Articles | Volume 7, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-55-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-55-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
15 Jan 2016
Research article |
| 15 Jan 2016
Grazing effects on soil characteristics and vegetation of grassland in northern China
Z. Wang
Beijing Key Laboratory of Grassland Science, Animal Science and
Technology College, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
D. A. Johnson
USDA-ARS Forage and Range Research Lab, Utah State University, Logan,
UT 84322-6300, USA
Y. Rong
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Beijing Key Laboratory of Grassland Science, Animal Science and
Technology College, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
K. Wang
Beijing Key Laboratory of Grassland Science, Animal Science and
Technology College, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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Solid Earth, 7, 639–650, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-639-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-639-2016, 2016
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M. Zhang, J. Wu, and Y. Tang
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Soil coarseness is the main process decreasing soil organic matter and threatening the productivity of sandy grasslands. Previous studies demonstrated negative effect of soil coarseness on soil carbon storage, but less is known about how soil base cations (exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, and Na) and available micronutrients (available Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn) response to soil coarseness. In a semi-arid grassland of northern China, a field experiment was initiated in 2011 to solve this problem.
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The main problem of acid sulfate soil is that it has a low soil pH and contains a high amount of aluminum (Al). There have been several approaches to improve this soil. In this study, the application of calcium silicate was found to be a suitable soil ameliorant as it alleviated Al toxicity below the critical level for rice production, as well as also providing a sufficient amount of silicon (Si) and calcium (Ca), which are also needed for rice growth.
P. Shoba and S. S. Ramakrishnan
Solid Earth, 7, 341–354, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-341-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-341-2016, 2016
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The paper systematically illustrates and identifies the causative factors of desertification processes through use of a geostatistical model. This paper also concentrates on studying and identifying the possible soil degradation processes which have been caused by prime factors. As such, this paper should be of interest to a broad readership including those interested in land degradation, environmental deterioration, desertification, remote sensing and geostatistical modeling.
T. K. Udeigwe, M. B. Eichmann, M. C. Menkiti, and N. Y. O. Kusi
Solid Earth, 7, 311–321, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-311-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-311-2016, 2016
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Fixation pattern and kinetics of chelated and non-chelated Cu compounds in semiarid soils were examined. 22% more Cu was fixed in the non-chelated system within the first 14 days (difference of only 7% by day 90). The slope of change in Cu in respect to other nutrients was higher in the non-chelated system. Fixation of Cu was better described by the power function and second-order models in the non-chelated and chelated systems, respectively. Findings are vital for improved nutrient management.
Guo Sheng Zhang and Jian Cha Li
Solid Earth, 7, 301–310, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-301-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-301-2016, 2016
D. Adamcová, M. D. Vaverková, S. Bartoň, Z. Havlíček, and E. Břoušková
Solid Earth, 7, 239–247, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-239-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-239-2016, 2016
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Phytotoxicity test was determined to assess ecotoxicity of landfill soil. Sinapis alba L. was used. Soil samples meet the limits for Co, Cd, Pb, and Zn specified in the legislation. An increase in plant biomass was observed in plants growing on soil samples, but no changes in appearance, slow growth, or necrotic lesions appeared. The tested soils reach high percentage values of germination capacity of seeds. Plant growth test can be good protocol to assess the phytotoxicity of landfill soil.
B.-Q. Zhu
Solid Earth, 7, 191–203, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-191-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-191-2016, 2016
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Salt archives in sediments are critical to understanding a number of geochemical processes in the earth surface conditions. This study presents a physical and geochemical survey into aeolian salts in the Chinese deserts to explore their possible climatic implications. The results suggest the aeolian salts are atmospheric origin without local geological limits. It is a latent indicator in onefold depositional environment but not so in diverse conditions. Palaeoenvironmental use should be careful.
I. S. Panagea, I. N. Daliakopoulos, I. K. Tsanis, and G. Schwilch
Solid Earth, 7, 177–190, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-177-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-177-2016, 2016
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The application of a participatory approach towards sustainable solutions against the soil salinisation threat in arid environments is described. Three sustainable land management (SLM) technologies are evaluated using the WOCAT framework. This work presents considerations for the adoption of SLM practices and insights into the stakeholder preferences for the selection of available and new amelioration methods, and it hints on how a participatory learning process can raise awareness.
H. C. Li, X. D. Gao, X. N. Zhao, P. T. Wu, L. S. Li, Q. Ling, and W. H. Sun
Solid Earth, 7, 167–175, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-167-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-167-2016, 2016
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We integrated fish-scale pits with mulching to test whether this integration could improve soil water conservation. The results showed that integrating fish-scale pits with mulching could conserve significantly more soil water by increasing infiltration and decreasing evaporation, and showed greater soil water storage and degree of soil water compensation compared to fish-scale pits alone. In addition, jujube branches exerted better mulching effects than maize straw.
