Grassland precision sub-stage rest method

Abstract

The application discloses a prairie precision grading rest-grazing method and belongs to the technical field of prairie grazing management. The prairie precision grading rest-grazing method comprises the following steps: S1, determining the green-up period and edible period of dominant species and non-dominant species of the prairie; S2, determining the rest-grazing period for protecting the dominant species; S3, determining the rest-grazing period for protecting the non-dominant species; and S4, determining the annual grazing period. The dominant species are plants with the highest relative biomass, and the non-dominant species are other plants except the dominant species. Compared with the previous one-size-fits-all rest-grazing method, the prairie precision grading rest-grazing method can better protect plant diversity, reduces the total rest-grazing time, reduces the economic cost input of herdsmen, improves economic benefits, and helps to truly realize the win-win of prairie production and ecology.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of grassland grazing management technology, and in particular relates to a method for precise tiered grazing rest on grasslands. Background Technology

[0002] Grasslands serve as vital ecological barriers and livestock bases, fulfilling both production and ecological functions. Livestock grazing is a core characteristic of the grassland-livestock interface, directly impacting both grassland ecological functions and livestock productivity. However, due to traditional extensive grazing management and utilization, grasslands face an increasingly prominent "grass-livestock conflict," leading to grassland degradation and a decline in grassland ecosystem services. Therefore, some areas have adopted fencing and grazing bans to protect grassland ecological functions. However, grasslands are ecosystems heavily reliant on disturbance from large herbivores; grasslands lacking such disturbance for extended periods also face the threat of ecological function decline. Therefore, even from the perspective of ecological function protection, grasslands must undergo scientific grazing management to maintain the natural grassland ecosystem services and sustainable production functions.

[0003] Compared with long-term grazing and long-term enclosure and grazing ban, grazing rest, that is, short-term prohibition of grazing utilization, is generally considered to be conducive to maintaining the normal growth and development of plants by implementing the management method of prohibiting grazing utilization of grassland during the vulnerable period of plant growth. The function of grassland ecosystem services strongly depends on the maintenance of plant diversity. Different grassland plants have asynchronous characteristics in greening and growth. However, most pastoral areas at present only focus on the overall community and adopt a one-size-fits-all continuous grazing rest method at the beginning of the growing season, which leads to a decrease in plant diversity and a decline in grassland production potential. The current one-size-fits-all continuous grazing rest method mainly has the following problems: (1) The dominant species of grassland are generally perennial grasses, which have an early greening period. The greening period of other species is relatively delayed. In some areas, the continuous grazing rest period is set too short, which leads to the non-dominant species that have greened up later being eaten by livestock in large quantities when they are young, thus reducing grassland plant diversity; (2) Some areas adopt a long grazing rest period. Grazing begins after the dominant and non-dominant species in the community have all greened up. At this time, the dominance of the dominant species is too high, which is not conducive to the survival of other plants and will still lead to a decrease in plant diversity. (3) Excessive grazing rest periods can lead to a decrease in the nutrient content of dominant species, reducing livestock nutrient intake. It can also increase selective grazing by livestock on non-dominant species, which is detrimental to maintaining plant diversity. (4) Due to the excessively long grazing rest periods, grassland quality declines, leading to reduced economic benefits for herders and rampant illegal grazing. This results in grasslands not getting a proper rest, further exacerbating the conflict between livestock and grassland. Under these circumstances, a more precise grassland grazing rest method that considers the asynchronous growth characteristics of different species is urgently needed to improve biodiversity conservation and grassland quality. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the problems of reduced plant diversity, decreased forage quality, and exacerbated livestock conflicts caused by the current one-size-fits-all grazing ban method that only considers the overall level of plant communities and implements continuous grazing bans during the growing season. This invention provides a method for flexibly setting grazing ban periods based on the different growth patterns and asynchronous characteristics of grassland plants. Specifically, it is a precise, phased grazing ban method that targets the protection of different plant groups. This reduces the total grazing ban time while better protecting grassland biodiversity, increasing herders' income, and achieving a win-win situation for grassland production and ecology.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] A method for precise tiered grazing rest on grasslands includes the following specific steps:

[0007] S1: Determine the greening period and edible period of dominant and non-dominant grassland species;

[0008] S2: Determine the grazing rest period for the protection of the dominant species (the species with the highest relative biomass);

[0009] S3: Determine the grazing rest period for the protection of non-dominant species (species other than dominant species);

[0010] S4: Determine the grazing period for the whole year.

[0011] Preferably, the specific steps of S1 are as follows:

[0012] S11: Determine the greening period of different plants.

[0013] Preferably, the specific steps of S11 are as follows:

[0014] S111: Determine the greening-up period of dominant grassland species. Dominant grassland species are generally perennial grasses, which, due to their superior utilization of soil resources, usually green up first in spring, that is, they turn from yellow to green and resume growth. Determine the specific time when more than 50% of the dominant species have greened up and broken through the surface litter layer. Generally, this is around early April each year. The specific time can be determined according to the grassland conditions and climate characteristics of each region.

[0015] S112: Determine the greening-up period of non-dominant species. Non-dominant species generally begin to green up after dominant species. Determine the specific time when more than 50% of non-dominant species have greened up and their growth has broken through the surface litter layer. Generally, this is around mid-May each year. The specific time can be determined by local conditions based on grassland conditions and climate characteristics.

[0016] S12: Determine the edible period of different plants.

[0017] Preferably, the specific steps of S12 are as follows:

[0018] S121: Determine the period when the dominant grassland species can be foraged. Generally, when perennial grasses begin to sprout and grow, livestock can compensate for their growth after grazing. At this time, appropriate grazing of livestock has little impact on their productivity. This period is generally around early May each year. The specific time can be determined by local conditions and climate characteristics.

[0019] S122: Determine the period when non-dominant grassland species can be foraged. Generally, when perennial miscellaneous grasses develop axillary buds or lateral branches, livestock can compensate for their growth after grazing. At this time, appropriate livestock grazing has little impact on their productivity. This period is generally around mid-June each year. Localities can determine the specific time based on grassland conditions and climate characteristics.

[0020] Preferably, the specific steps of S2 are as follows: determine the grazing rest period with the main purpose of protecting the dominant species, which is generally between the greening period and the edible period of the dominant species. Ensure that the biomass of the dominant species is large enough before starting to utilize it, so as to maximize the utilization of the dominant species. The specific time should be adjusted every year according to the changes in the phenological period of plant growth caused by climatic factors such as temperature and precipitation.

[0021] Preferably, the specific steps of S3 are as follows: determine the grazing rest period with the main purpose of protecting non-dominant species, which is generally between the greening period and the edible period of non-dominant species. Ensure that the biomass of non-dominant species is large enough before starting to use the grassland to maintain grassland plant diversity. The specific time should be adjusted annually according to the changes in plant growth phenology caused by climatic factors such as temperature and precipitation.

[0022] Preferably, the specific steps of S4 are as follows: the remaining period of each year, excluding the grazing rest period mainly for the purpose of protecting dominant species and the grazing rest period mainly for the purpose of protecting non-dominant species, is the annual grazing period. The specific time should be adjusted annually according to the changes in plant growth phenology caused by climatic factors such as temperature and precipitation.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0024] (1) Due to the asynchronous nature of species growth, the previous grazing management measures based on the greening period of species in the whole community could lead to excessive dominance of dominant species or overgrazing of non-dominant species by livestock, which is not conducive to the maintenance of grassland plant diversity. This invention makes full use of the asynchronous growth characteristics of dominant and non-dominant species and formulates precise grazing periods for the protection of dominant and non-dominant species respectively, which can more effectively achieve grass-livestock coupling and maintain grassland plant diversity.

[0025] (2) By setting a grazing period between the rest period for dominant species and the rest period for non-dominant species, this invention can improve the feed intake of livestock during the period when the dominant species is more palatable, which is conducive to the improvement of livestock productivity. At the same time, it can avoid the reduction of the nutritional quality of dominant species during the grazing period caused by the one-size-fits-all grazing ban method of the existing technology, and can increase the amount of feed that livestock take from dominant species, thereby improving the efficiency of livestock in utilizing pasture resources.

