Study On The Characteristics Of Cattle Dung Decomposition

Livestock dung is the important nutrient pool, and the important links ofmaterial recycling in grazing ecosystem. A paddock that some cattlefree-grazing in it was selected as study site in the Sonid Right County inXilingole League, Inner Mongolia desert steppe. The main aims were todetermine the cattle dung input, spatial distribution of cattle dung pats in thepaddock, the decomposition characteristics of cattle dung and the effects onsoil nutrients, and to monitored the species composition, biodiversity andseasonal dynamic of dung beetle assemblage in cattle dung, theartificial-controlled field experiments were conducted. The main results thatfrom the study as follows.1. Adult cattle defecated was about15.3times day-1, dung per weightwas about0.19kg (Air-dry weight). On this basis, the adult cattle defecated2.87kg day-1,86.13kg month-1,1033.58kg a-1, respectively. The spatialdistribution of fecal material in the pasture depends on terrain, vegetation,cattle activity characteristics.2. In addition to change of ammonium nitrogen content, residual fecalorganic matter, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total phosphorus, inorganicphosphorus and organic phosphorus content were extended with thedecomposition time was a significant decreasing trend in the decompositionof cattle dung; The nitrate nitrogen content of below the grassland soil wassignificantly increased, no significant changes was organic matter, totalnitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, total phosphorus, inorganic phosphorus,organic phosphorus content of soil; Decomposition of cattle dung lead to asignificant increase in the surrounding pasture production.3. Dung beetle was distributed in cattle dung pats in the desert steppe,which belong to3families,6genus,17species. Dominant species wereOnthophagus marginalis nigrimargo, Onthophagus gibbulus and Aphodiussp.2. The number of individuals and species of dung beetle was lower in spring and autum, activity time was shorter in cattle dung. And the number ofindividuals and species was higher in summer, activity time was longer incattle dung.4. Under the conditions set in this experiment, by the dung beetle tocattle dung, the pH value, total organic, total nitrogen, total phosphorus,inorganic phosphorus and organic phosphorus content can significantlyincrease the decomposition process, but the role of ammonium and nitratecontent not significant; Dung beetle did not play a significant role in nutrientcontent of fecal under the soil.