Photosynthesis, transpiration and water use efficiency of four plant species with grazing intensities in Hunshandak Sandland, China

In order to explore the response patterns of gas exchange to the increased grazing intensity and to test whether or not plants have compensatory growth under animal grazing disturbance, we have conducted this experiment in Hunshandak Sandland of Northern China. Changes in net photosynthetic rate (Pn...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of arid environments 2007-07, Vol.70 (2), p.304-315
Main Authors: Peng, Y., Jiang, G.M., Liu, X.H., Niu, S.L., Liu, M.Z., Biswas, D.K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acaulis
Agropyron cristatum
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Artemisia frigida
Biological and medical sciences
Cleistogenes squarrosa
compensatory growth
dry environmental conditions
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
gas exchange
grasslands
Grazing intensity
Hunshandak Sandland
photosynthesis
Photosynthetic rate
plant growth
Potentilla
Potentilla acaulis
Synecology
Terrestrial ecosystems
Transpiration
Water use efficiency
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Summary:In order to explore the response patterns of gas exchange to the increased grazing intensity and to test whether or not plants have compensatory growth under animal grazing disturbance, we have conducted this experiment in Hunshandak Sandland of Northern China. Changes in net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate ( E), and water use efficiency (WUE) of four plant species ( Cleistogenes squarrosa, Agropyron cristatum, Artemisia frigida, Potentilla acaulis) in four grazing intensities, non-, light-, moderate- and high-grazed plots were investigated. Pn of all four species increased from non-grazed plots to moderate-grazed plots then decreased under high-grazed conditions. However, P. acaulis increased its Pn from moderately grazed plots to high-grazed plots, suggesting a strong compensatory photosynthetic growth. Transpirations of the four species elevated considerably with the increase of grazing intensity. Except for Artemisia frigida, WUE of others increased significantly from non-grazed plots to moderately grazed plots then decreased in high-grazed plots. Our results indicate that, while a sharp decrease in leaf areas and aboveground biomass, photosynthetic growth and WUE were enhanced under moderate level of grazing. With a level of grazing increased, the plant functions were declined as a result. Therefore, grassland in Hunshandak Sandland fails to support the present stocking rate.
ISSN:0140-1963
1095-922X
DOI:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2007.01.002