[Effects of cutting on the dominant and subdominant plant species in a Stipa krylovii steppe of Inner Mongolia].

ABSTRACT

Based on the long-term cutting experiment, this paper analyzed the responses of the aboveground biomass of five dominant and subdominant plant species and the community stability in a Stipa krylovii steppe of Inner Mongolia to various cutting height. Cutting with a stubble height of > 10 cm had slight effects on the aboveground biomass of the five species. Cutting with a stubble height of 10 cm benefited the growth of Artemisia frigida but made against the growth of Stipa krylovii. Cleistogenes squarrosa at the stubble height of 2 cm performed best, and Carex korshinskyi at the stubble height of 5 cm contributed most to the community, with the biomass positively correlated with the cutting years. Potentilla acaulis growth was detrimentally affected at the stubble heights of 2 and 15 cm. Overall, perennial species with higher plant height and stronger competitive ability were more tolerant to disturbances, and a minimum cutting height of 10 cm should be applied to maintain a high stability of the steppe ecosystem.