Divergent effects of grazing versus mowing on plant nutrients in typical steppe grasslands of Inner Mongolia

Abstract Grazing and mowing are two major land use types in natural grasslands, which have intensive effects on nutrient cycling of grassland ecosystems by deposition fecaluria versus removal hay nutrient. Plant nutrients sensitively respond to the changes cycling, while information diverse grazing regimes plant at different organs or levels incomplete. A field experiment was conducted compare continuous rotational grazing, low high frequencies a semiarid steppe Inner Mongolia. community characteristics C, N P concentrations dominant species were determined across managements. We found (i) height standing biomass significantly decreased with intensity under both annual mowing. (ii) shoot C concentration decreased, whereas increased regimes, these showed no significant response regimes. (iii) aboveground pools but did not decrease frequency (iv) root little indicating relatively bigger stability slower nutrients. Our study provides insights into from multiple perspectives.