ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effect of Grazing and Mowing on Soil
Physiochemical Properties in a Semi-Arid
Grassland of Northeast China
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1
Center for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, Yunnan Engineering Research Center
of Fruit Wine, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China
2
Institute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education,
Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, 130024, China
3
Joint Center for Single Cell Biology, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center of Agri-Seeds,
School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
4
School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security,
Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
5
Centre for Plant Science and Biodiversity, University of Swat, Charbagh, 19120 Pakistan
6
School of Life Sciences & Center of Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
7
Center of Research, Faculty of Engineering, Future University in Egypt, New Cairo, Egypt
8
Geology and Geophysics Department, College of Science, King Saud University,
PO Box 2455, Riyadh,11451, Saudi Arabia
9
Department of Agronomy, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 23200, Pakistan
Submission date: 2023-08-31
Final revision date: 2023-09-26
Acceptance date: 2023-10-02
Online publication date: 2023-12-28
Publication date: 2024-02-09
Corresponding author
Babar Iqbal
Environment, Invasive ecology
Agronomy, School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, P.R. China., Zhenjiang, China
Dong-Qin Dai
Center for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, Yunnan Engineering Research Center
Shah Fahad
Department of Agronomy, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 23200, Pakistan
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2024;33(2):1725-1735
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ABSTRACT
The proper maintenance of soil physiochemical properties in grassland ecosystems through
independent management practices like grazing and mowing have strongly influenced the soil quality
and grassland yield. Less known is, to declare the best-fit management strategy for the grassland
ecosystem. The present study was performed to search for the best-fit management system for the
grassland ecosystem in northern China by evaluating the consequences of grazing and mowing on
soil physiochemical properties like soil moisture, bulk density, electrical conductivity, pH, and total
concentrations of C, N, and P. We found that compared to mowing, grazing significantly increased soil
moisture, bulk density, and N concentration by 12%, 7%, and 14%, respectively. However, no significant
effect of grazing was observed on soil C and P concentrations and C: N, C: P, and N: P ratios. However,
grazing was found to strongly affect soil physiochemical properties; in contrast, mowing did not alter the soil C, N, and P concentrations and their stoichiometric ratios. Further, physical properties
were altered more significantly than the soil chemical properties. This study suggests that, compared
to mowing, cattle grazing has more positive impacts on soil physicochemical properties which will be
the best-fit management strategy for the grassland ecosystem in northeastern China. A comprehensive
investigation of long-term grazing and mowing on soil physicochemical properties may enable us
to predict further better understandings.