title: Soil characteristic comparison of fenced and grazed riparian floodplain wetlands in the typical steppe region of the Inner Mongolian Plateau, China.
abstract: In recent decades, degradation of ecosystem in the steppe region of the Inner Mongolia Plateau, especially in riparian floodplain wetlands, has become a significant ecological crisis. Not uncommonly, with the increasing of livestock in the Inner Mongolian steppe region, a riparian floodplain wetland is becoming a hotspot area of grazing for local herdsmen. Hence, it is essential to understand degradation mechanisms of riparian floodplain wetland ecosystems caused by extensive grazing. In this study, the spatial distribution of soil compaction, salinity, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, organic carbon, and microbial biomass C and N were investigated. The results showed that grazing led to an increase in soil compaction and soil surface salinity, which significantly lowered levels of total N, P, and TOC in the soil surface. Grazing decreased soil microbial biomass C and N concentration in the lower riparian floodplain wetland, whereas it significantly increased soil microbial biomass C and N concentration in the higher riparian floodplain wetland. Elevation differences in the riparian floodplain wetland increased spatial heterogeneity in the soil and thus resulted in different influence of grazing on wetland soils and ecosystem. Therefore, elevation differences and grazing intensity were the main factors controlling soil characteristics in the riparian floodplain wetland of this region.
authors: College of Environment and Resources, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China.
authors: Lixin
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China.
authors: Huamin
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: College of Environment and Resources, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China ; Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China.
authors: Yuhong
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: College of Environment and Resources, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China ; BERIS Engineering and Research Corporation, Baotou 014010, China.
authors: Jianwei
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China.
authors: Hongbo
authors: H
authors: Shao
authors: College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Wang
authors: College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China.
authors: Cunzhu
authors: C
authors: Liang
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002681:China; D017753:Ecosystem; D065948:Grassland; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen