Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 241-254 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Ecological Modelling |
| Volume | 205 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| Publication status | Published - 10 Jul 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Analysis of the spatial variability of soil properties is important to interpret the site-specific ecosystems not only with respect to process investigations but also to model upscaling. This paper aims to study the effects of the grazing intensity on soil physical and mechanical properties and their interactions in a Leymus chinensis steppe of the Xilin River Basin, Inner Mongolia, China. The investigated sites were subjected to five grazing intensities (ungrazed since 1979, ungrazed since 1999, winter grazing, continuous grazing and heavy grazing). Soil water content (SWC), hydraulic conductivity (K), water drop penetration time (WDPT), shear strength (SS), soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration, bulk density (BD), and soil texture were measured at a grid with 15 m sampling distance on the surface soil during the period of 2004-2005. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and geostatistics. The correlation and interaction between soil properties were analyzed by the methods of Pearson correlation, partial correlation and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that spatial distributions of soil properties could be well described by spherical or exponential models. The ranges of spatial dependence were the highest for WDPT and the lowest for SS. Grazing decreased SWC, SOC and WDPT but increased BD and SS. Multiple regression analysis showed significant correlations among SWC, K, WDPT, SOC and BD; as well as between SS and silt content. Soil compaction induced by sheep trampling, especially in the heavily grazed site, inclined to a homogenous spatial distribution of soil properties, which will possibly enhance soil vulnerability to water and nutrient loss, and consequently reduce the plant available water and thus grassland productivity.
Keywords
- Correlations, Geostatistics, Grazing intensity, Soil properties, Spatial variability
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Science(all)
- Ecological Modelling
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In: Ecological Modelling, Vol. 205, No. 1-2, 10.07.2007, p. 241-254.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Spatial variability of soil properties affected by grazing intensity in Inner Mongolia grassland
AU - Zhao, Ying
AU - Peth, Stephan
AU - Krümmelbein, Julia
AU - Horn, Rainer
AU - Wang, Zhongyan
AU - Steffens, Markus
AU - Hoffmann, Carsten
AU - Peng, Xinhua
N1 - Funding Information: The grants for this project were provided by the German Research Council (DFG) in the framework of the Interdisciplinary Research Project MAGIM (Matter fluxes in grasslands of Inner Mongolia as influenced by stocking rate), sub-project P8 (project code Ho 911/35). Dr. Angelika Kölbl is acknowledged for the manuscript revision.
PY - 2007/7/10
Y1 - 2007/7/10
N2 - Analysis of the spatial variability of soil properties is important to interpret the site-specific ecosystems not only with respect to process investigations but also to model upscaling. This paper aims to study the effects of the grazing intensity on soil physical and mechanical properties and their interactions in a Leymus chinensis steppe of the Xilin River Basin, Inner Mongolia, China. The investigated sites were subjected to five grazing intensities (ungrazed since 1979, ungrazed since 1999, winter grazing, continuous grazing and heavy grazing). Soil water content (SWC), hydraulic conductivity (K), water drop penetration time (WDPT), shear strength (SS), soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration, bulk density (BD), and soil texture were measured at a grid with 15 m sampling distance on the surface soil during the period of 2004-2005. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and geostatistics. The correlation and interaction between soil properties were analyzed by the methods of Pearson correlation, partial correlation and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that spatial distributions of soil properties could be well described by spherical or exponential models. The ranges of spatial dependence were the highest for WDPT and the lowest for SS. Grazing decreased SWC, SOC and WDPT but increased BD and SS. Multiple regression analysis showed significant correlations among SWC, K, WDPT, SOC and BD; as well as between SS and silt content. Soil compaction induced by sheep trampling, especially in the heavily grazed site, inclined to a homogenous spatial distribution of soil properties, which will possibly enhance soil vulnerability to water and nutrient loss, and consequently reduce the plant available water and thus grassland productivity.
AB - Analysis of the spatial variability of soil properties is important to interpret the site-specific ecosystems not only with respect to process investigations but also to model upscaling. This paper aims to study the effects of the grazing intensity on soil physical and mechanical properties and their interactions in a Leymus chinensis steppe of the Xilin River Basin, Inner Mongolia, China. The investigated sites were subjected to five grazing intensities (ungrazed since 1979, ungrazed since 1999, winter grazing, continuous grazing and heavy grazing). Soil water content (SWC), hydraulic conductivity (K), water drop penetration time (WDPT), shear strength (SS), soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration, bulk density (BD), and soil texture were measured at a grid with 15 m sampling distance on the surface soil during the period of 2004-2005. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and geostatistics. The correlation and interaction between soil properties were analyzed by the methods of Pearson correlation, partial correlation and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that spatial distributions of soil properties could be well described by spherical or exponential models. The ranges of spatial dependence were the highest for WDPT and the lowest for SS. Grazing decreased SWC, SOC and WDPT but increased BD and SS. Multiple regression analysis showed significant correlations among SWC, K, WDPT, SOC and BD; as well as between SS and silt content. Soil compaction induced by sheep trampling, especially in the heavily grazed site, inclined to a homogenous spatial distribution of soil properties, which will possibly enhance soil vulnerability to water and nutrient loss, and consequently reduce the plant available water and thus grassland productivity.
KW - Correlations
KW - Geostatistics
KW - Grazing intensity
KW - Soil properties
KW - Spatial variability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34248223538&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2007.02.019
DO - 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2007.02.019
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:34248223538
VL - 205
SP - 241
EP - 254
JO - Ecological Modelling
JF - Ecological Modelling
SN - 0304-3800
IS - 1-2
ER -