass and proportion of dominant species in plant communities (mean ± SE). CG, continuous grazing; CK, no grazing; IG, intensive rotational grazing; TG, traditional rotational grazing. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences (p < 0.05).

Fig. 5 Effects of different grazing managements on biomass of three indicative functional groups, Leguminosae, Allium spp. and Cleistogenes spp. in typical steppe (mean ± SE). CG, continuous grazing; CK, no grazing; IG, intensive rotational grazing; TG, traditional rotational grazing. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences (p < 0.05).

Fig. 6 Effects of different grazing managements on the putting mass of sheep (mean ± SE). CG, continuous grazing; IG, intensive rotational grazing; TG, traditional rotational grazing. Group1, initial mass of sheep ≥ 40 kg; Group2, initial mass of sheep < 40 kg. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences (p < 0.05).

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