Modelling above-ground herbage mass for a wide range of grassland community types

Whereas it is recognized that management of plant diversity can be the key to reconciling production and environmental aims, most grassland models are tailored for high-value grass species. We proposed to adapt a mono-specific grass model to take into account specific features of species-rich permanent grasslands, especially over the reproductive phase. To this end, we used the concept of plant functional type (PFT), i.e. the grouping of plant species according to plant traits determined by the response of plant species to different management practices (land use and fertilization) and characterizing of agronomic properties of the corresponding species. In the model, weather and nutrient availability act upon rates of biophysical processes (radiation capture and use, plant senescence). These rates are modified over times due to PFT-specific parameters determined experimentally which represent the different strategies of plant species regarding growth. The integration of these parameters into the model made it possible to predict herbage biomass accumulation rate under different management practices for a wide range of plant communities differing in their PFT composition. The model was evaluated in two steps, first by analyzing separately the effects of PFT and an indicator of nutrient availability on herbage accumulation and then by conducting a sensitivity analysis. It was validated using two independent datasets; a cutting experiment running over the whole growing season to examine the consistency of the model outputs under different cutting regimes, and a monitoring of meadows and pastures in spring over a whole growth cycle to assess the model’s ability to reproduce growth curves. Although a good fit was observed between the simulated and observed data, the few discrepancies noticed between field data and predicted values were attributed mainly to the potential presence of non-grass species. More specifically, we noticed that nutrient (mainly nitrogen) availability is the main driver of plant growth rate, and that PFT determines the times at which this rate changes in relation to the phenological characteristics of species present. We concluded that integration of the PFT concept into the initial mono-specific growth model is especially suited to evaluating the consequences of management practices on species-rich permanent grasslands to meet feed production targets.     

青海湖区紫花针茅草原封育导致的土壤养分时空变化特征

封育导致的生态系统恢复会体现在土壤恢复.以不同封育年限的青海湖区紫花针茅草原为对象,研究封育导致的土壤养分时空变化特征.结果表明:同一样地速效氮、速效磷和速效钾都表现为表层含量最高,显著高于第Ⅱ层,下面几层之间差异不显著;封育对速效养分含量影响不同,对速效钾含量影响不大,而速效磷含量大多显著提高,封育样地速效氮含量稍微高于对照样地.全量养分相比较,封育对土壤全钾和全磷含量影响不大,随土层加深全氮含量降低,封育导致土壤表层全氮含量升高(提高了19.9%).有机质含量随土层加深而降低,长期封育导致土壤有机质含量增加.相关分析表明,速效钾和全钾含量之间相关不显著,速效磷和全磷、速效氮和全氮含量都表现出显著相关,有机质和全量养分之间只有全氮表现出了显著相关.封育后土壤pH值略有升高;随着土层加深,土壤容重升高,但土壤容重变化不大.封育使草原土壤养分含量增加,但是养分的增加是一个非常缓慢的过程,对草原的保护还需继续加强.     

青海省因草地生态破坏造成土壤流失的经济损失核算

基于核算生态破坏经济损失的需要,提出了草地生态破坏经济损失的概念,并在草地覆盖率生态遥感测量的基础上,建立了草地土壤流失经济损失的综合估算方法.利用该方法对2006年青海省草地土壤流失经济损失进行了估算.结果表明,青海省2006年草地土壤流失造成的经济损失为185.2亿元,平均4.59万元/km2.     

