Hou Fujiang

Innovative grassland management systems for environmental and livelihood benefits

Grasslands occupy 40% of the world’s land surface (excluding Antarctica and Greenland) and support diverse groups, from traditional extensive nomadic to intense livestock-production systems. Population pressures mean that many of these grasslands are in a degraded state, particularly in less-productive areas of developing countries, affecting not only productivity but also vital environmental services such as hydrology, biodiversity, and carbon cycles; livestock condition is often poor and household incomes are at or below poverty levels. The challenge is to optimize management practices that result in “win-win” outcomes for grasslands, the environment, and households. A case study is discussed from northwestern China, where it has been possible to reduce animal numbers considerably by using an energy-balance/market-based approach while improving household incomes, providing conditions within which grassland recovery is possible. This bottom-up approach was supported by informing and working with the six layers of government in China to build appropriate policies. Further policy implications are considered. Additional gains in grassland rehabilitation could be fostered through targeted environmental payment schemes. Other aspects of the livestock production system that can be modified are discussed. This work built a strategy that has implications for many other grassland areas around the world where common problems apply.

Effects of sheep urine on growth characteristics of different life form plants in a Chinese steppe grassland

Abstract The effects of sheep urine deposition volume (0, 1, 2 or 4 L/m2) and deposition stage of plant growth (vegetative or reproductive) on the number and size of tillers/branches and the biomass of Stipa bungeana, Artemisia capillaries and Lespedeza davurica in a Chinese steppe grassland were determined. The results indicate that the response of the three plant species to sheep urine deposition differs, and is influenced by both urine deposition volume and deposition stage of plant growth. Urine deposition had a short-term scorch effect on grassland plants, which mainly occurred in the inner zone of urine patches. Urine application had a long-term positive effect on S. bungeana and a long-term negative effect on A. capillaries and L. davurica, which lasted at least two years and decreased with decrease in urine deposition volume. All species growing in the inner zone of urine patches were scorched by sheep urine deposition, some species in the marginal zone of patches were also scorched, while no species were scorched in the outer zones. The reproductive and vegetative stages of A. capillaries and the reproductive stages of S. bungeana and L. davurica were sensitive to sheep urine deposition.

The economic benefits of integrated farming system in the transitional region from Loess Plateau to Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau—A case study of Tongwei-Weiyuan-Xiahe Transect

The region between the Loess Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is an important ecological zone in China which is located in the transition zone of continental plate from the second step terrain to the first step terrain. The local people in the area mainly depend on crops, livestock and crop and livestock integration. The crop and livestock integration is strongly interrelated to ecological characteristics of the region and the human activities. In this study we investigated the key factors for economic benefits of farming systems and social structure along a transect of the region; Tongwei (TW), Weiyuan (WY) and Xiahe (XH). The data for the study was obtained by the statistical year book of China. The key factors for input and output of different crop production systems and livestock systems were used for the study. We used Logistic regression model to examine the relationship of proportion of farmers in the population and the productivity of the faming system (based on input vs output). We found a significant correlation between proportion of farmers and the farmer productivity ( P WY (12.65×103 ¥/farm) > XH (−2.68×103 ¥/farm). Livestock production system: The total inputs for livestock farming and the natural grassland area increased east to west of the region. The total output was intermediate in WY. The economic benefits of different livestock systems were: pig (0.14×103 ¥/farm), sheep (1.84×103 ¥/farm) and cattle (32.79×103 ¥/farm) in TW, WY and XH respectively. Integrated production system: The response rates of proportion of farmers to input were 1.30, 0.61 and 0.70 for XH, TW and WY respectively. In contrast, the response rates of proportion of farmers to output were 0.085, 0.17, and 0.37 in XH, TW and WY. The threshold value for economic benefits and the proportion of farmers remained 50%. The economic benefits of the three study areas were: XH (30.27×103 ¥/farm) >TW (20.22×103 ¥/farm)>WY (13.07×103 ¥/farm). When the proportion of farmers were above the threshold point, the inputs of TW, WY and XH increased 45.76%, 47.98% and 45.60% respectively, and the output increased 43.20%, 42.60% and 45.60% respectively. The economic benefits at the threshold points were 30.52, 16.32 and 64.70×103 ¥/farm in TW, WY and XH respectively. The natural resources and agricultural population varied east to west of the study transect and the farming systems changed cropping to grazing. Labor was the largest input in all production systems. Our study indicates that regulating and controlling the proportion of farmers is an effective measure to realize the ″win-win″ scenario of economic and ecological benefits. We found that compared to crop production systems, the livestock production system and integration of crop and livestock are effective means of improving agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability and farmers′ income.

Rangeland Productivity in China

Through analyzing the plant production and animal production of grassland in China and comparing the grassland produc- tivity at home and abroad, the author finds that, in the past over 30 years, the grass production of grassland declined slightly in some regions of China. Among the global animal products, 40.08% came from the worlds grassland and 67.35% was from middle income countries. 24.1% of the global beef production and 31.9% of the global mutton production were supported by grassland. The grazing capacity of the grassland of low income countries was 87.4% higher than that of high income countries and 66.4% higher than that of middle income countries. However, their output of animal products respectively accounts for 37.3% and 71.9% of that of high and middle income countries. With appropriate grazing utilization, the productivity of grassland in China can reach 6.35×10