Overgrazing on unmanaged grassland interfered with the restoration of adjacent grazing-banned grassland by affecting soil properties and microbial community

• DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1327056
• Publication Date: 2024-01-04T04:59:09Z
• Authors: Mengchao Fang; Guang Lu; Shuping Zhang; Wei Liang
• Keywords: Overgrazing; Grassland Degradation

A "grazing ban" policy has been implemented in some pastoral areas China to fence degraded grasslands for restoration. However, fencing increased grazing pressures unmanaged grasslands. Based on the mechanism of negative edge effect, we investigated whether overgrazing grassland interfered with restoration adjacent grazing-banned by affecting soil properties and microbial community using a sample Hulun Buir Inner Mongolia, order optimize policy. Plant were sampled 30 m away from (UM) (adjacent UM) 30-60 (not (F-30 F-60 m). The species richness diversity plant communities ASV number fungal significantly decreased F-30 UM, Simpson index bacterial compared m. abundance fungi involved organic matter decomposition stress-resistant bacteria increased, while litter UM simplification water total carbon contents can explain variations both results PLS-PM show that changes function guilds may affect those changing contents. These indicate community. should be adjusted periodically avoid effects.