Abstract
The Stipa grandis steppe is a type of steppe in the Central Asian sub-region, and it is an important resource for livestock production in China. Mowing is one of the main management methods for this steppe. Verifying the response of the Stipa grandis steppe communities to different mowing frequencies is essential for the rational utilization of pastures and the protection and recovery of natural steppe. In this study, we investigated the community characteristics and compensatory growth of important species of the Stipa grandis steppe community under four mowing frequencies (TAY: twice a year; OAY: once a year; OTY: once every other year; NM: no mowing/enclosure), and found that different frequencies of mowing significantly influenced the community characteristics and the compensatory growth of dominant plant species. In the enclosure, species density was significantly lower, and height and biomass were significantly greater than in the mowing treatments. At the beginning of the growing season, mowing had a significant impact on the individual miniaturization of Stipa grandis, Leymus chinensis, and Anemarrhena asphodeloides. Mowing also had a significant impact on the diversity of the community. The Shannon diversity index, the Pielou evenness index, and the richness index were higher under OTY than other mowing frequencies. Under different mowing frequencies, growth rates were significantly different after the aboveground portions were cut, while the levels of biomass were not significantly different. Stipa grandis, Leymus chinensis, and Anemarrhena asphodeloides had less compensatory height growth under OAY compared to the other treatments; however, there were no significant differences in the relative growth rates of the three species under different treatments. Stipa grandis exhibited equivalent compensatory height growth; both Leymus chinensis and Anemarrhena asphodeloides exhibited over-compensatory growth. Based on the results of community characteristics and the compensatory growth of the dominant species, mowing every other year is currently the most practical mowing system.
Highlights
Mowing is a common and critical utilization of steppes, and it is one of the primary uses of high-yield natural steppes and artificial grasslands
The results showed that mowing is necessary to maintain overall plant biodiversity in hay meadows through the removal of graminoid biomass and litter, but not all target forbs were favored by regular yearly mowing
Our results show that the relative growth rate has a delayed response to mowing, and that short-term mowing treatments do not have a significant impact on the relative growth rates of the three species (Figure 2)
Summary
Mowing is a common and critical utilization of steppes, and it is one of the primary uses of high-yield natural steppes and artificial grasslands. For grassland ecosystems, mowing is an artificial interference mechanism affecting material circulation and other facets of the ecosystem. With regard to the impact of mowing on plant communities, studies in China and other countries have mostly focused on semi-natural grasslands [1,2,3,4,5]. Different methods of mowing can affect the community characteristics and biomass production by altering the height and density [6]. Under excessive interference (mowing), the plants in steppes exhibit lower height, reduced leaf area, and individual miniaturization (plant height lower, individual biomass reduced), affecting the community structure [7]. Plants can alter their physiological or morphological properties, alleviating the adverse effects of external damage to achieve compensatory growth
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