Monitoring of grazing intensity in Maqu alpine meadow by remote sensing

To provide a scientific basis for the sustainable utilization of grassland resources and grass-livestock balance in the Maqu alpine meadow, this study used remote sensing technology combined with field-measured data and MODIS image data in the same period in 2016. Regression models of aboveground biomass and vegetation index (NDVI) with relative grazing intensity were established individually in the study area, and a power regression model between different relative grazing intensities and NDVI was additionally established. The result showed that with increase in NDVI, aboveground biomass increased in June, July, August, and September. Ground biomass and relative grazing intensity showed optimum significant negative correlation (R2=0.965 1), which was a power curvilinear regression. Relative grazing intensity and vegetation index showed good correlation (R2=0.631); with decrease in NDVI, relative grazing intensity increased gradually. When relative grazing intensity increased to a certain extent, NDVI was not sensitive to its response.