Grazing Horse Effects on Desert Grassland Soil Gross Nitrification and Denitrification Rates in Northern China

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects grazing on soil gross nitrification (GN) and denitrification (DN) rates environmental factors GN DN in desert grassland northern China. Soil samples were collected from July November 2017 March June 2018, with 5-5 taken three enclosures (CK) vs. heavy-grazing (G) randomized treatment blocks. We determined: (1) moisture (SM), pH, bulk density (BD), total nitrogen (TN), organic carbon (SOC), inorganic (IN, NH4+-N, NO3−-N) content, (2) DN. relationship between changes GN, DN, environment analyzed using stepwise multiple-regression analysis. Gross nitrification, BD, C/N, SM, IN, NO3−-N varied significantly by month. Grazing induced significant increases SM NO3− only. CK related NH4+-N NO3−-N, while G SM. C/N. Additionally, had obvious seasonal variations reached a maximum July. This highlights different underlying mechanisms that affect dynamics, particularly system.