The geographical variation in grassland forage quality on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is driven mainly by climate
Abstract Background Forage quality is a fundamental determinant for livestock productivity in natural grasslands, and is sensitive to the variations in climate, soil, and plant community composition. However, the contributions of those factors to the regional variation of forage quality largely rema...
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SpringerOpen
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Ecological Processes |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-025-00583-3 |
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| author | Shulan Wu Xiaotao Lü Qinghua Liu Erke Wuda Liu Li Chunzhang Zhao Juanjuan Huang Shuang Li Youbang Hu Wenzhi Du Hewen Li Chaoqun Chen Lin Luo Ali Raza Chunying Yin |
| author_facet | Shulan Wu Xiaotao Lü Qinghua Liu Erke Wuda Liu Li Chunzhang Zhao Juanjuan Huang Shuang Li Youbang Hu Wenzhi Du Hewen Li Chaoqun Chen Lin Luo Ali Raza Chunying Yin |
| author_sort | Shulan Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Forage quality is a fundamental determinant for livestock productivity in natural grasslands, and is sensitive to the variations in climate, soil, and plant community composition. However, the contributions of those factors to the regional variation of forage quality largely remain unclear. We examined forage quality of 45 alpine meadow communities over a 23.6 × 104 km2 area on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. We also examined the variations and drivers of multiple forage quality indicators across regional scale. Results The results showed that the natural grasslands in this region had high crude protein and non-fiber carbohydrates content, and relative feed value, but low-fat content. Forage quality of forb-dominated grasslands was higher than grass- and sedge-dominated ones. There were substantial geographical variations of forage quality, which decreased with increasing longitude, and increased with increasing latitude and altitude. Climate and plant community composition directly controlled the geographical patterns of forage quality. Climate had larger contribution to forage quality than soil and plant community composition. Less sedge and more forb in community resulted in higher forage quality. Forage quality was higher in sites with colder, drier and more variable climate. Soil conditions indirectly affected forage quality by mediating the plant community composition. Conclusions This study highlights the role of climate in driving the variation of forage quality in the alpine grasslands. The findings could provide scientific supports for grassland management and sustainable development on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-50247d94774343ddac10e0cc9c3ae544 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2192-1709 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Processes |
| spelling | doaj-art-50247d94774343ddac10e0cc9c3ae5442025-02-09T12:12:39ZengSpringerOpenEcological Processes2192-17092025-02-0114111410.1186/s13717-025-00583-3The geographical variation in grassland forage quality on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is driven mainly by climateShulan Wu0Xiaotao Lü1Qinghua Liu2Erke Wuda3Liu Li4Chunzhang Zhao5Juanjuan Huang6Shuang Li7Youbang Hu8Wenzhi Du9Hewen Li10Chaoqun Chen11Lin Luo12Ali Raza13Chunying Yin14CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesErguna Forest-Steppe Ecotone Research Station, Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of SciencesCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of TechnologyState Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of TechnologyState Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of TechnologyState Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of TechnologyCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract Background Forage quality is a fundamental determinant for livestock productivity in natural grasslands, and is sensitive to the variations in climate, soil, and plant community composition. However, the contributions of those factors to the regional variation of forage quality largely remain unclear. We examined forage quality of 45 alpine meadow communities over a 23.6 × 104 km2 area on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. We also examined the variations and drivers of multiple forage quality indicators across regional scale. Results The results showed that the natural grasslands in this region had high crude protein and non-fiber carbohydrates content, and relative feed value, but low-fat content. Forage quality of forb-dominated grasslands was higher than grass- and sedge-dominated ones. There were substantial geographical variations of forage quality, which decreased with increasing longitude, and increased with increasing latitude and altitude. Climate and plant community composition directly controlled the geographical patterns of forage quality. Climate had larger contribution to forage quality than soil and plant community composition. Less sedge and more forb in community resulted in higher forage quality. Forage quality was higher in sites with colder, drier and more variable climate. Soil conditions indirectly affected forage quality by mediating the plant community composition. Conclusions This study highlights the role of climate in driving the variation of forage quality in the alpine grasslands. The findings could provide scientific supports for grassland management and sustainable development on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-025-00583-3Alpine meadowCrude proteinForb-dominated grasslandNon-fiber carbohydratesRelative feed valueSoil properties |
| spellingShingle | Shulan Wu Xiaotao Lü Qinghua Liu Erke Wuda Liu Li Chunzhang Zhao Juanjuan Huang Shuang Li Youbang Hu Wenzhi Du Hewen Li Chaoqun Chen Lin Luo Ali Raza Chunying Yin The geographical variation in grassland forage quality on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is driven mainly by climate Ecological Processes Alpine meadow Crude protein Forb-dominated grassland Non-fiber carbohydrates Relative feed value Soil properties |
| title | The geographical variation in grassland forage quality on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is driven mainly by climate |
| title_full | The geographical variation in grassland forage quality on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is driven mainly by climate |
| title_fullStr | The geographical variation in grassland forage quality on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is driven mainly by climate |
| title_full_unstemmed | The geographical variation in grassland forage quality on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is driven mainly by climate |
| title_short | The geographical variation in grassland forage quality on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is driven mainly by climate |
| title_sort | geographical variation in grassland forage quality on the eastern qinghai tibet plateau is driven mainly by climate |
| topic | Alpine meadow Crude protein Forb-dominated grassland Non-fiber carbohydrates Relative feed value Soil properties |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-025-00583-3 |
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