降水变化对荒漠草原土壤呼吸的影响

全球气候变化使得降水格局发生显著改变.土壤呼吸作为土壤碳库向大气释放CO₂的重要途径,其对降水变化的响应可能会影响陆地生态系统碳循环进程,并对全球气候变化产生反馈作用,但目前关于土壤呼吸对降水变化的响应没有一致的结论.以黄土高原西部荒漠草原为对象,通过野外降水控制实验减水40%（-40%）、减水20%（-20%）、自然降水、增水20%（20%）和增水40%（40%）,探究降水变化对土壤呼吸动态的影响及其与土壤含水量、土壤温度、地上生物量、土壤有机碳、微生物量碳和碳氮比（有机碳总氮比）等因素的关系.结果表明,在3 a期间不同降水处理下土壤呼吸的日变化呈现较一致的单峰和双峰模式.土壤呼吸随降水量的增加均呈增加趋势,且相较对照,土壤呼吸在降水控制实验第二年（偏湿年份）和第三年（偏干年份）表现出显著差异,表明降水变化对土壤呼吸产生了遗留效应.同时,相比对照,偏湿年土壤呼吸在-40%处理下显著最低,在40%处理下显著最高,土壤呼吸对减水处理的负响应强于对增水处理的正响应;偏干年土壤呼吸在增水处理下显著高于对照,且对增水处理的正响应明显强于减水处理.此外,土壤含水量、地上生物量、土壤有机碳和碳氮比是显著影响土壤呼吸的环境因子,且随降水量的增加而增加;土壤呼吸随土壤含水量、地上生物量、土壤有机碳和碳氮比的增加而增加,随微生物量碳的增加而减少,其中土壤含水量对土壤呼吸的解释率最高,这表明土壤含水量是控制荒漠草原区土壤呼吸的主要环境因子.无论在偏湿或偏干年份,降水变化下,植物生物量输入幅度均低于土壤呼吸输出幅度,表明降水变化可能不利于土壤碳固存,尤其偏干年份降水变化对碳库输出的影响更强.因此,荒漠草原区不同干湿年份降水变化对土壤呼吸的影响可能对生态系统碳循环过程产生不同的影响,进而为区域碳预算评估提供参考.     

中国草地主要生态环境问题分析与防治对策

采用20世纪80-90年代的文献资料及调研数据,分析了我国草地主要生态环境问题.结果表明:我国退化草地、鼠害草地面积呈不断扩大趋势,10年间我国西部主要牧区退化草地面积与鼠害草地面积分别增加了529.1×104和1 437.5×104 hm2;草地质量持续下降,生态承载力降低,超载现象越来越严重;草地生态功能下降,沙化草地已成为重要的沙尘源区.在此基础上,提出了从全流域(区域)的角度进行草地退化治理、紧急启动区域性的草地生态环境保护规划、改变草地生态保护资金投入机制、改善人与自然的关系等我国草地生态环境退化的根本性防治措施.      

Establishment of Markov successional model and its application for forest restoration reference in Southern China

Forest succession is the base of establishing restoration reference which plays an important role in forest restoration and restoration estimation. The study presented the establishment of a Markov successional model (MSM) and its application to restoration reference in lower subtropical forest in China. The compositions of successional system in MSM were divided into three species types: pioneering pine trees, heliophytic trees and mesophytic trees. The successional system was divided into three subsystems: early successional stage, mid-successional stage and late-successional stage. Based on the site survey on the changes in the species and their individuals in 25 years, the transition matrices in various subsystems were determined. The predicted results were used to establish the restoration reference of the vegetation restoration in lower subtropical China. According to the ecological restoration reference established in this study, it would take 150 years for the forest to change from pioneer to mature communities in the region. Successional change of tree composition was forecast by the model, and the scenario forecast by the model reflects the actual conditions observed through 52 years of long-term permanent site research. The restoration experience in the region matches the forecast results. The application of a restoration reference model indicates that forest restoration can be accelerated by taking measures which change forest structure. The above results imply that a restoration reference established on the rule of regional forest succession could be very useful not only in directing, but also in assessing and managing regional forest restoration. Previously, one “ideal reference ecosystem” was used as a restoration reference in all correlative studies. In this study, the restoration “process” was used as the restoration reference.     

丛枝菌根真菌对内蒙古草原大针茅群落的影响

使用真菌抑制剂在内蒙古草原开展原位试验,人为创造菌根受抑制和正常两种环境,通过分析菌根侵染率,测定大针茅群落的物种组成、丰富度和多样性等结构指标,分析丛枝菌根真菌对群落结构和净初级生产力的影响。试验结果表明,两种处理群落的菌根侵染率不同,苯菌灵有效地降低了植株的菌根侵染率。丛枝菌根真菌短期内未能对植物群落的物种丰富度、多样性产生影响,未能改变植物群落的结构和净初级生产力。但丛枝菌根真菌的存在,会对植物群落内不同植物种的地上部生物量实现再分配,降低了优势种垄断资源的能力,使群落内物种的生物量和营养元素含量趋于均匀,有利于保护关键种,有利于植被的恢复与重建。因此,研究结论为内蒙古退化草原生态系统的恢复和重建提供了重要的理论依据和参考价值。     

