Soil porosity as a key factor of soil aggregate stability: insights from restricted grazing
Overgrazing leads to steppe degradation and soil structure deterioration, which is common in desert steppes. Restricted grazing is a sustainable practice, but the mechanisms by which soil structure responds to restricted grazing have received little attention. This study examined the effects of two...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1535193/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832589632646152192 |
|---|---|
| author | Yi Yang Yi Yang Yi Yang Zhongju Meng Zhongju Meng Zhongju Meng Haonian Li Haonian Li Haonian Li Yue Gao Yue Gao Yue Gao Tianyang Li Tianyang Li Tianyang Li Lei Qin |
| author_facet | Yi Yang Yi Yang Yi Yang Zhongju Meng Zhongju Meng Zhongju Meng Haonian Li Haonian Li Haonian Li Yue Gao Yue Gao Yue Gao Tianyang Li Tianyang Li Tianyang Li Lei Qin |
| author_sort | Yi Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Overgrazing leads to steppe degradation and soil structure deterioration, which is common in desert steppes. Restricted grazing is a sustainable practice, but the mechanisms by which soil structure responds to restricted grazing have received little attention. This study examined the effects of two different grazing management strategies, namely, restricted grazing and free grazing (CK), on soil structure indicators in the desert steppe. The restricted grazing further included grazing exclusion (GE) and seasonal grazing (SG). Additionally, a preliminary exploration was conducted to identify the main factors affecting the soil aggregate stability. Our results demonstrated that GE significantly increased clay (<0.002 mm) and silt (0.002–0.02 mm) in the 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm layers by an average of 71.27% and 70.64%, respectively. Additionally, SG significantly increased clay (<0.002 mm), silt (0.002–0.02 mm), and macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) in the 0–10 cm layer. GE significantly increased soil organic carbon in the 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm layers by 7.02 g/kg and 7.45 g/kg, respectively. In addition, SG had no significant effect on soil organic carbon. The findings obtained from the computations using the boosted regression tree (BRT) demonstrated that, within the study period, soil porosity significantly affects soil aggregate stability compared to other factors. Moreover, it possessed an average explanatory power that surpassed 45%. Overall, the soil structure is better under GE than under SG, and GE is the key to improving the soil structure of desert steppe. The research will contribute to a more profound comprehension of the impact of grazing on soil structure. Therefore, it is recommended that grazing closures be prioritized in desert grasslands to promote coordination between grassland restoration and livestock development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6a523bd51cf9482292a62f4cbd22aa8d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-665X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-6a523bd51cf9482292a62f4cbd22aa8d2025-01-24T10:32:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2025-01-011210.3389/fenvs.2024.15351931535193Soil porosity as a key factor of soil aggregate stability: insights from restricted grazingYi Yang0Yi Yang1Yi Yang2Zhongju Meng3Zhongju Meng4Zhongju Meng5Haonian Li6Haonian Li7Haonian Li8Yue Gao9Yue Gao10Yue Gao11Tianyang Li12Tianyang Li13Tianyang Li14Lei Qin15College of Desert Control Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, ChinaKey Laboratory of Aeolian Physics and Desertification Control Engineering from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, ChinaKey Laboratory of Desert Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration, State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, ChinaCollege of Desert Control Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, ChinaKey Laboratory of Aeolian Physics and Desertification Control Engineering from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, ChinaKey Laboratory of Desert Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration, State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, ChinaCollege of Desert Control Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, ChinaKey Laboratory of Aeolian Physics and Desertification Control Engineering from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, ChinaKey Laboratory of Desert Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration, State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, ChinaCollege of Desert Control Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, ChinaKey Laboratory of Aeolian Physics and Desertification Control Engineering from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, ChinaKey Laboratory of Desert Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration, State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, ChinaCollege of Desert Control Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, ChinaKey Laboratory of Aeolian Physics and Desertification