In August 2015, overall grassland vegetation growth nationwide was on par with the previous year

Website news  The Grassland Monitoring Center of the Ministry of Agriculture used satellite remote sensing and ground observation methods, combined with meteorological monitoring information from the National Meteorological Center, to monitor and analyze the national grassland vegetation growth conditions in August of this year. The results showed that: in August, precipitation in grassland areas nationwide was unevenly distributed in space, drought conditions in some grasslands were alleviated, drought conditions in some grasslands persisted, and the overall national grassland vegetation growth was basically on par with the previous year.

In August, precipitation in grassland areas nationwide varied greatly, with uneven spatial distribution. Among them, precipitation in northeastern Inner Mongolia, the central and northern parts of Northeast China, northern and southwestern Xinjiang, western and southeastern Tibet, and most of the South was higher than normal, drought conditions in northeastern Inner Mongolia and other places were alleviated, and forage grass showed restorative growth; precipitation in central and western Inner Mongolia, most of the Northwest, and most of North China was 30% to 80% lower than normal, and forage grass growth was affected; precipitation in central and western Inner Mongolia continued to be lower than normal, drought conditions continued to develop, and forage grass growth was poor.

Through comparative analysis of satellite remote sensing images, the vegetation growth conditions of 26% of grasslands nationwide were relatively good, 45% of grasslands were unchanged, and 29% of grasslands were relatively poor. Areas with relatively good vegetation growth were mainly distributed in most of Xinjiang and the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and other places. Areas with relatively poor vegetation growth were mainly distributed in central and western Inner Mongolia, southern Qinghai, central Tibet and other places. From the perspective of major pastoral areas, drought conditions in the grasslands of eastern Inner Mongolia were somewhat alleviated, forage grass growth in central grasslands such as Xilin Gol League was relatively good, drought conditions continued to develop in central and western grasslands such as Ulanqab City, Ordos City, and Bayannur City, and forage grass growth was relatively poor. In Xinjiang, except for slightly poorer grassland growth in Tacheng and Aksu, grassland growth in other areas was relatively good, and it is expected that forage grass output across Xinjiang will increase by more than 10% over the previous year. Forage grass growth in Qinghai grasslands was generally average, and forage grass production in the southern region decreased significantly. Grassland growth in southeastern Tibet was relatively good, drought conditions in western grasslands were somewhat alleviated, and vegetation coverage, height, and grass yield in central grasslands were all lower than the same period of the previous year. The overall vegetation growth conditions of Sichuan grasslands were basically on par with the previous year. Vegetation growth conditions of Gansu grasslands were mainly unchanged; grassland vegetation growth in the western Hexi Corridor, along the Qilian Mountains, and in the central part of the Longzhong Loess Plateau region was slightly better than the same period of the previous year, while that in the central and eastern Hexi Corridor and the northern part of the Longzhong Loess Plateau region was slightly worse than the same period of the previous year.

For some time to come, temperatures in most grassland areas nationwide will be higher than normal and precipitation will be lower than normal. Among them, precipitation in central and western Inner Mongolia, eastern Northwest China and other places will be 20% to 50% lower than the same period of normal years, drought conditions in some grasslands may continue to develop, and drought will also accelerate the yellowing and withering of forage grass and raise the grassland fire danger rating. All localities should, according to current forage grass growth conditions, graze reasonably and appropriately, and do a good job in forage and feed allocation and livestock slaughter and sale; grassland areas in the North should effectively intensify grassland fire prevention patrols, strictly manage fire sources, and effectively eliminate fire hazards.

Figure1  8 Comparison of grassland vegetation growth conditions in late August withthe same period of the previous yearyear

Figure2  8 Comparison of grassland vegetation growth conditions in late August with the same period of the past tenyears

Figure3 8 Schematic diagram of year-on-year grassland vegetation growth in August