The relation of biomass production with leaf traits varied under different land-use and precipitation conditions in an Inner Mongolia steppe

摘要: The analyses of plant leaf traits that strongly influence aboveground net primary production (ANPP) are indispensable for understanding the process biomass formation. However, there few studies have attempted to relate patterns ANPP under contrasting management practices leaf-level traits. To assess how affect accumulation different land-use practices, we examined and in three differently managed sites Inner Mongolia steppe: a site fenced since 1979 (UG), winter grazing (WG), heavily grazed (HG). Low soil water content, area index, potential growth ability species at HG led low crop rate (CGR), assimilation (NAR), relative (RGR); resulting lower as compared WG UG. Irrespective management, prolonged drought significantly decreases even though it systematically increases mean CGR RGR. N content weight ratio crucial components necessary determine RGR WG. This suggests availability due haymaking may be responsible neither over-compensatory nor compensatory this site. dry years is not but rather short effective growing days (referring vegetation actually grows), suggesting production-adjusted regimes most suitable measures precision land avoiding grassland degradation.