Soils Of A Semiarid Shortgrass Steppe In Inner Mongolia Organic Matter Composition And Distribution As Affected By Sheep Grazing

Intensive grazing in the grasslands of northern China results in a loss of soil organic matter (SOM), reduced aggregate stability and a higher abundance of dust storms. It is assumed that an improved grazing management can mitigate these detrimental effects and enhance the carbon sequestration of the steppe soils. This study showed that (1) soil chemical and physical topsoil properties significantly recovered after longterm grazing cessation (>5 years); (2) recovering vegetation and deposition of windblown material initiated the recovery of grazing-degraded areas; (3) aggregate stability and formation in topsoils was increased after grazing cessation; and (4) additional SOM inputs were sequestered in readily decomposable fractions and not stabilised in the long-term.