Free-range broiler production is an effective combination of ecological and economic benefits which should be further standardized. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of free-range broiler production on ecosystem by measuring the changes in vegetation characteristics and soil physicochemical properties under different stocking densities. A natural meadow with rich biodiversity was created and further divided into three groups. The broilers were reared in door and provided range access around 6 to 22 weeks of age with two different densities, 600 and 1200 broilers/ha. The vegetation characteristics and soil physicochemical properties, such as total coverage, soil nutrition and pH value, were measured at the beginning and the end of stocking. The results showed that the vegetation characteristics and soil physicochemical properties changed significantly after free-range stocking. The dominant plants, total coverage, richness index, diversity and biomass above-ground of treatment groups illustrated a considerable difference comparing with those in control group, and the indicators of soil physicochemical properties in treatment groups increased remarkably except the pH value. The present study demonstrated the higher stocking density would cause a more serious destruction of vegetation characteristics and modification of soil physicochemical properties, which suggested that an even lower stocking density or an alternative management such as rotational grazing could be a better choice for free-range broiler production.

中文翻译：

---

散养肉鸡生产对我国放养区植被特征及土壤理化性质的影响

散养肉鸡生产是生态效益和经济效益的有效结合，应进一步规范。本研究的目的是通过测量不同放养密度下植被特征和土壤理化性质的变化来评估散养肉鸡生产对生态系统的影响。创造了一个具有丰富生物多样性的天然草甸，并进一步分为三组。肉鸡是在门内饲养的，并在 6 至 22 周龄左右提供牧场通道，有两种不同的密度，600 和 1200 只肉鸡/公顷。在放养开始和结束时测量植被特征和土壤理化性质，如总覆盖度、土壤营养和pH值。结果表明，放养后植被特征和土壤理化性质发生显着变化。处理组的优势植物、总覆盖度、丰富度指数、多样性和地上生物量与对照组相比有显着差异，除pH值外，处理组土壤理化性状指标均显着增加。本研究表明，较高的饲养密度会导致更严重的植被特性破坏和土壤理化性质的改变，这表明较低的饲养密度或诸如轮牧等替代管理可能是散养肉鸡的更好选择生产。处理组的总覆盖度、丰富度指数、多样性和地上生物量与对照组相比有显着差异，除pH值外，处理组土壤理化性质指标均显着增加。本研究表明，较高的饲养密度会导致更严重的植被特性破坏和土壤理化性质的改变，这表明较低的饲养密度或诸如轮牧等替代管理可能是散养肉鸡的更好选择生产。处理组的总覆盖度、丰富度指数、多样性和地上生物量与对照组相比有显着差异，除pH值外，处理组土壤理化性质指标均显着增加。本研究表明，较高的饲养密度会导致更严重的植被特性破坏和土壤理化性质的改变，这表明较低的饲养密度或诸如轮牧等替代管理可能是散养肉鸡的更好选择生产。处理组土壤理化性质指标除pH值外均显着增加。本研究表明，较高的饲养密度会导致更严重的植被特性破坏和土壤理化性质的改变，这表明较低的饲养密度或诸如轮牧等替代管理可能是散养肉鸡的更好选择生产。处理组土壤理化性质指标除pH值外均显着增加。本研究表明，较高的饲养密度会导致更严重的植被特性破坏和土壤理化性质的改变，这表明较低的饲养密度或诸如轮牧等替代管理可能是散养肉鸡的更好选择生产。