中国农业科学 ›› 2026, Vol. 59 ›› Issue (15): 3440-3451.doi: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.15.015

• 畜牧·兽医 • 上一篇    下一篇

不同放牧强度对内蒙古草甸草原群落根系功能性状的影响

孔梦桥1,2(), 李辉2,3, 李子好2,3, 平晓燕1, 姜翠霞2,3, 郭昊南2,3, 杨怡静2,4, 辛晓平2()   

  1. 1 北京林业大学草业与草原学院, 北京 100083
    2 北方干旱半干旱耕地高效利用全国重点实验室/呼伦贝尔草原生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站/中国农业科学院农业资源与农业区划研究所, 北京 100081
    3 兰州大学生态学院, 兰州 734000
    4 西北农林科技大学草业与草原学院, 陕西杨凌 712100
  • 收稿日期:2025-04-02 接受日期:2026-06-04 出版日期:2026-08-01 发布日期:2026-08-03
  • 通信作者:
    辛晓平,E-mail:
  • 联系方式: 孔梦桥,E-mail:3432959155@qq.com。
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金重点项目(32130070); 林草联合基金(U2571209)

Effects of Grazing Intensities on Root Functional Traits in Plant Communities of Inner Mongolia Meadow Steppe

KONG MengQiao1,2(), LI Hui2,3, LI ZiHao2,3, PING XiaoYan1, JIANG CuiXia2,3, GUO HaoNan2,3, YANG YiJing2,4, XIN XiaoPing2()   

  1. 1 School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083
    2 State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China / National Hulunber Grassland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station / Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081
    3 College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000
    4 College of Prataculture and GrasslandNorthwest Agricultural and Forestry University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi
  • Received:2025-04-02 Accepted:2026-06-04 Published:2026-08-01 Online:2026-08-03

摘要:

【目的】根系是植物最重要的地下器官,研究探讨放牧干扰对草甸草原群落根系功能性状的动态影响,明晰放牧对草地群落根系结构和功能的影响机制,为草原植物应对放牧干扰的调节机制和生存策略提供参考。【方法】采用微根管技术测定了不放牧(G0)、轻度放牧(G1)、轻中度放牧(G2)、中度放牧(G3)、重度放牧(G4)、极度放牧(G5),6种放牧强度下根系的功能性状,包括总根长、根尖数、分叉数、根平均直径、根表面积和总根体积,每个放牧强度处理下设有9个根管重复。【结果】(1)地下生物量和根土比均随土壤深度增加呈显著降低趋势(P<0.05),在0—10 cm表层土壤中,G4处理下地下生物量和根土比均达到最大值,但不同放牧处理对地下生物量无显著影响。(2)草甸草原根系形态特征随生长季推进变化显著,并受放牧强度影响,总根长和分叉数随生长季呈增加趋势,根平均直径和总根体积在7月达到峰值后下降,而不同放牧强度下根系特征变化各异,适度放牧(G1—G3)在生长季前期促进根系生长,重度或极度放牧在生长季后期促进总根长和分叉数增加,但抑制根平均直径和总根体积。(3)比根长和比根面积随生长季推进呈增加趋势,在9月达到峰值,而根组织密度为波动变化。随放牧强度,6—7月比根长和比根面积在G3处理下最大,8—9月比根长逐渐增加而比根面积呈降低趋势,根组织密度在G3—G5处理下普遍高于G0—G2处理。(4)随时间变化,植物高度和盖度逐渐增加并在9月达峰值,而根冠比逐渐降低。随放牧强度,各月份高度和盖度均显著降低,根冠比则显著增加。(5)比根长和比根面积与植物群落特征显著相关,总根长和根组织密度与根冠比相关性较强,而根平均直径和根尖数与土壤因子及植物群落特征无显著相关。【结论】根系形态特征对放牧强度的响应呈现动态差异,反映出群落根系在不同时期对资源获取和结构强度的权衡策略。群落物种组成和植物根系功能性状关联性较大,未来需进一步研究。研究结果为草甸草原植物根系对放牧强度和季节动态变化的响应机制和适应性提供了一定的参考价值。

关键词: 根系功能性状, 微根管, 草甸草原, 放牧强度

Abstract:

【Objective】Roots are the most critical underground organs of plants. This study investigates the dynamic effects of grazing disturbance on the root functional traits of meadow steppe communities, aiming to clarify the mechanisms by which grazing affects the structure and function of grassland community roots. It provides insights into the regulatory mechanisms and survival strategies of grassland plants under grazing disturbance.【Method】The root functional traits including total root length, number of root tips, number of root forks, root average diameter, root surface area, and total root volume were measured using minirhizotron technology under six grazing intensity treatments: no grazing (G0), light grazing (G1), light moderate grazing (G2), moderate grazing (G3), heavy grazing (G4), and extreme grazing (G5). Each grazing intensity treatment was replicated with nine minirhizotron tubes.【Result】(1) Both below-ground biomass and root-soil ratio exhibited significant decreasing trends with increasing soil depth (P<0.05). The maximum below-ground biomass and root-soil ratio were observed in the 0-10 cm soil layer under G4 grazing treatment, but there were no significant differences in below-ground biomass among grazing treatments. (2) The root morphological characteristics of meadow steppe communities vary significantly with the progression of the growing season and are affected by grazing intensity, with total root length and number of root forks showing an increasing trend over the growing season, whereas both root average diameter and total root volume reached their maxima in July before subsequent declines. Under varying grazing intensity gradients, root traits exhibit distinct patterns: moderate grazing (G1-G3) promotes root growth in the early growing season, whereas heavy or extreme grazing increases total root length and number of root forks in the late growing season but still reduces root average diameter and total root volume. (3) Specific root length (SRL) and specific root area (SRA) showed an increasing trend as the growing season progressed, peaking in September, while root tissue density (RTD) fluctuated. From June to July, SRL and SRA were highest under G3 grazing intensity, while from August to September, SRL increased with grazing intensity, and SRA decreased. RTD was generally higher under G3-G5 intensities compared to G0-G2. (4) Over time, plant height and coverage increased seasonally and peaked in September, while root-shoot ratio (R:S) decreased. With increasing grazing intensity, both height and coverage significantly decreased significantly in each month, while R:S significantly increased. (5) SRL and SRA were significantly correlated with plant community characteristics, and total root length and RTD were strongly correlated with R:S. However, average root diameter and number of root tips showed no significant correlation with soil factors or plant community characteristics.【Conclusion】The response of root morphological traits to grazing intensity exhibited dynamic differences, reflecting trade-offs in resource acquisition and structural strength at different periods. The functional composition of plant communities was strongly correlated with root traits, warranting further research. This study provides valuable insights into the response mechanisms and adaptability of meadow steppe plant roots to grazing intensity and seasonal dynamics.

Key words: root functional traits, minirhizotron, meadow steppe, grazing intensity