Sheep rotational grazing strategy to improve soil organic carbon and reduce carbon dioxide emission from spring wheat in an arid region

Abstract

Context

Cultivating forage crops is crucial to improve feed production, and grazing is an important utilisation method to improve soil fertility.

Aim

Improving soil organic carbon (SOC) content and reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission through grazing management from a spring wheat field.

Methods

We compared sheep rotational grazing and control, and studied their effects on SOC and CO₂ emission from a spring wheat field.

Key results

Sheep rotational grazing improved SOC content (by 23.5%) and soil easily oxidised organic carbon (EOC) content (by 7.7%) and reduces soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) content (by 35.8%) compared with the control. Sheep rotational grazing reduced CO₂ emission compared with the control. Sheep grazing reduced cumulative CO₂ emission by 28.9% and 33.0% in May and June compared with the control.

Conclusions

Sheep grazing improved SOC content and reduce CO₂ emission from a spring wheat field.

Implications

Based on our short-term study, sheep rotational grazing has a significant effect on SOC, EOC and MBC contents and CO₂ emission from spring wheat fields in arid regions. For a large-scale assessment of sheep grazing on soil fertility and CO₂ emission, more investigation for different soils and climates is necessary. Furthermore, a long-term study is also necessary to better understand the effect of sheep rotational grazing on soil fertility and CO₂ emission from spring wheat fields in arid regions.