Economic comparison of forage production from annual crops, perennial pasture and native grassland in the alpine region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

Economic costs and benefits for different grassland production systems were analysed. Comparisons included one native grassland (alpine meadow dominated by sedges) system, four perennial monocultures of smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss, SB), Siberian wild ryegrass (Elymus sibricus Linn., SW), drooping wild ryegrass (Elymus nutans Griseb, DW) and crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum Gaertn., CW), three mixtures of these grasses (SB + DW, SB + SW + CW and SB + SW + DW + CW), and two annual monocultures of forage oats (FO) and annual ryegrass (Lolium annual, AR) in the alpine grasslands of Qinghai-Tibet, China. Perennial grass monocultures of SW and DW and perennial grass mixtures of SB + SW + DW + CW and SB + SW + CW had higher forage yields, total revenues, output:input ratios and net profits than native grassland. These grasses and mixtures can be used to reseed native grassland and improve degraded grassland in the alpine region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Perennial grass mixtures can replace FO for more sustainable agricultural production systems as they are comparable in economic value and superior in ecological value to FO.