Assessment of grazing livestock balance on the Eastern Mongolian Plateau based on remote sensing monitoring and grassland carrying capacity evaluation
Abstract Rational utilization of natural resources is crucial in arid and semi-arid areas due to their vulnerable ecosystems and low resource resilience. Achieving a balance between grassland production and livestock grazing, known as the pasture-livestock balance, is essential for the sustainable d...
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Nature Portfolio
2024-12-01
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| author | Menghan Li Juanle Wang Kai Li Yaping Liu Altansukh Ochir Davaadorj Davaasuren |
| author_facet | Menghan Li Juanle Wang Kai Li Yaping Liu Altansukh Ochir Davaadorj Davaasuren |
| author_sort | Menghan Li |
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| description | Abstract Rational utilization of natural resources is crucial in arid and semi-arid areas due to their vulnerable ecosystems and low resource resilience. Achieving a balance between grassland production and livestock grazing, known as the pasture-livestock balance, is essential for the sustainable development of grassland resources on the Mongolian Plateau (MP). This study focuses on the grassland regions of 8 provinces in eastern Mongolia (MNG) and 7 leagues in Inner Mongolia (IMNG), China, during the period from 2018 to 2022. Machine learning methods were employed for land cover classification and above-ground biomass (AGB) estimation. The grassland carrying capacity was assessed using the grassland carrying capacity index (GCC). The results indicate that: (1) The grassland classification accuracy on the MP exceeds 95%, with grassland area accounting for approximately 47% of the total.(2)The AGB of the grasslands exhibits a clear spatial heterogeneity, increasing from southwest to northeast. Additionally, nearly 80% of the grassland productivity is of high quality, reaching up to 250 g/m2.(3) Between 2018 and 2022, the MP exhibited a relatively high grassland carrying capacity, with an average of 1.8 SU/ha. However, the overall grassland carrying condition has gradually deteriorated, primarily due to factors such as grassland fires and an increase in livestock numbers. Based on the varying degrees of grassland degradation, different policy recommendations have been proposed. This study approach, findings and policy suggestions are significant for the development of livestock farming and grassland management on the MP. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-9496e2b8ebc548bdbf4842e480da12fb2025-01-05T12:27:52ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114111110.1038/s41598-024-84215-4Assessment of grazing livestock balance on the Eastern Mongolian Plateau based on remote sensing monitoring and grassland carrying capacity evaluationMenghan Li0Juanle Wang1Kai Li2Yaping Liu3Altansukh Ochir4Davaadorj Davaasuren5State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of SciencesEnvironmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Environment and Forest Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Institute for Sustainable Development, National University of MongoliaDepartment of Geography, School of Art and Sciences, National University of MongoliaAbstract Rational utilization of natural resources is crucial in arid and semi-arid areas due to their vulnerable ecosystems and low resource resilience. Achieving a balance between grassland production and livestock grazing, known as the pasture-livestock balance, is essential for the sustainable development of grassland resources on the Mongolian Plateau (MP). This study focuses on the grassland regions of 8 provinces in eastern Mongolia (MNG) and 7 leagues in Inner Mongolia (IMNG), China, during the period from 2018 to 2022. Machine learning methods were employed for land cover classification and above-ground biomass (AGB) estimation. The grassland carrying capacity was assessed using the grassland carrying capacity index (GCC). The results indicate that: (1) The grassland classification accuracy on the MP exceeds 95%, with grassland area accounting for approximately 47% of the total.(2)The AGB of the grasslands exhibits a clear spatial heterogeneity, increasing from southwest to northeast. Additionally, nearly 80% of the grassland productivity is of high quality, reaching up to 250 g/m2.(3) Between 2018 and 2022, the MP exhibited a relatively high grassland carrying capacity, with an average of 1.8 SU/ha. However, the overall grassland carrying condition has gradually deteriorated, primarily due to factors such as grassland fires and an increase in livestock numbers. Based on the varying degrees of grassland degradation, different policy recommendations have been proposed. This study approach, findings and policy suggestions are significant for the development of livestock farming and grassland management on the MP.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84215-4Mongolian PlateauGrass-livestock balanceRemote sensingGrassland productivityLivestock husbandry |
| spellingShingle | Menghan Li Juanle Wang Kai Li Yaping Liu Altansukh Ochir Davaadorj Davaasuren Assessment of grazing livestock balance on the Eastern Mongolian Plateau based on remote sensing monitoring and grassland carrying capacity evaluation Scientific Reports Mongolian Plateau Grass-livestock balance Remote sensing Grassland productivity Livestock husbandry |
| title | Assessment of grazing livestock balance on the Eastern Mongolian Plateau based on remote sensing monitoring and grassland carrying capacity evaluation |
| title_full | Assessment of grazing livestock balance on the Eastern Mongolian Plateau based on remote sensing monitoring and grassland carrying capacity evaluation |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of grazing livestock balance on the Eastern Mongolian Plateau based on remote sensing monitoring and grassland carrying capacity evaluation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of grazing livestock balance on the Eastern Mongolian Plateau based on remote sensing monitoring and grassland carrying capacity evaluation |
| title_short | Assessment of grazing livestock balance on the Eastern Mongolian Plateau based on remote sensing monitoring and grassland carrying capacity evaluation |
| title_sort | assessment of grazing livestock balance on the eastern mongolian plateau based on remote sensing monitoring and grassland carrying capacity evaluation |
| topic | Mongolian Plateau Grass-livestock balance Remote sensing Grassland productivity Livestock husbandry |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84215-4 |
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