Current situation of grassland utilization and its sustainable strategy in the edge regions of QinghaiTibetan PlateauA case study of Tianzhu County

Tianzhu County locates at the edge regions of QinghaiTibetan Plateau, and grassland in this County generally degrades, in which degradation area of grassland counts for 34.4％ of total grassland area. The present cover, height and yield reduced by 11.11%, 41.7% and 30.4% when compared to those in the 1950s, and the gramineous plant in grassland communities greatly decreased and the unpalatable plants increased. This study pointed out that the climate warming, overgrazing, pest and rodent, and illegal utilization contributed to the grassland degradation. Based on current situation of grassland, this study proposed the some advices of sustainable utilization of grassland.