关键词: 草原, 草地, 概念辨析, 使用规范

Abstract: Rangeland and grassland are two key terms used in multiple disciplines and departments. However, there are confusion, overlap and crisscross in the use of these two terms due to their chaotic connotation and denotation defined by various disciplines and departments. In order to clarify the connotation and denotation of rangeland and grassland in different contexts of disciplines and departments, and to enhance their proper use in practice, I collected diverse and rich references and information in rangeland and grassland terminology, summarized the connotation and denotation of rangeland and grassland defined in various countries and disciplines, clarified the terminology changes of rangeland and grassland across different time and disciplines. Finally, I proposed proper use of those two terms to mitigate the confusion, overlap and crisscross and to provide a scientific basis for rational protection and utilization of grassland resource and ecosystems. The conclusions are based on the comprehensive analysis. There are broad and narrow definitions of rangeland and grassland. The broad definitions are derived from the international subjects of agriculture and vegetation as well as national subjects of agriculture and law, in which rangeland and grassland can be regarded as the synonym referring to the landbiology resources with multiple functions and production base for pratacultural industry, where herbaceous species dominate the vegetation with some shrubs and sparse trees used as the habitats or foods for livestock and wildlife, as well as good living environments and biological products for the human beings. These terms have been generally used as “rangeland” or “grassland” in the official documents of forestry, grassland, and agriculture departments, foreign and domestic literatures, textbooks, courses, etc. The narrow definitions are derived from the national subjects of vegetation science and land types. In the subject of vegetation science, it is defined as the zonal vegetation distributed in semiarid and semihumid areas with the perennial xerophytes as dominant plants (occasionally with some small subshrubs) in the community. The term is normally applied for vegetation classification and should be generally used as “steppe or grassland vegetation” (e.g., temperate grassland vegetation or steppe vegetation). In the subject of land types, it is defined as one of the land use types, dominated by herbaceous species. This term is normally used for land use classification by land resource (natural resources) department and should be generally used as “land type of grassland”.

Key words: rangeland, grassland, distinguishing notion, proposing proper use.