Research

January 06, 2011

Restoration of Degraded Grassland Ecosystem and the Technique Application of Eco-Animal Husbandry in the Headwater Area of Three Rivers

According to the national strategy needs of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau ecological security, the reasons of grassland degrading and forming were researched to show ecological process of alpine meadow degrading. We also selected fine grass seeds and suitable combination to build artificial pasture, synthetically control grassland rodents to establish suitable alpine meadow rehabilitation, sustainable management mode, and optimized eco-animal husbandry development mode, which will provide scientific and technological support for Qinghai-Tibet Plateau grassland government and ecological security.

Constituting degraded grassland and black soil land grading standards in the headwater area of three rivers for the first time, selecting one new species named Poa spp. Qinghaiensis, researching three sorts, seven ecological rehabilitation mode and thirteen intergraded restoration technique system that broke through the key technique of black soil land artificial vegetation planting.

From the conduct of three regions functional coupling theory, obtaining 120 resources substitution mode, 324 accelerating livestock fattening mode, multiple resources utilization ratio mode that significantly increased productive efficiency of eco-animal husbandry, realizing preliminary co-win of ecological environment protection and ecological economy development.

Rational utilization intensity of alpine meadow grassland was ascertained based on the balance of grass and livestock, verifying co-evolution theory of interaction of alpine meadow vegetation and grazing yak.

Establishing the first technology platform of evaluation system for the nutritive value of the plateau pasture feeds which applied the TMR(Total Mixed Rations) technology to the nutritive value evaluation of yak and sheep. 

The contribution rate of the driving force factor for grassland degrading was quantitatively analyzed in the headwater area of three rivers for the first time. The degrading process and mechanism of alpine meadow were interpreted from many aspects with systemic theory such as soil, vegetation, microorganism and seed bank. 

Completing scientific meaning of eco-animal husbandry, establishing specific development mode, objective and technical support system in connection with ecotypic eco-animal husbandry, resources cycle utilization eco-animal husbandry and organic health cultivation eco-animal husbandry, which got application and popularization in the headwater area of three rivers and lateral farming-pastoral ecotone. 

In connection with advantages of different ecological domains in the headwater area of three rivers, serving the objective of animal husbandry sustainable development to relieve the conflict between feed available and animal demand and improve economic returns, 3 kinds of organizational management modes about animal husbandry reducing pressure and increasing efficiency were brought forward creatively. They were seeding and stock keeping, lamb fattening, and purchasing grass and stock keeping.

(Author:Zhou Huakun and Ye Xin)