Changes and Relationships between Components in the Plant-Soil System and the Dominant Plant Functional Groups in Alpine Kobresia Meadows Due to Overgrazing

In the last several decades, overgrazing has led to various changes in plant communities, soil nutrients and microbial communities alpine Kobresia meadows, which contain coexisting on Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Investigating variations biomass concentration of plant–soil system these may improve understanding biochemical responses adaptation strategies they use resist disturbances due overgrazing. We therefore assessed 12 factors across four grazing intensities meadows explore following three questions. (1) What are (2) How affect systems under (3) can be used evaluate effects ecosystem health status meadows. The results gave answers above Overgrazing caused total aboveground decrease from 333.2 ± 17.4 g/m2 217.4 30.2 g/m2, coverage functional groups Gramineae Cyperaceae 74.2 3% 22.5 1.9%, belowground increase 4028.5 7.3 6325.6 24.8 g/m2. resulted at levels. concentrations carbon (C) explained 50.9% variation groups; available nutrients, 22.2% variation; ratio C N shoots N, 11.0% variation. C/N stoichiometry microorganisms were 3.4–8.4% 2.0–3.0%, respectively, load (ammonium-nitrogen (NH4+-N) + nitrate-nitrogen (NO3–-N)) growth roots tissue increased 84.1 5.0 g/m2/(mg/kg) via 99.0 1.3 86.1 2.1 0 40 cm an meadow with rising. would thus deficit those two kinds inorganic growing by 11.4%, 17.7% 2.4% as rates 93.3%, 126.7% 213.3%, compared a grazed lowest rate research. concluded that changed its distribution community, limiting nutrient production altered N. This destroyed original balance enable community Plot “KH”—a pasture intensity next one—was key state persistent could production, change dominant position species, lead degradation. Using or humilis K. pygmaea monitor succession indirectly estimate balance, their strategy for incorporating matter into shoots. However how outward characteristics assess requires further studies.