[0026] (3) By precisely setting the rest periods for dominant and non-dominant species, this invention reduces the total rest period compared to the past. While protecting biodiversity and improving grassland quality, it also reduces the economic costs for herders, improves economic efficiency, alleviates the phenomenon of herders illegally grazing, and helps to truly achieve a win-win situation for grassland production and ecology. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the precise grassland tiered grazing rest method in Example 1.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a comparison chart of the effects of free grazing, tiered grazing, and traditional continuous grazing on grassland plant diversity in Example 1. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Example 1

[0030] A method for phased grazing rest in the Inner Mongolian short-flowered needlegrass desert steppe (106°41′–108°54′ E, 38°18′–40°11′ N), refer to Table 1 and Figure 1 This includes the following steps:

[0031] Step 1: Determine the greening period and edible period of different plants. Specifically: First, determine the asynchronous nature of the greening period of dominant and non-dominant species. The dominant species of Stipa breviflora in desert steppes generally begins to green up around April each year, and starts to shoot and elongate from around May, at which point it can be eaten by livestock. Non-dominant species generally begin to green up in large areas in mid-May and reach the edible stage in mid-June.

[0032] Step 2: Determine the grazing rest period for the protection of dominant species. Specifically, the grazing rest period for the purpose of protecting dominant species is set from the beginning of the dominant species' greening up until they can be harvested, that is, from early April to early May each year.

[0033] Step 3: The grazing rest period for the protection of non-dominant species is set from the beginning of the non-dominant species' greening up until they can be eaten, that is, from mid-May to mid-June.

[0034] Step 4: Determine the grazing period for the whole year. Specifically, the grazing period for the whole year is the period excluding the grazing rest period for the purpose of protecting dominant species (April each year) and the grazing rest period for the purpose of protecting non-dominant species (mid-May to mid-June). That is, the grazing period for the whole year is from January to March, from early May to mid-May, and from mid-June to December. The specific time should be adjusted every year according to the changes in the phenological period of plant growth caused by climatic factors such as temperature and precipitation.

[0035] Table 1. Grassland Classification and Rest Methods

[0036]

[0037] Figure 2 This study investigated changes in grassland plant diversity under different grazing practices at the end of the growing season in August 2024. The number of livestock grazing was the same for free-range grazing, staggered grazing, and continuous grazing. Free-range grazing was defined as year-round free-range grazing, continuous grazing as continuous grazing during the greening-up period (April to mid-June), and staggered grazing as intermittent grazing during the greening-up period (early April to early May and mid-May to mid-June), with free-range grazing for the remaining time. Letters (a, b) represent significant differences between treatments (P ≤ 0.05). Compared to free-range grazing (0.655) and the currently used continuous grazing during the growing season (0.678), staggered grazing (0.692) significantly improved grassland plant diversity.

[0038] As the data above demonstrates, the tiered grazing rest method can improve grassland biodiversity while reducing the overall rest period, offering significant advantages over the traditional continuous growing season grazing rest method currently used locally. This invention is of great importance for the management of large-scale, long-term grazing grasslands in my country.

[0039] The embodiments described above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention should fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for precise tiered grazing rest on grasslands, characterized in that, The precise tiered grazing rest method for grasslands includes the following steps: S1: Determine the greening period and edible period of dominant and non-dominant grassland species; S2: Determine the grazing rest period for the protection of dominant species; S3: Determine the grazing rest period for the protection of non-dominant species; S4: Determine the grazing season for the whole year; The dominant species are the plants with the highest relative biomass. The non-dominant species are plants other than the dominant species; Step S1 includes: determining the greening period of dominant and non-dominant species, i.e., the specific time when more than 50% of them have greened up and their growth has broken through the surface litter layer; determining the edible period of dominant and non-dominant species, i.e., the specific time when perennial grasses begin to shoot and elongate is the edible period of dominant species, and the specific time when axillary buds or lateral branches of perennial miscellaneous grasses occur is the edible period of non-dominant species. Step S2 is: setting a grazing rest period between the greening period and the edible period of the dominant species for the protection of the dominant species; Step S3 is: setting a rest period for the protection of non-dominant species between the greening period and the edible period; Step S4 is: the remaining time, excluding the rest periods for dominant and non-dominant species, is set as the year-round grazing period.

2. The method for precise tiered grazing rest on grasslands according to claim 1, characterized in that, The grassland in question is a desert steppe.

3. The method for precise tiered grazing rest on grasslands according to claim 1, characterized in that, The grazing rest period for the protection of dominant species is from early April to early May.

4. The method for precise tiered grazing rest on grasslands according to claim 3, characterized in that, The grazing rest period for the protection of non-dominant species is from mid-May to mid-June.

5. The method for precise tiered grazing rest on grasslands according to claim 4, characterized in that, The dominant species is *Stipa brevicornu*.

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