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Effects of Spring Rest Grazing on Organic Carbon Storage in Leymus Chinensis Steppe in Inner Mongolia, China
  
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KeyWord:rest grazing; Leymus chinensis Steppe; organic carbon density; organic carbon storage; carbon sequestration benefits
Author NameAffiliation
LI Yu-jie Environmental Protection and Monitoring Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Tianjing 300191, China
College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China 
SONG Xiao-long Environmental Protection and Monitoring Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Tianjing 300191, China 
XIU Wei-ming Environmental Protection and Monitoring Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Tianjing 300191, China 
ZHANG Gui-long Environmental Protection and Monitoring Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Tianjing 300191, China 
LIU Hong-mei Environmental Protection and Monitoring Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Tianjing 300191, China 
ZHAO Jian-ning Environmental Protection and Monitoring Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Tianjing 300191, China 
YANG Dian-lin Environmental Protection and Monitoring Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Tianjing 300191, China
College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China 
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Abstract:
      Rest grazing is an important means to maintain the sustainability of grassland ecosystems. To evaluate the potential effects of rest grazing on organic carbon storage in the Leymus chinensis Steppe, organic carbon storage in plant and soil was compared in the steppes with different rest grazing durations(3 years—RG3a, 6 years—RG6a, and 9 years—RG9a) using long-period free choice grazing(RG0) as the control. Compared with long-period free choice grazing, biomass of aboveground, litter and underground parts of plants, and organic carbon storages in plant communities and soils increased with increased rest grazing durations. Total cost of carbon sequestration increased as years of rest grazing increased, with up to 8 710.20 Yuan(RMB)·hm-2, while the unit cost reduced. Considering the growth characteristics of grassland plants, the spring season should be free of grazing. Timely rest grazing could restore and renew grassland vegetation.