E. Ejarque and E. Abakumov
Solid Earth, 7, 153–165, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-153-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-153-2016, 2016
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This study presents, for the first time, a characterisation of soil organic matter from the Gydan Peninsula in the Yamal Region, Western Siberia, Russia. We provide evidences that soils in this region accumulate lowly decomposed organic matter with a high mineralisation potential. This emphasises the vulnerability of this soil carbon pool to be remobilised as CO2 to the atmosphere under climate warming effects.
F. K. Tang, M. Cui, Q. Lu, Y. G. Liu, H. Y. Guo, and J. X. Zhou
Solid Earth, 7, 141–151, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-141-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-141-2016, 2016
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A study of vegetation restoration's effects on soil aggregate stability and SOC sequestration was carried out in a typical karst region (China). We found that revegetation promoted soil stability and accumulation of total SOC and SOC associated in water stable aggregates (WSA). WSA < 0.25 mm has the greatest contribution to total SOC. Fractal dimensions could objectively and comprehensively reflect soil stability. Promoting natural restoration is the ideal method to restore ecology in karst region.
S. Schlüter, F. Leuther, S. Vogler, and H.-J. Vogel
Solid Earth, 7, 129–140, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-129-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-129-2016, 2016
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A new protocol for digital volume correlation facilitates detailed insights into internal deformation of soil. Structure deformation during centrifugation is revealed by comparing X-ray CT images before and after centrifugation. Quantitative image analysis reveals that soil structure changes are driven by soil shrinkage due to drying and soil compaction due to compression.
J. Svajda, S. Korony, I. Brighton, S. Esser, and S. Ciapala
Solid Earth, 7, 115–128, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-115-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-115-2016, 2016
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Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States. 95 % of the park is managed as wilderness. This paper examines the impacts of trampling on the vegetation and soil along selected trails. Trail widening and soil loss are the most visible types of trail degradation. Insights into the influence of different factors (use level, topography) can lead to the selection of appropriate management measures to avoid or minimize negative consequences.
N. Yazdanpanah
Solid Earth, 7, 105–114, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-105-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-105-2016, 2016
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Following the application of organic amendment treatments, the increased organic carbon and total porosity values, as compared to the control treatment, were greater in the loamy sand soil than in the clay loam soil. Moreover, compared to the microbial respiration of control plots, the application of municipal solid waste resulted in higher levels of microbial respiration from the clay loam soil than from the loamy sand soil, whereas the reverse was found for alfalfa residue.
B. G. J. S. Sonneveld, M. A. Keyzer, and D. Ndiaye
Solid Earth, 7, 93–103, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-93-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-93-2016, 2016
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We found a plausible relationship between crop yield and a land degradation index based on expert judgements and affected area share.
A pseudo-experiment was designed that for sites with otherwise similar circumstances compares the yield of a site with and one without land degradation.
Our overall conclusion is that yield reduction is associated with higher levels of land degradation, irrespective of whether fertilizer is being applied or not.
A. Cruz-Ruíz, E. Cruz-Ruíz, R. Vaca, P. Del Aguila, and J. Lugo
Solid Earth, 7, 1–9, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-1-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-1-2016, 2016
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The main aim was to assess agriculture soils differing in elapsed time since pumice mining in Mexico. The study sites in 0, 4, 10 and 15 year old reclaimed soils were compared with an adjacent undisturbed site. A general trend of recovery towards the undisturbed condition with reclamation age was found after disturbance. The multivariate analysis applied indicates that the most appropriate indicators to diagnose the quality of the soils were total N, urease and available phosphorus.
J. Y. Zhang, M. H. Dai, L. C. Wang, C. F. Zeng, and W. C. Su
Solid Earth, 7, 83–91, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-83-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-83-2016, 2016
H. Biswas, A. Raizada, D. Mandal, S. Kumar, S. Srinivas, and P. K. Mishra
Solid Earth, 6, 1247–1257, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1247-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1247-2015, 2015
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The paper presents a simple and novel approach to prioritize districts (or subregions) of a state (or region) for implementing soil conservation measures through computation of weighted soil erosion risk (WSER), by deducting soil loss tolerance limit values from soil erosion rates. WSER values obtained for the districts of Telangana state, India, led us to identify Adilabad, Warangal, and Khammam as the districts calling for the urgent attention of policymakers for natural resource conservation.
