SCHRIFTENREIHE Institut für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde ...

1.1 Background
Chapter 1 Introduction
1. Introduction
Rangelands occupy about 30–50% of the earth’s land area, and they supply
more than 80% of the feed of the livestock in Asia and Africa, 25% in North and
Central America and 50% in the rest of the world (World Resources Institute,
2000). Inner Mongolia grassland (North China, Fig. 1), one key part of the
temperate Eurasian steppe belt from Eastern Europe to Eastern Asia, accounts
for the largest Chinese grassland with nearly 20% of Chinese grassland areas
(400 Mha). Grazing, therefore, is a major local land use form historically. This
land is considered to be a fertile pasture and particularly flourishing in Yuan
dynasty (A.D. 1271-1368). However, in the past few decades, due to the
increase in population and shift in the socio-economic system, it is subject to an
increased grazing pressure that leads to the broad degradation and risk of
severe soil erosion, nutrient depletion and desertification (Li et al., 2000).
Striking evidence for this process is given by numerous sandstorms attacking,
e.g. Beijing with an increasing frequency. Yet, processes and factors responsible
for the grassland degradation are not fully been understood, although there is no
doubt that grazing management makes a major contribution.
Fig. 1.1. Location of the investigated experimental site, Xilin River catchment, Inner
Mongolia, North China.
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