Change in Alpine Grassland NPP in Response to Climate Variation and Human Activities in the Yellow River Source Zone from 2000 to 2020

Feng Zhang, Xiasong Hu, Jing Zhang, Chengyi Li, Yupeng Zhang and Xilai Li
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Feng Zhang: College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
Xiasong Hu: College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
Jing Zhang: College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
Chengyi Li: College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
Yupeng Zhang: College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
Xilai Li: College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 14, 1-15

Abstract: Identifying the relative contributions of climate change and human activities to alpine grassland dynamics is critical for understanding grassland degradation mechanisms. In this study, first, the actual NPP (NPP a ) was obtained by MOD17A3. Second, we used the Zhou Guangsheng model to simulate the potential met net primary productivity (NPP p ). Finally, the NPP generated by anthropogenic activities (NPP h ) was estimated by calculating the difference between NPP p and NPP a . Then, the relative contributions of climate change and human activities to NPP changes in grasslands were quantitatively assessed by analyzing trends in NPP p and NPP a . Thereby, the drivers of NPP change in the Yellow River source grassland were identified. The results showed that the temperature and precipitation in the study area showed a warm-humid climate trend from 2000 to 2020. The NPP p and NPP a increased at a rate of 1.07 g C/m 2 and 1.51 g C/m 2 per year, respectively, while the NPP h decreased at a rate of 0.46 g C/m 2 per year. It can be seen that human activities had a positive effect on the change of NPP in the Yellow River source grassland from the change rate. The relative contribution analysis showed that 55.90% of grassland NPP increased due to climate change, 40.16% of grassland NPP increased due to human activities, and the grassland degradation was not significant. The research results can provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the next step of the Yellow River source grassland ecological protection project.

Keywords: alpine grassland; NPP; climate variation; human activities; Yellow River source zone (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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