Rating the Degradation of Natural Hay Pastures in Northern China

doi:10.5814/j.issn.1674-764X.2019.02.007

Abstract

Abstract:

Natural hay pastures in semi-arid pastoral areas produce the highest yields of hay in northern China. However, long-term continuous hay harvesting with no rest interval has resulted in severe degradation across widespread areas of these natural hay pastures. In addition, no clear data exist on the spatial distribution or degree of degradation occurring in natural hay pastures primarily because a nationally unified and normative evaluation standard is lacking. In view of the above problems, we employed an analytic hierarchy process to carry out screening and accuracy validation of evaluation indicators for natural hay pastures in north China grasslands (temperate meadow steppes, temperate steppes, mountain meadows, and lowland meadows). Our study identified seven easily measured indicators that reflect the state of natural hay pastures (average height, aboveground biomass, coverage, proportion of medium grasses, litter biomass, proportion of degradation-indicative plants, and proportion of bare spots and saline-alkali spots). A five-level scoring method was employed to delineate the threshold range for these indicators, The results of this study show that this method effectively solved the technical bottleneck for graded evaluation of degradation in natural hay pastures. This provides a theoretical basis for the scientific assessment of natural hay pasture degradation as well as important technical support for sustainable use of natural hay pastures and livestock production.

Key words: natural hay pastures, degradation, grading, grassland classification

XU Lijun,SHEN Beibei,NIE Yingying,XIN Xiaoping,GAO Wa,LI Da,WANG Di,YAN Ruirui,CHEN Baorui. Rating the Degradation of Natural Hay Pastures in Northern China[J]. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 2019, 10(2): 163-173.

