PCA and RDA analysis data sheet

The data were collected in the field. Excel was used to create the data. Gram+-gram positive bacteria, Gram--gram negative bacteria, AMF- arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, B/F-bacteria to fungi ratio, SOC- soil organic carbon, TN- soil total nitrogen, C/N-soil organic carbon to total nitrogen ratio. Treatment: C- control,DU-dung and urine return; M-mowing; T-trampling; DU+M-mowing combined with the addition of dung and urine; M+T-mowing combined with trampling; DU+T-trampling combined with the addition of dung and urine; DU+M+T-mowing combined with trampling and the addition of dung and urin

Soil microbes' parameters

The data were collected in the field. Excel was used to create the data. SE-standard error, Gram+-gram positive bacteria, Gram--gram negative bacteria, AMF- arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, B/F-bacteria to fungi ratio. Treatment: C- control,DU-dung and urine return; M-mowing; T-trampling; DU+M-mowing combined with the addition of dung and urine; M+T-mowing combined with trampling; DU+T-trampling combined with the addition of dung and urine; DU+M+T-mowing combined with trampling and the addition of dung and urin

Soil parameters

The data were collected in the field. Excel was used to create the data. SE-standard error, MBC-soil microbial biomass carbon, MBN- soil microbial biomass nitrogen. Treatment: C- control,DU-dung and urine return; M-mowing; T-trampling; DU+M-mowing combined with the addition of dung and urine; M+T-mowing combined with trampling; DU+T-trampling combined with the addition of dung and urine; DU+M+T-mowing combined with trampling and the addition of dung and urin

Comparison of concentration of SOC in desert steppe between 2004 and 2010.

†<p>from Wang (2009).</p>‡<p>Figures in parentheses indicate the percent change between the 2004 and 2010 sampling dates.</p

Correlation between SOC, TN, MBC, and C/N for study sites (incorporating all depths and all stocking rates, n = 240 in desert steppe, n = 160 in typical steppe).

**<p>means significant difference at the <i>P</i>≤0.001 level;</p>*<p>means significant difference at the <i>P</i>≤0.05 level;</p>†<p>All values are Pearson correlation coefficient (range 0–1).</p

Partial ANOVA table showing degrees of freedom (DF) and <i>P</i>-values from GLM analysis (at α = 0.05) of TN, SOC, MBC and C∶N ratio in the study sites across grazing intensity (GI) and depths (D).

<p>NS not significant.</p

Mean monthly air temperature and rainfall distribution for typical steppe and desert steppe in 2010.

<p>Variation of annual average temperature and annual average precipitation from 1990–2010 in typical steppe and desert steppe.</p

Concentration and mass of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) for soils from ungrazed (UG), lightly grazed (LG), moderately grazed (MG), and heavily grazed (HG) sites sampled in 2010 in the Desert and Typical steppe, Inner Mongolia.

<p>Different small letters indicate significant differences between different stocking rates (<i>P</i><0.05).</p

Mean (SE) C∶N ratios (incorporating all depths) and mean (SE) MBC∶SOC ratios (incorporating 0–5 cm and 5–10 cm depths) with different grazing pressure for two sites.

<p>Data in different letters means significant differences between different stocking rates (<i>P</i><0.05).</p

Mean values of soil characteristics of upper 30 cm.

<p>SD, soil density; TP, total P; TK, total K.</p