Grade appraisement of grassland resource in Hebei Province

In order to achieve the dynamic state of grassland resources in Hebei Province, the data of openair grassland survey of 110 plots，330 quadrats were obtained from 2005 to 2007.Based on grassland vegetation yield, palatability and utilization characters, the rangeland grades in Hebei Province were appraised.Results from this study indicated that: 1) The percentages of grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ and Ⅴin the investigated grassland plots were 0.91%, 13.64%, 31.82%, 30.91% and 22.73% respectively.The proportion of grades Ⅲ and Ⅳ, total 67.73% in the investigated grassland plots, was bigger than that of others.Different grassland types had significant different grassland grades.The temperate steppe and warm temperate tussock could be classified into grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ; the temperate meadow and mountain meadow belonged to grade Ⅲ, Ⅳand Ⅴ; the warm temperate shrubgrassland and lowland meadow were grade Ⅳand Ⅴ; and the land marsh grassland were put into grade Ⅳ.2) The proportion of grassland classified into level 1 to 8 was 7.27%、4.55 %、11.82 %、15.45%、27.27%、14.55%、10.91% and 8.18% respectively.3）Comparison with the appraisement results of grassland grades in the 1980s, the proportion of gradeⅠandⅡgrassland decreased; grade Ⅲ, Ⅳ andⅤ increased; the proportion of level 1 to 4 reduced, level 5 to 8 elevated; overall grassland resources in Hebei Province showed an worsening trend.