New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Classification management for grassland in Gansu Province, China
Guo Zhenggang
State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering
Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and
Engineering Research Institute
The Chinese Academy of Sciences
Lanzhou City, 730000, PR of China
email:zhengganguo200@hotmail.com
Liang Tiangang
Zhang Zihe
College of Pastoral Agricultural Science and Technology
Lanzhou University
Lanzhou City, 730020, PR of China
Abstract Grassland is multi-functional. On the basis
of the different functions performed by different grassland types, and regional
development demands for grassland functions, the classification management
concept of grassland was designed to ensure the sustainability of grassland
ecosystems. Principles, financial mechanisms, and properties of classification
management are introduced in this paper. To aid management of grassland,
Gansu grassland is classified into two main management sectors. One is conservation
grassland, mainly devoted to ecological and social values; the other is productive
grassland, where attention is focused on economic benefits through moderate
or intensive production, and contributing to social value by income generated.
Conservation grassland makes up 6.05 x 106 ha, or 38% of Gansu
Province. Productive grassland is 10.02 x 106 ha, 62% of Gansu
Province, in which 8.93 x 106 ha is moderately grazed grassland
and 1.09 x 106 ha is intensively grazed grassland. Management
strategies are proposed for conservation and productive grassland respectively.
Absence of grazing and cropping is predominant in the management of conservation
grassland, to restore degenerated areas and protect grassland with important
ecological value from destruction, and further to improve the environment.
Agricultural measures, such as fertiliser and irrigation, are used to enhance
the productivity of intensively grazed grassland, and rotational grazing
is used on moderately grazed grassland. The management of productive grassland
is contracted to the managers who are given sole responsibility for its profitability.
The Government finances the conservation grassland in the China West Development.
Keywords multi-functionality of grassland; classification
management; conservation grassland; productive grassland
A01039; published 30 June 2003 Received 21 November 2001: accepted 18
January 2003
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2003, Vol. 46: 123–131
0028-8233/03/4602Ð0123 $7.00/0 © The Royal Society of New
Zealand 2003
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