Fencing vs. Grazing: Divergent Effects on Soil Seed Bank Structure and Grassland Recovery Pathways in Northern Tibetan Alpine Grasslands

TL;DR

Fencing improves soil seed bank health in northern Tibetan grasslands more than grazing, with different effects in steppe and desert steppe areas.

Contribution

The study reveals divergent effects of fencing and grazing on soil seed bank structure and recovery in two grassland types on the Tibetan Plateau.

Findings

Fencing significantly increased soil seed bank density and diversity, especially in alpine steppe.

Grazing negatively affected seed bank density and evenness, while fencing improved hydrothermal and nutrient conditions.

Hydrothermal factors influenced alpine steppe seed banks, while soil nutrients were more critical in alpine desert steppe.

Abstract

Alpine grasslands are a critical component of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau ecosystem, but their soil seed bank (SSB) patterns and driving mechanisms remain unclear under the influence of climate change and human activities. This study analyzed grazing exclusion (via fencing) and grazing effects using 12 sites in the alpine steppe (AS) and alpine desert steppe (AD) in northern Tibet to analyze the effects of fencing and grazing management, as well as hydrothermal and soil factors, on the SSB density and diversity. Linear regression models were applied to explore the relationships between the SSB density and environmental factors, while comparisons of the management modes revealed the potential impacts of fencing. The results show that fencing significantly increased the SSB density and diversity, especially in the AS, while grazing negatively impacted the SSB density and the Pielou evenness index. Hydrothermal factors strongly influenced the SSB in the AS, with the density positively correlated with precipitation and negatively with temperature, while responses in the AD were weak. Soil factors, such as the available phosphorus (SAP) and available potassium (SAK), were key to SSB formation in the AD, whereas ammonium nitrogen (NH4_N) and the pH were critical in the AS. Fencing optimized the hydrothermal conditions and nutrient availability, promoting SSB recovery, though its effects varied between the grassland types. This study provides scientific insights for alpine grassland restoration and sustainable management.

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