Plant-soil interactions in response to grazing intensity in a semi-arid ecosystem from NE Spain

Livestock grazing is an important element in ecosystem regulation since it may affect essential functions, such as nutrient acquisition, organic matter decomposition, or litter accumulation the soil. Overgrazing can threaten conservation of ecosystems through excessive defoliation plants trampling. On contrary, moderate have benefits on dynamics by favoring cycling soil microbial activity. The aim this study was to analyze these effects a semi-arid Mediterranean shrubland located NE Spain. We established six sites including three intensities, where we sampled vegetation biomass and properties: nitrogen content, biomass, water infiltration capacity, porosity, gypsum content. These parameters were included plant-soil interaction model tested Structural Equation Modeling. Grazing had direct negative effect plant (p < 0.01) capacity 0.05) affecting content 0.001) 0.5), respectively. Infiltration porosity primary drivers 0.05, both cases), main contributor pool. Microbial dependent 0.05), 0.01), 0.01). directly indirectly affected functioning attributes, which result changes growth, acquisition. This revealed that maintain optimal features prevent degradation.