L. Lin, Y. K. Li, X. L. Xu, F. W. Zhang, Y. G. Du, S. L. Liu, X. W. Guo, and G. M. Cao
Solid Earth, 6, 1237–1246, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1237-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1237-2015, 2015
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We investigated environmental factors and plant functional groups to quantity and identify factors during alpine grassland succession processes. The degree of degradation of alpine meadows may be delineated by development of mattic epipedon and PFG composition. Because relatively few environmental factors are investigated, this approach can save time and labor to formulate a conservation management plan for degraded alpine meadows.
İ. Gümüş and C. Şeker
Solid Earth, 6, 1231–1236, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1231-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1231-2015, 2015
X. Lu, Y. Yan, J. Sun, X. Zhang, Y. Chen, X. Wang, and G. Cheng
Solid Earth, 6, 1195–1205, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1195-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1195-2015, 2015
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Grazing exclusion has been widely adopted to restore degraded grasslands in Tibet. We investigated soil properties and nutrients by comparing free-grazing and grazing exclusion grasslands. The results showed that grazing exclusion had no impact on most soil properties and nutrients, and even caused a considerable decrease in soil TN and TP in the soil surface layer. Nevertheless, climate conditions during the growing season played an important role in controlling the soil quality status.
Z. Gong, K. Kawamura, N. Ishikawa, M. Goto, T. Wulan, D. Alateng, T. Yin, and Y. Ito
Solid Earth, 6, 1185–1194, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1185-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1185-2015, 2015
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This study evaluated trends in vegetation cover and phenology dynamics in the Inner Mongolia grassland by applying a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time series obtained by the Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) during 2002–2014. The positive trends of the cumulative annual NDVI (77.10%) could be interpreted as an increase in plant productivity in the Inner Mongolia permanent grassland. And the growing season has lengthened by 10.86 days.
C. Y. Niu, A. Musa, and Y. Liu
Solid Earth, 6, 1157–1167, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1157-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1157-2015, 2015
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The higher soil moisture content among different land uses was exhibited by the grassland, and followed by cropland, poplar land, inter-dunes and shrub land. The temporal variations of soil moisture in different land uses were not always consistent with the rainfall due to the dry sequence. The infiltration depth exhibited a positive correlation with precipitation under all land uses. This study provided an insight into the implications for land and agricultural water management in this area.
K. Wasak and M. Drewnik
Solid Earth, 6, 1103–1115, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1103-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1103-2015, 2015
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The paper shows soil organic carbon sequestration (SOC) rates in calcareous shallow soils in reforested areas in the Tatra Mts., with a particular focus on the different forms of organic matter (OM) storage. Fifty years after the conversion of pastureland to grassland, the emergence of dwarf pine shrub, larch forest, the development of genetic soil horizons as well as SOC sequestration and the occurrence of OM forms in soil, are related to plant community.
D. Tsozué, J. P. Nghonda, and D. L. Mekem
Solid Earth, 6, 1087–1101, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1087-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1087-2015, 2015
P. Musinguzi, P. Ebanyat, J. S. Tenywa, T. A. Basamba, M. M. Tenywa, and D. Mubiru
Solid Earth, 6, 1063–1073, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1063-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1063-2015, 2015
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This study showed that resource-poor smallholder farmers can ably rate fields for soil fertility as poor or good but had difficulties in identifying medium-fertility fields. Rating with SOC improved precision to rate medium-fertility fields. SOC and clay content explained the highest yield variances in heterogeneous smallholder farms. A combination of SOC and farmers' field experiences can be affordable approaches to guide fertility management and fertilizer application.
A. Erol, Ö. Koşkan, and M. A. Başaran
Solid Earth, 6, 1025–1035, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1025-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1025-2015, 2015
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In addition to physical factors, socioeconomic factors have crucial effects on soil erosion, although the joint study of physical and socioeconomic factors has been limited to date. To address this, the present study aimed to determine the effect of socioeconomic factors on soil loss and, in turn, to modify the universal soil loss equation (USLE).
J. Wang, A. Ge, Y. Hu, C. Li, and L. Wang
Solid Earth, 6, 997–1006, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-997-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-997-2015, 2015
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A fuzzy intelligent system based on a fuzzy decision tree was established for land potential evaluation. We proposed one new model for feature selection based on the fuzzy measure using the L1-norm method, which can help to construct an index system for intelligent evaluation. The data comes from the “Three Old” project of Shunde, China. It is huge and heterogeneous and is therefore used first for research. The fuzzy intelligent system shows good performance for land potential evaluation.