Figures/Tables 12

References 42

[1]	Chao L M Q Q G., Yan X H, Jin H, et al.2016. Prospects for research on degradation and control measures of natural grassland in Xilin Gol League.Grassland and Prataculure, 28(1): 6-9.(in Chinese)
[2]	Chen W Q.2015. The mechanisms of different grazing managements on Leymus Chinensis grassland ecosystem carbon sequestration. Beijing: China Agricultural University.(in Chinese)
[3]	Cui Q H, Jiang Z G, Liu J K, et al.2007. A review of the cause of rangeland degradation on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.Prataculure Science, (5): 20-26.(in Chinese)
[4]	Dang P X, Hou X W, Hui G Y, et al.2008. Evaluation indicator and evaluation method of regional forest resource quality.Forest Research, 21(1): 84-90.(in Chinese)
[5]	Department Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Ministry of Agriculture. 1995. National Animal Husbandry Station, Grassland resources of China. Beijing: Science and Technology of China Press.
[6]	Dong Ujimqin Banner.2015. Notice on the time and management measures for storing grass in Eastern Mu Zhu Qin Banner. .
[7]	Du J Z, Wang G X, Li Y S.2015. Rate and causes of degradation of alpine grassland in the source regions of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers during the last 45 years.Acta Prataculure Sinice, 24(6): 5-15. (in Chinese)
[8]	Guo J X, Zhu T C.1992. Contrast study about litter dynamics of main communities in Aneurolepidium chinense grassland region in northeast of china.Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, (7): 529-534. (in Chinese)
[9]	Guo Z G, Cheng G D, Wu B L, et al.2003.Evaluation on sustainability of forest resources in Bailom River forest region, Gansu Province.Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 14(9): 1433-1437. (in Chinese)
[10]	Inner Mongolia Ningxia Comprehensive Inspection Team Organized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1980. Natural grassland in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and its adjacent areas. Beijing: Science Press.
[11]	Ji M S, Xing Q, Gao W, et al.2011. Technical regulation for rotation mowing on natural grassland (GB/T 27515-2011). (in Chinese)
[12]	Li B. The rangeland degradation in north China and its preventive strategy.1997. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 30(6): 1-9. (in Chinese)
[13]	Li C H, Xu J J, Yu B T.2002. Comprehensive appraising methodology for sustainable development of China forest resources.Journal of North East Forestry University, 30(2): 74-76.
[14]	Li J T, Li B, Liu R, et al.1957-1980. Vegetation of schell tara stock farm in Hulun Buir, Inner Mongolia.Compilation of Scientific Achievements in Plant Ecology, 178-183. (in Chinese)
[15]	Li X L, Wan L Q, He F, et al.2008. Assessment for the status of rangeland health (GB/T 21439-2008). (in Chinese)
[16]	Liang Y, Han G D, Zhou H, et al.2011. Study on rational utilization of grassland in Leymus Grassland in Keshiketeng Banner, Inner Mongolia.Inner Mongolia Prataculture, 3(23): 34-36. (in Chinese)
[17]	Ministry of Agriculture. 2011. 2011 national grassland monitoring report. . 2011. 2011 national grassland monitoring report.
[18]	Ministry of Agriculture. 2012. 2012 national grassland monitoring report. . 2012. 2012 national grassland monitoring report. .
[19]	Ministry of Agriculture. 2013. 2013 national grassland monitoring report. . 2013. 2013 national grassland monitoring report. .
[20]	Ministry of Agriculture. 2014. 2014 national grassland monitoring report. . 2014. 2014 national grassland monitoring report. .
[21]	Ministry of Agriculture. 2015. 2015 national grassland monitoring report. . 2015. 2015 national grassland monitoring report. .
[22]	Ministry of Agriculture. 2016. 2016 national grassland monitoring report . 2016. 2016 national grassland monitoring report .
[23]	Pellant M, Shaver P, Pyke D.2005. Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health. Version 4 Colorado:Division of Science Integration Branch of Publishing Services.
[24]	Qi B L, Wang D J, Wang Z F.2015. Investigation and research on the current situation of hitting grassland in western semi-arid region of Jilin province.Modern Agricultural Sciences and Technology, (23): 282-287. (in Chinese)
[25]	Shan G L.2009. Study on restoration succession and health evaluation of typical steppe in Xilingol, Inner Mongolia. Beijing: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. (in Chinese)
[26]	Su D X, Meng Y D, Wu B G.2015. Calculation of proper carrying capacity of rangelands (NY/T 635-2015). (in Chinese)
[27]	Su D X, Zhang Z H, Chen Z Z, et al.2003. Parameters for degradation and salification of rangelands (GB 19377-2003). (in Chinese)
[28]	Tang H, Gao W, Xu L J, et al.2015. Monitoring forage harvesting area in semi-arid pasture based on Landsat TM images. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 23(31): 160-165. (in Chinese)
[29]	Tang Z S.2018. Vegetation degradation on mechanism of the desert steppe in semi-arid region. Yangling, Shaanxi: Northwest A&F University. (in Chinese)
[30]	The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region East flag government.2002. Interim Measures for management of grassland in Eastern the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region banner. .
[31]	The Sate Council.2003. Some opinions on strengthening grassland protection and construction. .
[32]	Wang B F, Liu X C, Wang J H.2004. Study on monitoring and assessment indicator systems of sandy desertif ication in China.Journal of Arid Land Resources and Environment, 18(4): 23-28. (in Chinese)
[33]	Wang L L.2016. Dynamic of ecological environment of fenced grassland and its management in Yanchi County. Beijing: Beijing Forestry University. (in Chinese)
[34]	Wang S P.2003. Vegetation degradation and protection strategy in the “Three rivers fountainhead” area in the Qinghai Province.Acta Prataculure Sinice, (6): 1-9. (in Chinese)
[35]	Wei X H, Yang P, Li S, et al.2005. Effects of over-grazing on vegetation degradation of the Kobresia pygmaea meadow and determination of degenerative index in the Naqu Prefecture of Tibet.Acta Prataculure Sinice, (3): 41-49. (in Chinese)
[36]	Wu X, Wang L X, Liu H M, et al.2011. Vigor and resilience of plant communities of typical steppe in Inner Mongolia Plateau.Journal of Arid Land Resources and Environment, (5): 47-51. (in Chinese)
[37]	Xu J J, Yu B T.2002. Comprehensive appraising methodology for sustainable development of china forest resources.Journal of North East Forestry University, 30(2): 74-76. (in Chinese)
[38]	Yun X J, Xing Q, Yong S P, et al.2006. Technical Rules For Monitoring of Rangeland Resources and Ecology (NY/T 1233-2006). (in Chinese)
[39]	Zhang W H, Yang Y.2011. The Feature analysis for grassland degradation and the restoration of natural vegetation in degraded grassland.Northern Environmental, 23(8): 40-44.
[40]	Zhang X S.2009. Vegetation and its geographical pattern in China. Beijing: Geological Publishing House. (in Chinese)
[41]	Zhou L Y, Wang M J, Han G D.2005. Effects of different grazing intensities on community and soil physical and chemical characteristics in Stipa baicalensis steppe. Journal of Arid Land Resources and Environment, (S1): 182-187. (in Chinese)
[42]	Zhu T C.1958. Introduction to the main grassland in Northeast China.Science Quarterly of Northeast Normal University, (1): 98-116. (in Chinese)

