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Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering

ISSN 2095-7505

ISSN 2095-977X(Online)

CN 10-1204/S

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Front. Agr. Sci. Eng.    2021, Vol. 8 Issue (1) : 35-44    https://doi.org/10.15302/J-FASE-2020378
REVIEW
GRASSLAND AGRICULTURE IN CHINA—A REVIEW
Fujiang HOU(), Qianmin JIA, Shanning LOU, Chuntao YANG, Jiao NING, Lan LI, Qingshan FAN
State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems; Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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Abstract

• Grassland-based livestock production systems cover large areas in China.

• China is facing degradation of rangeland and has great shortage of forage.

• Five types of mixed crop-livestock systems in China described.

• Improving crop–livestock integration requires S&T and policy supports.

Interactions between crops and livestock have been at the core of the evolution of many agricultural systems. In this paper, we review the development and characteristics of mixed crop-livestock systems, with a focus on grassland-based systems, as these cover large areas in China, and face several challenges. Following the transition from the original hunting and foraging systems to a sedentary lifestyle with integrated crop-livestock production systems some 8000 years ago, a range of different mixed systems have developed, depending on rainfall, solar radiation and temperature, culture and markets. We describe 5 main types of integrated systems, (1) livestock and rangeland, (2) livestock and grain production, (3) livestock and crop – grassland rotations, (4) livestock, crops and forest (silvo-pasture), and (5) livestock, crops and fish ponds. Next, two of these mixed systems are described in greater detail, i.e., the mountain-oasis-desert system and its modifications in arid and semi-arid regions, and the integrated crop-livestock production systems on the Loess Plateau. In general, crop-livestock interactions in integrated systems have significant positive effects on crop production, livestock production, energy use efficiency and economic profitability. We conclude that improved integration of crop-livestock production systems is one of the most important ways for achieving a more sustainable development of animal agriculture in China.
Keywords food security      ruminant agriculture, herbivove agriculture      crop-livestock interaction      energy balance analysis     
Corresponding Author(s): Fujiang HOU   
Just Accepted Date: 30 January 2021   Online First Date: 12 March 2021    Issue Date: 29 March 2021
 Cite this article:   
Fujiang HOU,Qianmin JIA,Shanning LOU, et al. GRASSLAND AGRICULTURE IN CHINA—A REVIEW[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2021, 8(1): 35-44.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/10.15302/J-FASE-2020378
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/Y2021/V8/I1/35
Area Rangeland type Animal production (APU·ha−1) Sown grassland/rangeland Sown grassland/cropland
Utah, USA Sagebrush rangeland 0.39 0.015 0.232
New Mexico, USA Short grass prairie 1.44 0.012 0.274
Kansas, USA Tall grass prairie 0.02 0.079 0.045
North Dakota, USA Mixed prairie 0.57 0.068 0.030
Saskatchewan, Canada Mixed prairie 0.83 0.195 0.022
Patagonian, Argentina Semi-arid rangeland 1.94 0.011 0.508
Ulanqab, China Desert steppe 1.62 0.000 0.000
Xilingol, China Typical steppe 0.40 0.009 0.321
Hulun Buir, China Meadow steppe 2.03 0.006 0.058
Tab.1  Agricultural land for herbivore production
Fig.1  Feed balance in a sheep grazing system in north China[11].
Fig.2  Evolution of integrated crop-livestock production system, as function of environmental pressure (x-axis) and productivity (y-axis)[8]. The column on the right-hand side indicates the dominant external energy sources. P.S., production system.
Fig.3  Succession of integrated crop-livestock production system[8], as function of solar radiation intensity and temperature (x-axis) and rainfall (y-axis), leading to 6 distinct integrated crop-livestock production systems in China.
System types Distributions Main livestock
System based on rangeland The arid area of north-west China; the semi-arid area; Qinghai-Tibetan plateau Sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses, donkeys, yak (Bos grunniens), Tibetan sheep
System based on grain crops The north-east China plain, the north China plain, the regional plains of the Yangtze River Middle and Lower reaches Cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys
System based on crop/pasture rotation The Karst region of south-west China and the Loess Plateau in north-west China Goats, sheep, cattle, donkeys and pigs
System based on silvopasture The south-east of China in regions between the grain production based crop-livestock systems and the pond based crop-livestock systems Cattle, goats, pigs, ducks (Anhina cornuta) and chicken
System based on pond Southern China where there is high rainfall and flat land Buffalo, fish, pigs and ducks
Tab.2  Main characteristics and distribution of the five main integrated crop-livestock systems in China
Fig.4  Productivity of four production layers before (a) and after (b) the implementation of a series of improvements and improved system coupling[19].
Item Crop farm Livestock farm Mixed farm
North Centre South North Centre South North Centre South
Rainfall (mm) 300 450 600 300 450 600 300 450 600
Input per farm (GJ) 68.5 146.6 73.3 140.1 75.9 193.1 41.0 21.2 34.1
Output per farm (GJ) 98.6 67.1 156 86.8 79.2 87.9 63.6 48.5 70.3
Output/input per farm (GJ) 1.4 0.5 2.1 0.6 1.0 0.5 1.6 2.3 2.1
Net income per farm (GJ) 30.1 –79.5 82.6 –53.3 3.3 –105.2 22.6 27.2 36.2
Tab.3  Energy balance analysis of farms in three areas of the eastern Gansu Loess Plateau[25]
Fig.5  Relationship between rainfall and energy balance in Loess Plateau. (a) The relationships between net energy income and energy output/input of crop production, and rainfall. (b) The relationships between net energy income and energy output/input of livestock production, and rainfall.
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