Control Engineering from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, ChinaKey Laboratory of Desert Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration, State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, ChinaInner Mongolia Water Conservancy Development Center, Hohhot, ChinaOvergrazing leads to steppe degradation and soil structure deterioration, which is common in desert steppes. Restricted grazing is a sustainable practice, but the mechanisms by which soil structure responds to restricted grazing have received little attention. This study examined the effects of two different grazing management strategies, namely, restricted grazing and free grazing (CK), on soil structure indicators in the desert steppe. The restricted grazing further included grazing exclusion (GE) and seasonal grazing (SG). Additionally, a preliminary exploration was conducted to identify the main factors affecting the soil aggregate stability. Our results demonstrated that GE significantly increased clay (<0.002 mm) and silt (0.002–0.02 mm) in the 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm layers by an average of 71.27% and 70.64%, respectively. Additionally, SG significantly increased clay (<0.002 mm), silt (0.002–0.02 mm), and macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) in the 0–10 cm layer. GE significantly increased soil organic carbon in the 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm layers by 7.02 g/kg and 7.45 g/kg, respectively. In addition, SG had no significant effect on soil organic carbon. The findings obtained from the computations using the boosted regression tree (BRT) demonstrated that, within the study period, soil porosity significantly affects soil aggregate stability compared to other factors. Moreover, it possessed an average explanatory power that surpassed 45%. Overall, the soil structure is better under GE than under SG, and GE is the key to improving the soil structure of desert steppe. The research will contribute to a more profound comprehension of the impact of grazing on soil structure. Therefore, it is recommended that grazing closures be prioritized in desert grasslands to promote coordination between grassland restoration and livestock development.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1535193/fullsoil aggregate stabilitydesert steppesoil organic carbongrazing exclusionsoil porosity |
| spellingShingle | Yi Yang Yi Yang Yi Yang Zhongju Meng Zhongju Meng Zhongju Meng Haonian Li Haonian Li Haonian Li Yue Gao Yue Gao Yue Gao Tianyang Li Tianyang Li Tianyang Li Lei Qin Soil porosity as a key factor of soil aggregate stability: insights from restricted grazing Frontiers in Environmental Science soil aggregate stability desert steppe soil organic carbon grazing exclusion soil porosity |
| title | Soil porosity as a key factor of soil aggregate stability: insights from restricted grazing |
| title_full | Soil porosity as a key factor of soil aggregate stability: insights from restricted grazing |
| title_fullStr | Soil porosity as a key factor of soil aggregate stability: insights from restricted grazing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Soil porosity as a key factor of soil aggregate stability: insights from restricted grazing |
| title_short | Soil porosity as a key factor of soil aggregate stability: insights from restricted grazing |
| title_sort | soil porosity as a key factor of soil aggregate stability insights from restricted grazing |
| topic | soil aggregate stability desert steppe soil organic carbon grazing exclusion soil porosity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1535193/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yiyang soilporosityasakeyfactorofsoilaggregatestabilityinsightsfromrestrictedgrazing AT yiyang soilporosityasakeyfactorofsoilaggregatestabilityinsightsfromrestrictedgrazing AT yiyang soilporosityasakeyfactorofsoilaggregatestabilityinsightsfromrestrictedgrazing AT zhongjumeng soilporosityasakeyfactorofsoilaggregatestabilityinsightsfromrestrictedgrazing AT zhongjumeng soilporosityasakeyfactorofsoilaggregatestabilityinsightsfromrestrictedgrazing AT zhongjumeng soilporosityasakeyfactorofsoilaggregatestabilityinsightsfromrestrictedgrazing AT haonianli soilporosityasakeyfactorofsoilaggregatestabilityinsightsfromrestrictedgrazing AT haonianli soilporosityasakeyfactorofsoilaggregatestabilityinsightsfromrestrictedgrazing AT haonianli soilporosityasakeyfactorofsoilaggregatestabilityinsightsfromrestrictedgrazing AT yuegao soilporosityasakeyfactorofsoilaggregatestabilityinsightsfromrestrictedgrazing AT yuegao soilporosityasakeyfactorofsoilaggregatestabilityinsightsfromrestrictedgrazing AT yuegao soilporosityasakeyfactorofsoilaggregatestabilityinsightsfromrestrictedgrazing AT tianyangli soilporosityasakeyfactorofsoilaggregatestabilityinsightsfromrestrictedgrazing AT tianyangli soilporosityasakeyfactorofsoilaggregatestabilityinsightsfromrestrictedgrazing AT tianyangli soilporosityasakeyfactorofsoilaggregatestabilityinsightsfromrestrictedgrazing AT leiqin soilporosityasakeyfactorofsoilaggregatestabilityinsightsfromrestrictedgrazing |