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V
A	1	1	1	2	3	3	1	2	2	1	3	2	3	3	7	3	3	9	2	3	3	5
B	1	1	1	2	3	3	1	2	2	2	4	3	3	3	8	5	5	9	2	5	4	6
C	1	1	1	2	3	3	1	2	2	2	4	2	3	3	7	4	4	9	2	4	3	5
D	1/2	1/2	1/2	1	2	2	1/2	1	1	1	2	1	2	2	4	2	2	6	1	2	2	3
E	1/3	1/3	1/3	1/2	1	1	1/2	1	1	1/2	2	1	1	1	3	2	2	5	1	2	2	2
F	1/3	1/3	1/3	1/2	1	1	1/2	1	1	1/2	2	1	1	1	3	2	2	5	1	2	1	2
G	1	1	1	2	2	2	1	2	2	2	3	2	4	3	6	4	2	9	2	3	3	5
H	1/2	1/2	1/2	1	1	1	1/2	1	1	1	2	1	2	2	4	2	2	6	1	2	2	3
I	1/2	1/2	1/2	1	1	1	1/2	1	1	1	2	1	2	2	4	2	2	6	1	2	2	3
J	1	1/2	1/2	1	2	2	1/2	1	1	1	2	2	2	5	3	3	8	1	3	2	3	3
K	1/3	1/4	1/4	1/2	1/2	1/2	1/3	1/2	1/2	1/2	1	1/2	1	1	2	1	1	3	1/2	1	1	1
L	1/2	1/3	1/2	1	1	1	1/2	1	1	1/2	2	1	1	1	3	2	2	5	1	1	1	2
M	1/3	1/3	1/3	1/2	1	1	1/4	1/2	1/2	1/2	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	5	1	1	1	2
N	1/3	1/3	1/3	1/2	1	1	1/3	1/2	1/2	1/5	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	4	1/2	1	1	2
O	1/7	1/8	1/7	1/4	1/3	1/3	1/6	1/4	1/4	1/3	1/2	1/3	1/2	1/2	1	1/2	1/2	2	1/3	1/2	1/2	1
P	1/3	1/5	1/4	1/2	1/2	1/2	1/4	1/2	1/2	1/3	1	1/2	1/2	1/2	2	1	1	3	1/2	1	1	1
Q	1/9	1/9	1/9	1/6	1/5	1/5	1/9	1/6	1/6	1	1/3	1/5	1/5	1/4	1/2	1/3	1/3	1	1/6	1/3	1/3	1/2
R	1/2	1/2	1/2	1	1	1	1/2	1	1	1/3	2	1	1	2	3	2	2	6	1	2	2	3
S	1/3	1/5	1/4	1/2	1/2	1/2	1/3	1/2	1/2	1/2	1	1/2	1	1	2	1	1	3	1/2	1	1	1
T	1/3	1/4	1/3	1/2	1/2	1	1/3	1/2	1/2	1/3	1	1/2	1	1	2	1	1	3	1/2	1	1	1
U	1/5	1/6	1/5	1/3	1/2	1/2	1/5	1/3	1/3	1/3	1	1/2	1/2	1/2	1	1	1	2	1/3	1	1	1

