Comprehensive Evaluation of Alpine Meadow Degradation Based on the Smallest Data Set and Cluster Analysis
[Objective]In this study,we have developed an index system and classification criteria suit-able for evaluating the degradation of alpine meadow based on vegetation-soil properties.Our aim is to provide fundamental data and theoretical support for the ecological restoration of alpine meadows.[Method]In this study,we selected the alpine meadow around the Huahu Lake on the Zoige Plateau as our research subject.Through the integration of literature,standards,and principal component analysis,we developed a comprehensive evaluation index system for vegetation-soil.Additionally,we employed entropy weight,principal component analysis,and comprehensive index methods to derive the meadow quality index.Subsequently,we utilized systematic clustering and the natural breakpoint method to cat-egorize the levels of meadow quality and vegetation-soil properties of the sample plots,enabling us to de-termine the degree of meadow degradation.[Result]The comprehensive index system for evaluating al-pine meadow degradation based on a minimum data set comprised 8 indexes,including vegetation cover-age,above-ground biomass,edible plant biomass,soil bulk density,soil organic matter,soil available potassium,β-1,4-glucosidase,and urease.Additionally,the comprehensive weights assigned to soil or-ganic matter,edible plant biomass,and β-1,4-glucosidase were 0.232,0.215,and 0.206,respec-tively.These parameters exhibited a more pronounced impact on the quality of alpine meadows when com-pared to other indicators.The meadow quality index(MQI),computed from the assessment indicators,ranged between 0.142 and 0.713.Using this index,the meadow quality was categorized into four grades:non-degraded(MQI≥0.36),lightly degraded(0.28≤MQI<0.36),moderately degraded(0.20≤MQI<0.28),and heavily degraded meadow(MQI<0.20).Subsequently,a comprehensive evaluation index sys-tem and classification criteria for alpine meadow degradation were proposed.The alpine meadows in the study area were predominantly lightly or moderately degraded,encompassing approximately 71.34%of the total area.[Conclusion]The developed index system for evaluating the degradation of alpine meadow is both reasonable and operable,providing technical guidance for the quantitative monitoring and evaluation of vegetation-soil system degradation in small areas.
alpine meadowcomprehensive degradation evaluationindex systemdegree of degradation
NETL
NSTL
万方数据
维普
