Astudy on response of soil moisture of alpine wetland to grazing intensity

The impact of different grazing intensity, including enclosure (EN), light grazing (LG), moderate grazing (MG), heavy grazing (HG), free grazing (FG), on soil moisture was studied by using paired T test method in Longbao on Tibetan Plateau. The results showed that the significant level of impact on soil was increased with the increasing of grazing intensity. The difference of soil moisture between EN and LG, EN and MG were not significant in all soil layers; with increasing of depth, differences between HG and LG, HG and MG were decreased; the impacts of FG and HG treatments were the most significant. The order of treatment impact from soil surface to 50 cm was LGGU, MGGU, HGFG, ENFG and ENHG, LGHG. The FG and HG enhanced evapotranspiration, reduced soil moisture, and accelerated the wetland degeneration. Proper grazing management was critical to reduce evapotranspiration and degeneration.