Grey incidence analysis of factors affecting grassland degradation in Inner Mongolia

The typical grassland,meadow and ecotone between agriculture and animal husbandry in Inner Mongolia were selected,and various kinds of factors influencing grassland degradation such as the society,economy,and environment in these regions were used for a grey incidence analysis of grassland degradation.The degraded grassland area was chosen as a reference series.Several climatic factors,including accumulated air temperature,relative variability of annual precipitation during grass growth(Apr.-Sep.),severe wind days,and some human activity factors such as overloaded proportion of pastureland,total amount of artificial grassland areas,forage sown areas,enclosure grassland areas,annual amount of mown grass,annual net income per capita in pasture,etc. were chosen as the comparative series.The degree of grey incidence was calculated.The quantitative results of the relationship between degraded grassland and the above factors showed that grassland degradation results from climate change and human activities,and that mankind's management has an enormous influence on the grassland ecosystem.Good management can lighten the pressure of livestock on grasslands through many kinds of measures to actively maintain the balance of people and resources.