The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)/Terra daily snow cover product MOD10A1 was compared with in situ climate station measurements and a map generated from Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) data. Snow-covered area (SCA) dynamics were assessed using the MODIS 8-day composite MOD10A2 for 2001–2005 seasons northern Xinjiang, China. results indicate that snow-mapping agreement between maps surface observations is high at 94.6% over four under clear-sky conditions....

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is a very large land unit and an important terrestrial ecosystem within the Eurasian continent. Because of harsh climate associated with high altitude, alpine meadows on plateau are susceptible to degradation from overgrazing. For this region, for other meadow pastures internationally, there need define sustainable stocking rate, develop sound policy pertaining future use. Here we report biomass liveweight gain per animal ha grazed by yaks at high, medium, or low...

Plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) is an endemic mammal in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and its activities create extensive disturbances on vegetation soil of alpine meadow. Field surveys at two sites were conducted to determine effects plateau important factors plant biomass vegetated land, their relationships same meadow type. Our study showed that significantly increased organic carbon, total nitrogen, graminoid number species, decreased moisture forb biomass, although they had no...

Salt stress severely threatens the growth and productivity of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Previous results found that Bacillus cereus G2 enhanced several carbohydrate contents in G. uralensis under salt stress. Here, we analyzed changes parameters related to growth, photosynthesis, transformation, glycolysis Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas (EMP) pathway-tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle by Results showed helped uralensis-accumulating photosynthetic pigments during which could further increase starch,...

Classification of grasslands is a convenient method to measure and manage the sustainability Chinese grasslands. In this study, timely reliable procedure was examined using remote-sensing (RS) techniques. Linear regression analysis between field survey data Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) showed that among 17 vegetation indices (VIs) evaluated, enhanced index (EVI) best VI simulate forage dry biomass cover in Gannan region. The results precision estimation models power...

The Loess Plateau, China, is the world's largest apple-producing region, and over 80% of orchards are in rainfed (dryland) areas. Desiccation deep soil layer under dryland apple main stressor production this region. Fertilization a factor that causes desiccation orchards. Given its applicability precision validations, Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model was used to simulate dynamics fruit yield six fertilization treatments. During 45 years study, annual treatments initially...

Abstract Small burrowing herbivores create extensive disturbances to grassland soil, which may change carbon cycling. We focused on the plateau pika ( Ochotona curzoniae ) simultaneously investigate responses of soil organic (SOC) and inorganic (SIC) stocks alpine meadows disturbance caused by this small herbivore its intensity at plot scale across five sites Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau. The percentage bare area in a disturbed was used as proxy for pikas. Our study found that pikas reduced SIC...

A silicon (Si)-deficient top soil was used in a pot experiment to investigate the effect of Si application on shoot and root morphology alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Silicon applied plants at 6 different rates (0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30 g/kg), each treatment replicated times. This study indicated that content roots shoots increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing concentration soil, greater than shoots. Plants treated had leaf area, height, forage yield per plant during...

Abstract The plateau pika ( Ochotona curzoniae ) is known to influence the plant diversity and biomass of alpine meadow, it regarded as a pest. species has been subject extensive controls without clear target density in Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau. We investigated effects different disturbance levels on composition, biomass. active burrow entrances was used an index I, II , III IV (corresponding 8, 19, 27 39 per 625 m 2 ). found that community composition differed with levels. replacements were...

Abstract Herbivores can influence plant species richness and aboveground biomass. However, only a few studies have examined their impact on the relationship between biomass richness, focusing large herbivores. This study of small burrowing herbivore, plateau pika ( Ochotona curzoniae ) with averaging 150 g, biomass, in alpine meadows Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The used random stratified paired sampling design to collect data across five sites. Each site contained 10 pairs plots. pair consisted...