Vegetation Science
Online ISSN : 2189-4809
Print ISSN : 1342-2448
ISSN-L : 1342-2448
Experimental study on the effects of grazing pressure on the floristic composition of a grassland of Baiyinxile, Xilingole, Inner Mongolia
Toru NakamuraTakako GoYong Hong LiIchiroku Hayashi
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1998 Volume 15 Issue 2 Pages 139-145

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Abstract

The evaluation of grassland condition in semi-arid Inner Mongolia was discussed with changes of floristic composition under grazing. The species alternation in the stands were surveyed setting up with experimental field, in which varying numbers of sheep (0, 4, 8, 12, 16 or 20 per ha) were allowed to graze for 45 days per year. In the control non-grazing subplot, Aneurolepidium chinense (Trin.) Kitagawa and Artemisia frigida Wild, were dominant. While under the grazing conditions, component species were grouped into four types according to their response to grazing intensity. The importance value of Type I species, Aneurolepidium chinense and Stipa grandis P. Smirn, decreased with increased grazing pressure. The values of Type II species, Potentilla acaulis and Carex korshinskyi Kom. increased with increasing grazing pressure. Type III species appeared in heavily grazed stands, i.e. with 20 heads of sheep per ha, and included Chenopodium aristatum L. The importance value of Type IV species (such as Kochia prostrata L. Schrad. and Potentilla tanacetifolia) was not affected by grazing pressure. Abundance of Type II species with the high importance values indicates degradation of the grassland, and the presence of Type III species indicates that the stand is in danger of desertification.

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© 1998 The Society of Vegetation Science
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