Effects of land use patterns on community characteristics and grassland health in Inner Mongolia

To evaluate the effects of different land use patterns on the health of typical grasslands, this study investigated the grassland in Xiwuzhumuqin banner. Through community investigation and using the condition vigor organization resilience (CVOR) grassland health evaluation model, comprehensive evaluation of grazing and mowing grassland (MG), summer grazing grassland (SG), and winter grazing grassland (WG) was carried out. The effects of four different utilization patterns of grazing prohibition and mowing grassland (MP) on grassland health were investigated. The results showed that: 1) The average height of the grazing grassland community in winter was significantly lower than those observed with other utilization practices (P < 0.05); the average coverage and density of the summer grazing grassland were significantly lower (P < 0.05); grazing was one of the main factors affecting the morphological characteristics of the community; and the Shannon Wiener index and Simpson index of the summer grazing grassland were significantly lower than those observed with other utilization practices (P < 0.05). Grazing and mowing increased the richness and consistency of the community. 2) The community biomass and litter amount of the grazing grassland in winter were significantly lower than those observed with other utilization methods. 3) The comprehensive grassland health grade based on the CVOR index for each method was MG > MP > WG > SG; the comprehensive grassland health index of the grazing and mowing grassland was the highest ((H_CVOR = 0.84), and the other three utilization modes were determined to exhibit an unhealthy state. In order to restore the health level of the typical grasslands in Inner Mongolia, the utilization of grazing and mowing grassland should be strengthened, and grassland management measures should be adopted according to the local conditions.