Species composition, changes in the net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, water use efficiency and productivity of seven plant species (Artemisia frigida Willd., Cleistogenes squarrosa (Trin.) Keng, Carex duriuscula C.A. Mey., Kochia prostrata (L.) Schrad., Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvelev, Potentilla acaulis L., Stipa krylovii Roshev.) in three grazing intensities: ungrazed plot, overgrazed plot and restored grazed plot were determined in the Sandland of the Barguzin river Basin, Baikal region, Russia. Our results indicate that, there are close coactions between the physiological properties of species and their competitive advantages in various types of land uses. Overgrazing and steppe restoration significantly effects on the physiological characteristics, including net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and water use efficiency. The changes in photosynthetic characteristics of plants can partly explained by their compensatory reactions.

net photosynthetic rate; overgrazing; restoration; species composition; transpiration; water use efficiency.

sciences soil

Presentation: oral