Effects of rest grazing on organic carbon storage in Stipa Baicalensis steppe in Inner Mongolia

In order to evaluate the potential effects of rest grazing on organic carbon storage on the Stipa baicalensis steppe in Inner Mongolia, compared the S. baicalensis steppes after rest grazing for 3 years, 6 years, and 9 years, using potassium dichromate heating method, this study analyzed the organic carbon storage of plant and soil in the steppes among different periods of rest grazing. The results indicated that as the rest grazing years prolonged, the biomass included above-ground parts, litters and underground plant parts(roots) of the plant communities all increased, meanwhile the carbon content of the biomass increased with the rest grazing years prolonged. For the zero rest grazing (RG0) steppe and the steppes after a rest grazing of 3 years (RG3a), 6 years (RG6a), 9 years (RG9a), the carbon storage in above-ground parts of plant communities were 42.60 g C/m2, 66.33 g C/m2, 83.46 g C/m2, 100.29 g C/m2 respectively; the carbon storage of litters were 7.85 g C/m2, 9.12 g C/m2, 9.18 g C/m2, 11.54 g C/m2 separately; the carbon storage of underground plant parts (0–100 cm) were 281.40 g C/m2, 576.38 g C/m2, 745.33 g C/m2, 1279.61 g C/m2 respectively; and the carbon storage in 0–100 cm soil were 22991.14 g C/m2, 24687.75 g C/m2, 26564.86 g C/m2,33041.55 g C/m2. The results suggested that as the rest grazing years prolonged, the organic carbon storage in plant communities and soil increased. The carbon storage of underground plant parts and soil organic carbon mainly concentrated in 0–40 cm soil. After rest grazing for 3 years, 6 years, and 9 years, the increased soil organic carbon were as the 81.14%, 85.84%, and 89.46% of the total increased carbon; From the perspective of carbon sequestration cost, the total cost of RG3a, RG6a and RG9a were 2903.40 RMB/hm2, 5806.80 RMB/hm2, and 8710.20 RMB/hm2. The cost reduced with the extension of rest grazing years, 0.17 RMB/kg C, 0.16 RMB/kg C, 0.09 RMB/kg C for RG3a, RG6a and RG9a respectively. From the growth characteristics of grassland plants, the spring was one of the two avoid grazing periods, timely rest grazing could effectively restore and update grassland vegetation, and was beneficial to the sustainable use of grassland. From the available data, the organic carbon storage of RG9a was the highest, while the cost of carbon sequestration was the lowest. Therefore, spring rest grazing should be encouraged to continue for it was proved to be a very efficient grassland use measures.