Fencing facility affects plant species and soil organic carbon in temperate steppes

Abstract

Fencing facility has been widely employed in steppes. However, the effects of fencing facility on plant species and soil organic carbon (SOC) have been rarely understood in steppes. Using soil sampling and plant quadrat clipping methods, in this study, we investigated the effects of fencing facility on the distributions of plant species and SOC in the temperate steppes of the Inner Mongolia. Plant biomass significantly increased with approaching fencing facility and was obviously higher in the leeward (south) than windward (north) sides. Perennial grasses accounted for approximately 68%–76% of the total aboveground biomass in both sides of fencing facility. SOC content also significantly increased with approaching fencing facility in the 0–10 soil layer but slightly increased in the 10–30 cm soil layer. Wind erosion and dust storm did markedly neither change the fractions of soil texture nor cause the difference in SOC content between the windward and leeward sides. Fencing facility increased SOC storage by 16.5% and 9.1% at 0.1 and 0.5 m locations relative to at 3 m location in the 0–10 cm soil layer, respectively. Edge effect is suggested as a potential mechanism driving the variations of plant species and SOC in both sides of fencing facility.