Q. Dai, Z. Liu, H. Shao, and Z. Yang
Solid Earth, 6, 985–995, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-985-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-985-2015, 2015
M. Yazdani, S. M. Monavari, G. A. Omrani, M. Shariat, and S. M. Hosseini
Solid Earth, 6, 945–956, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-945-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-945-2015, 2015
C. Cassinari, P. Manfredi, L. Giupponi, M. Trevisan, and C. Piccini
Solid Earth, 6, 929–943, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-929-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-929-2015, 2015
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The amount of water available to plants in a closed landfill soil is analyzed by laboratory analyses, by using pedotransfer functions (PTFs) and by studying plant coverage. The laboratory analyses and PTFs highlighted the soil's inability to hold water. The closed landfill plant coverage consists of annual species (therophytes) typical of disturbed environments. The soil's low-water content, together with other degraded soil characters, justifies the plant coverage.
Y. Mohawesh, A. Taimeh, and F. Ziadat
Solid Earth, 6, 857–868, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-857-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-857-2015, 2015
R. E. Masto, S. Sheik, G. Nehru, V. A. Selvi, J. George, and L. C. Ram
Solid Earth, 6, 811–821, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-811-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-811-2015, 2015
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Impact of coal mining on soil was assessed through an integrated environmental soil quality index (ESQI). Biological activity was higher in underground mine (UGM) soil. As, Be, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Pb were higher in opencast mine (OCM) soil, whereas Cd was higher in UGM. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were higher in UGM soil. Calculated ESQI, based on total PAHs, loss on ignition, bulk density, Be, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb, and microbial quotient, was higher for UGM (+10.1%) than OCM soils.
J. Ni, D. H. Luo, J. Xia, Z. H. Zhang, and G. Hu
Solid Earth, 6, 799–810, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-799-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-799-2015, 2015
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The root biomass study of karst (limestone and dolomite) vegetation in southwestern China and even in the word’s karst regions is rarely investigated. The mixed evergreen and deciduous broadleaved forest in karst terrain of SW China has higher root biomass, but very high ratio of root to aboveground biomass compared to non-karst subtropical evergreen broadleaved forests. Such findings have significant ecological meanings for vegetation restoration and carbon increment.
S. Vingiani, G. Mele, R. De Mascellis, F. Terribile, and A. Basile
Solid Earth, 6, 783–797, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-783-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-783-2015, 2015
Short summary
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An integrated soil study was carried out on landslides which have occurred on the steep northern slopes of Mt. Vezzi on the island of Ischia (Italy). The studied soils showed a substantial abrupt discontinuity in all the studied properties along a buried fine ash layer (namely, the 2C horizon). Nevertheless, only the identification of a layer of thin, finely stratified ash on the top of 2C, by optical microscopy, enabled us to assume this interface to be an impeding layer for water fluxes.
T. Erkossa, A. Wudneh, B. Desalegn, and G. Taye
Solid Earth, 6, 765–774, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-765-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-765-2015, 2015
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The paper reviews global and regional literature related to soil erosion and crop productivity. It argues that the cost of not replacing the nutrient lost due to erosion is more meaningful in areas where farmers do not apply the recommended rate of fertilizers. Thus, it established a functional relationship between the nutrients and yield of major crops based on data from three watersheds in the Nile basin and estimated the annual financial loss based on the local market price of the crops.
B. Turgut
Solid Earth, 6, 719–725, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-719-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-719-2015, 2015
K. E. Seutloali and H. R. Beckedahl
Solid Earth, 6, 633–641, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-633-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-633-2015, 2015
M. Wiesmeier, M. Lungu, R. Hübner, and V. Cerbari
Solid Earth, 6, 609–620, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-609-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-609-2015, 2015
Y. Yu, W. Wei, L. D. Chen, F. Y. Jia, L. Yang, H. D. Zhang, and T. J. Feng
Solid Earth, 6, 595–608, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-595-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-595-2015, 2015
E. L. Poelking, C. E. R. Schaefer, E. I. Fernandes Filho, A. M. de Andrade, and A. A. Spielmann
Solid Earth, 6, 583–594, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-583-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-583-2015, 2015
L. W. Xie, J. Zhong, F. F. Chen, F. X. Cao, J. J. Li, and L. C. Wu
Solid Earth, 6, 515–524, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-515-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-515-2015, 2015
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Short summary
Grazing increased diversity, but heavy grazing decreased aboveground biomass and increased the non-grass component. Overgrazing homogenized soil characteristics at a 10m scale. Therefore, moderate grazing was recommended as the preferred management alternative for grasslands in northern China because of increased plant diversity without negative consequences related to decreased forage quality forage quantity and soil heterogeneity in northern China's grasslands.
Grazing increased diversity, but heavy grazing decreased aboveground biomass and increased the...
