Forage Availability and Stocking Rate in Desert Steppe Herdsmen:A Correlation Analysis
This study employed remote sensing and field quadrat investigations to develop an inversion model for estimating edible forage production in desert steppe.Herdsmen survey data were then integrated to calculate variables such as edible forage production on pastures,forage demand,excessive utilization,and sustainable utilization.We analyzed forage demand,forage supply,and grassland utilization patterns throughout the year,warm season,and cold season.The results showed that seasonal imbalance in forage supply,with a forage deficit persisted even after accounting for purchased forage.Forage demand was higher in the warm season compared to the cold season.During the warm season,excessive utilization of grassland reached 45.17%,while sustainable and excessive utilization accounted for 64.38%and 35.62%of demand,respectively.In the cold season,excessive utilization was generally absent,with sustainable utilization meeting 74.10%of demand and forage purchases fulfilling the remaining 35.25%.Notably,for herdsmen exceeding a stocking rate of 0.99 sheep units/hm2 in the warm season,excessive utilization became a primary forage source.Similarly,in the cold season,herdsmen with a stocking rate exceeding 0.59 sheep unit/hm2 exhibited a forage gap despite forage purchases.Overall,for herdsmen exceeding an annual stocking rate of 0.43 sheep unit/hm2,the combined contribution of sustainable utilization of grass-land and purchased forage was insufficient to meet livestock demand.
Desert steppeEdible forage yieldHerdsmenForage supplyExcessive utilization of edible forage yield
NETL
NSTL
万方数据
