Response of Plant Fungal Diseases to Beef Cattle Grazing Intensity in Hulunber Grassland

Author:

Zhang Yawen1ORCID,Nan Zhibiao1,Xin Xiaoping2

Affiliation:

1. State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems; Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; College of Pastoral Agricultural Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, P.R. China

2. National Hulunber Grassland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing 10081, P.R. China

Abstract

The effects of grazing by large herbivores on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning have been extensively studied, whereas how grazing influence plant diseases, especially in natural grasslands, remains poorly understood. Therefore, we undertook a field study regarding a grazing trial in a temperate meadow steppe grassland to investigate mechanisms underlying grazing-host-pathogen interactions. The effects of cattle grazing at different grazing intensities of 0, 0.23, 0.34, 0.46, 0.69, and 0.92 AU/ha (where 1 AU= 500 kg of adult cattle) on the microenvironment, vegetation characteristics, and occurrence of diseases were evaluated. At the population level, the effects of grazing on grassland vegetation characteristics and disease varied with grassland plant species. Compared with nongrazing, grazing directly decreased the average density, coverage, and disease incidence of palatable and edible forages by 51.4, 62.4, and 82.4% in the 0.92 AU/ha treatment but increased the occurrence and prevalence of disease in remaining small herbs by 752.1%. At the community level, with the increase of grazing intensity, the pathogen load of the whole community in grassland was positively related to host coverage. In addition, there was a trend toward increased microtemperature and decreased microhumidity with increased grazing. Although occurrence of plant diseases in natural grasslands is influenced by a range of factors, comprehensive analysis highlighted the major role that cattle grazing intensity plays in the occurrence of plant diseases in natural grasslands. In addition to its direct effect, grazing also indirectly affects disease occurrence by shifting plant community structure and the microenvironment. However, direct effects of grazing intensity affected disease occurrence more than indirect effects.

Funder

National Public Welfare Industry of Agricultural Science and Technology Special Projects

Publisher

Scientific Societies

Subject

Plant Science,Agronomy and Crop Science

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3