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V
A	1	1	1	2	3	3	1	2	2	1	3	2	3	3	7	3	3	9	2	3	3	5
B	1	1	1	2	3	3	1	2	2	2	4	3	3	3	8	5	5	9	2	5	4	6
C	1	1	1	2	3	3	1	2	2	2	4	2	3	3	7	4	4	9	2	4	3	5
D	1/2	1/2	1/2	1	2	2	1/2	1	1	1	2	1	2	2	4	2	2	6	1	2	2	3
E	1/3	1/3	1/3	1/2	1	1	1/2	1	1	1/2	2	1	1	1	3	2	2	5	1	2	2	2
F	1/3	1/3	1/3	1/2	1	1	1/2	1	1	1/2	2	1	1	1	3	2	2	5	1	2	1	2
G	1	1	1	2	2	2	1	2	2	2	3	2	4	3	6	4	2	9	2	3	3	5
H	1/2	1/2	1/2	1	1	1	1/2	1	1	1	2	1	2	2	4	2	2	6	1	2	2	3
I	1/2	1/2	1/2	1	1	1	1/2	1	1	1	2	1	2	2	4	2	2	6	1	2	2	3
J	1	1/2	1/2	1	2	2	1/2	1	1	1	2	2	2	5	3	3	8	1	3	2	3	3
K	1/3	1/4	1/4	1/2	1/2	1/2	1/3	1/2	1/2	1/2	1	1/2	1	1	2	1	1	3	1/2	1	1	1
L	1/2	1/3	1/2	1	1	1	1/2	1	1	1/2	2	1	1	1	3	2	2	5	1	1	1	2
M	1/3	1/3	1/3	1/2	1	1	1/4	1/2	1/2	1/2	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	5	1	1	1	2
N	1/3	1/3	1/3	1/2	1	1	1/3	1/2	1/2	1/5	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	4	1/2	1	1	2
O	1/7	1/8	1/7	1/4	1/3	1/3	1/6	1/4	1/4	1/3	1/2	1/3	1/2	1/2	1	1/2	1/2	2	1/3	1/2	1/2	1
P	1/3	1/5	1/4	1/2	1/2	1/2	1/4	1/2	1/2	1/3	1	1/2	1/2	1/2	2	1	1	3	1/2	1	1	1
Q	1/9	1/9	1/9	1/6	1/5	1/5	1/9	1/6	1/6	1	1/3	1/5	1/5	1/4	1/2	1/3	1/3	1	1/6	1/3	1/3	1/2
R	1/2	1/2	1/2	1	1	1	1/2	1	1	1/3	2	1	1	2	3	2	2	6	1	2	2	3
S	1/3	1/5	1/4	1/2	1/2	1/2	1/3	1/2	1/2	1/2	1	1/2	1	1	2	1	1	3	1/2	1	1	1
T	1/3	1/4	1/3	1/2	1/2	1	1/3	1/2	1/2	1/3	1	1/2	1	1	2	1	1	3	1/2	1	1	1
U	1/5	1/6	1/5	1/3	1/2	1/2	1/5	1/3	1/3	1/3	1	1/2	1/2	1/2	1	1	1	2	1/3	1	1	1

Indicator	Weight	Indicator	Weight
Aboveground biomass	0.104	Litter biomass	0.039
Coverage	0.096	The proportion of harmful grasses in total herbaceous vegetation	0.033
Proportion of degradation-indicative plants	0.090	Proportion of increase in soil erosion modulus	0.031
Average height	0.089	Proportion of increase in desertification-indicative plants	0.026
Litter biomass	0.070	Proportion of increase in edible herbivorous species	0.025
Proportion of medium grasses	0.053	Proportion of grasses	0.025
Proportion of bare spots and saline-alkali spots	0.050	Proportion of reduction in total nitrogen content in the soil layer	0.023
Proportion of edible herbivorous species in all species	0.050	Proportion of increase in soil bulk density in the soil layer	0.023
Proportion of reduction in organic matter content	0.046	Proportion of increase in salinization-indicative plants	0.019
Proportion of non-edible grass in total herbaceous vegetation	0.041	Proportion of rodent hole area in grassland area	0.014
Proportion of reduction in plant species	0.041

Indicator	Weight	Indicator	Weight
Aboveground biomass	0.104	Litter biomass	0.039
Coverage	0.096	The proportion of harmful grasses in total herbaceous vegetation	0.033
Proportion of degradation-indicative plants	0.090	Proportion of increase in soil erosion modulus	0.031
Average height	0.089	Proportion of increase in desertification-indicative plants	0.026
Litter biomass	0.070	Proportion of increase in edible herbivorous species	0.025
Proportion of medium grasses	0.053	Proportion of grasses	0.025
Proportion of bare spots and saline-alkali spots	0.050	Proportion of reduction in total nitrogen content in the soil layer	0.023
Proportion of edible herbivorous species in all species	0.050	Proportion of increase in soil bulk density in the soil layer	0.023
Proportion of reduction in organic matter content	0.046	Proportion of increase in salinization-indicative plants	0.019
Proportion of non-edible grass in total herbaceous vegetation	0.041	Proportion of rodent hole area in grassland area	0.014
Proportion of reduction in plant species	0.041

Indicator		Max	Min
Average height (cm)	Temperate meadow steppe	55	32
	Temperate steppe	46	25
	Mountain meadow	50	30
	Lowland meadow	80	49
Aboveground biomass (kg ha^-1)	Temperate meadow steppe	1800	720
	Temperate steppe	1200	480
	Mountain meadow	1600	600
	Lowland meadow	2500	1000
Coverage (%)	Temperate meadow steppe	85	40
	Temperate steppe	60	26
	Mountain meadow	90	51
	Lowland meadow	98	61
Proportion of medium grasses (%)		50	10
Litter biomass (kg ha^-1)		400	100
		Undegraded	Lower limit of degradation
Proportion of degradation-indicative plant (%)		0-2	11
Proportion of bare spots and saline-alkali spots (%)		0-2	14