Using Ecological Stoichimetric Characteristies to Inform Grassland Management in the Karst Desertification Area

Abstract

C, N and P play an important indicator role in explaining the material cycles and elemental balances of living and non-living systems. In order to control karst rocky desertification, China has established a large number of artificial grasslands for the development of herbivorous animal husbandry, which has played an important role in ecological restoration and economic development. However, the effects of different use patterns on the ecological stoichiometry of the carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) of the grassland plant–soil–microorganism are not clear. In this study, the effects of grazing grassland (GG), mowing grassland (MG) and enclosed grassland (EG) on C, N and P and their ecological stoichiometry in the artificial grassland plant–soil–microbe were investigated in the karst desertification control area in Southern China. The results showed that (1) the C content was EG > GG > MG. The N content was GG > EG > MG, while the P content was MG > GG > EG. C:N, C:P and N:P were shown as EG > GG > MG. The plant N:P was more than 20, indicating a P deficiency and limitation, especially in EG. (2) The content of C and P in soil was EG > GG > MG. The N content was GG > EG > MG. The soil C:N showed EG > MG > GG, while C:P and N:P were shown as MG > GG > EG. The soil N:P ratios were all less than 14, indicating that all of them had an obvious N limitation. (3) Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) was GG > MG > EG. Soil microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) was GG > EG > MG. Soil microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) showed EG > GG > MG. MBC:MBN was MG > EG > GG. MBC:MBP was MG > EG > GG. MBN:MBP was GG > MG > EG. The MBN:MBP in GG and MG was greater than 9.6, which is P-limited, while the MBN:MBP in EG is less than 8.9, which is N-limited. (4) Plant C and N were significantly correlated with soil C and N, but plant P was significantly negatively correlated with soil P, while MBP was significantly positively correlated with soil TP. Soil microorganisms had the tendency to assimilate available P in GG and MG treatments, but the potential of releasing P from mineralized soil organic matter was higher in EG treatment. The results showed that the chemical properties and stoichiometric characteristics of the plant–soil–microorganism were significantly changed by different grassland-use methods, which provided scientific guidance for the management of C, N and P elements and the further optimization of soil microbial environment for artificial grassland in the karst rocky desertification area.