Differences in plant communities and soil properties in grazed versus mown lands around Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia

A Carex duriuscula-Stipa krglovii community and a Serratula centauroides-Stipa grandis community were classified, based on Braun-Blanquet methodology, in grazed versus mown areas, respectively. In the 0~10cm soil layer, soil compaction and water content were significantly different in the grazed and mown sites; at 11~30cm, soil temperature was significantly higher at grazed sites than at mown sites. The species dominating on grazed sites were more closely related to compacted soil, higher soil temperature and lower water content, whereas the species dominating on mown sites were more closely related to the opposite environmental conditions.