盐碱草原土壤特性及生物量空间异质性研究

土壤盐分是土壤特性中最活跃和复杂的一部分。受土壤性质、气象、地形、地下水文及长期地球化学过程等自然条件和耕作、灌溉等人类活动因子的影响,土壤水分、盐分的变异状态在一定程度上反映了土壤各层的盐渍化程度和状态。而土壤盐分与水分、土壤物理性质等有十分密切的联系,因此,运用地统计学研究采用振动深松集成技术改良盐碱化草原前后土壤水分、盐分等特性的空间变异规律,以地理信息系统ArcGIS为平台,建立土壤水分、盐分等图形数据和属性数据相结合的信息数据库,建立其空间分异模型和空间分布图,直观的表现各特性的空间变异规律。结果表明,采用振动深松集成技术后土壤盐分含量在空间上有递减,平均ρ（土壤盐）由5.60g.L-1下降到3.73 g.L-1;土壤容重、土壤硬度分别降低13%和24%,利于牧草根系生长,生物量变异结果显示,改良前后的草层高度和产量空间分布逐渐达到了均一化,牧草产量达到了2738.1 kg.hm-2,实现了植被全覆盖,盐碱化草原得到了恢复。     

Predicting Risk of Habitat Conversion in Native Temperate Grasslands

Abstract: Native grasslands that support diverse populations of birds are being converted to cropland at an increasing rate in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America. Although limited funding is currently available to mitigate losses, accurate predictions of probability of conversion would increase the efficiency of conservation measures. We studied conversion of native grassland to cropland in the Missouri Coteau region of North and South Dakota (U.S.A.) during 1989–2003. We estimated the probability of conversion of native grassland to cropland with satellite imagery and logistic regression models that predicted risk of conversion and by comparing the overlap between areas of high biological value and areas most vulnerable to conversion. Annualized probability of conversion was 0.004, and 36,540 ha of native grassland were converted to cropland during the period of our study. Our predictive models fit the data and correctly predicted 70% of observed conversions of grassland. Probability of conversion varied spatially and was correlated with landscape features like amount of surrounding grassland, slope, and soil productivity. Tracts of high biological value were not always at high risk of conversion. We concluded the most biologically valuable areas that are most vulnerable to conversion should be prioritized for conservation. This approach can be applied broadly to other systems and offers great utility for implementing conservation in areas with spatially variable biological value and probability of conversion.     

Assessment of the nitrogen and carbon budget of two managed temperate grassland fields

Greenhouse gas budgets as well as the productivity of grassland systems are closely related to the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles. Within the framework of the CarboEurope and NitroEurope projects we have measured C and N exchange on the field scale at the grassland site Oensingen previously converted from arable rotation. The site is located on the Swiss Central Plateau and consists of two parallel fields of equal size. One field was subjected to intensive management with average nitrogen input of 230 kg-N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 4–5 cuts per year, and the other to an extensive management with no fertilisation and less frequent cutting. The total C budget of the fields was assessed by measuring the CO₂ exchange by eddy covariance and analysing the carbon import by manure application and export by harvest. The N budget of the managed grassland is more complex. Besides the management related import and export, it includes gaseous exchange in many different forms (NO, NO₂, HNO₃, N₂O, NH₃, N₂) needing different analytical techniques, as well as input by rain and leaching of N-compounds with the soil water. The main (“level-3”) field sites in the NitroEurope project are supposed to measure 95% of the N fluxes at the field scale. For several of the N fluxes specific measurements have been performed for 1 year or longer at the site. Some of the remaining N budget components (dry and wet deposition) could be estimated from results of a national deposition network, while other components (NH₃ and N₂ emission) were estimated based on literature parameterisations. However, we found indications that the (systematic) uncertainties of these estimated N-fluxes are large and that it is important to make site-specific measurement for all relevant budget components. The suitability of corresponding experimental methods is discussed.Analysis of the C budget over a 6-year period (2002–2007) showed a significant mean difference between the two newly established grassland fields with a likely net carbon loss for the extensive management and a net sequestration for the intensive management. Since the C/N ratio of the soil organic matter of the grassland is constrained in a rather narrow range around 9.3, the change in the soil carbon pool is supposed to be accompanied by a corresponding change in the N storage. This approach provided an alternative method to check the N budget of the two grassland fields derived from the individual N fluxes.