Effect of Typical Vegetation Restoration Pattern on Soil and Water Conservation in Yuanmou Dry-hot Valley of Yunnan Province

In Yuanmou dry-hot valley of Yunnan Province,three typical vegetation restoration patterns including production forest transformed from sloping fields to terracing,ecological afforestation within the gully and ecological aforestation in gully head and slope were selected to compare their effects on soil and water conservation.Soil and water loss,soil infiltration rate and the soil moisture dynamics of soil profile with the depth of 0-100 cm of these three patterns and their controls were observed by established standard observation plots in rainy season.The results showed that the soil and water loss of ecological afforestation and production forest terrace reduced by over 30% and 60% compared with their controls（without growth of any vegetation）respectively,showing significant control effect on the soil and water loss.Vegetation restoration also apparently increased the infiltration rate of soil（increased by 100%-200%）.In rainy season,the soil moisture content of ecological afforestation and production forest terrace increased by over 30% and 100% compared with their controls.This indicated that vegetation restoration will not lead to soil aridity during the rainy season;vegetation restoration not only reduced the loss of surface water and soil fine particles,but also enhanced the infiltration of precipitation.These two effects made the soil moisture content increase throughout the profile.

Effects of Artificial Vegetation Restoration on Soil Physicochemical Properties in Southern Edge of Mu Us Sandy Land

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the artificial vegetations on soil physicochemical properties of sandy land. [Method] The soil physicochemical proper- ties in five representative lands respectively covered by Artemisia ordosica, Salix cheilophila, Hedysarum scoparium, Populus simonii and Amorpha fruticosa, all of which were planted artificially at the same year were measured in the present study, using a bare soil as the control. [Result] Artificial vegetation improved the soil physicochemical properties by different extents in the lands covered by different plants. The soil physicochemical properties such as bulk density under A. Fruticosa and H. Scoparium were improved greatly. The frequency distribution of soil particle size under artificial vegetations exhibited a bimodal curve. The average soil particle size under A. fruticosa was the smallest, and the soil was very poorly sorted. The soil nutrients in the sandy land were not significantly improved by artificial vegeta- tion. [Conclusion] Artificial vegetation has a certain impact on soil properties in sandy land, as it greatly improves the soil physical properties but not the chemical properties.

Effects of Vegetation Restoration in Different Types on Soil Nutrients in Southern Edge of Mu Us Sandy Land

In order to explore effects of vegetation on nutrients in soils, nutrients characters of soils under natural grass, closed grass, abandoned lands, forest lands returned from farmlands and fixed sandy areas in Mu Us Desert were researched. The results indicated that vegetations in varied types have different effects on organic matter, total N, available N and available P, among which the first three were all higher in soils under closed grass, forest lands returned from farmlands, and fixed sandy lands than those under natural grass and abandoned lands. This was totally contrary with contents of available P in soil. In addition, nutrients in soils at 0-20 cm were more influenced by vegetation, than those at 20-60 cm, and Caragana Korshinskii proved better in improving nutrients in soils.

我国最大的磷矿生产基地——昆阳磷矿矿务局

本文介绍了我国最大的磷矿生产基地——昆阳磷矿矿务局的发展概况,同时论述了局属三个露天磷矿在设计、建设和生产方面的进展和科技进步所取得的成就。

An Exploratory Analysis of Vegetation Strategies to Reduce Shallow Landslide Activity on Loess Hillslopes, Northeast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

Heavy summer rainfall induces significant soil erosion and shallow landslide activity on the loess hillslopes of the Xining Basin at the northeast margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This study examines the mechanical effects of five native shrubs that can be used to reduce shallow landslide activity. We measured single root tensile resistance and shear resistance, root anatomical structure and direct shear and triaxial shear for soil without roots and five root- soil composite systems. Results show that Atriplex canescens （Pursh） Nutt. possessed the strongest roots, followed by Caragana korshinskii Kom., Zygophyllum xanthoxylon （Bunge） Maxim., Nitraria tangutorum Bobr. and Lycium chinense Mill. Single root strength and shear resistance relationships with root diameter are characterized by power or exponential relations, consistent with the Mohr- Coulomb law. Root mechanical strength reflects their anatomical structure, especially the percentage of phloem and xylem cells, and the degree and speed of periderm lignifications. The cohesion force of root- soil composite systems is notably higher than that of soil without roots, with increasing amplitudes of cohesion force for A. canescens, C. korshinskii, Z. xanthoxylon, N. tangutorurn and L. chinense of 75.9%, 75.1%, 36.2%, 24.6% and 17.0 % respectively. When subjected to shear forces, the soil without root samples show much greater lateral deformation thanthe root-soil composite systems, reflecting the restraining effects of roots. Findings from this paper indicate that efforts to reduce shallow landslides in this region by enhancing root reinforcement will be achieved most effectively using A. canescens and C. korshinskii.

Rehabilitation of bauxite residue to support soil development and grassland establishment

Rehabilitation(amendment and vegetation establishment)on bauxite residue is viewed as a promising strategy to stabilize the surface and initiate soil development.However,such approaches are inhibited by high pH,high exchangeable sodium(ESP)and poor nutrient status.Amendment with gypsum is effective in improving residue physical and chemical properties and promoting seed establishment and growth.Application of organics(e.g.compost)can address nutrient deficiencies but supplemental fertilizer additions may be required.A series of germination bioassays were performed on residue to determine candidate species and optimum rehabilitation application rates.Subsequent field trials assessed establishment of grassland species Holcus lanatus and Trifolium pratense as well as physical and chemical properties of amended residue.Follow up monitoring over five years assessed elemental content in grassland and species dynamics.With co-application of the amendments several grassland species can grow on the residue.Over time other plant species can invade the restored area and fast growing nutrient demanding grasses are replaced.Scrub species can establish within a 5 Yr period and there is evidence of nutrient cycling.High pH,sodicity and nutrient deficiencies are the major limiting factors to establishing grassland on residue.Following restoration several plant species can grow on amended residue.

Responses of soil moisture to vegetation restoration type and slope length on the loess hillslope

Soil moisture, a critical variable in the hydrologic cycle, is highly influenced by vegetation restoration type. However, the relationship between spatial variation of soil moisture, vegetation restoration type and slope length is controversial. Therefore, soil moisture across soil layers（0-400 cm depth） was measured before and after the rainy season in severe drought（2015） and normal hydrological year（2016） in three vegetation restoration areas（artificial forestland, natural forestland and grassland）, on the hillslopes of the Caijiachuan Catchment in the Loess area, China. The results showed that artificial forestland had the lowest soil moisture and most severe water deficit in 100-200 cm soil layers. Water depletion was higher in artificial and natural forestlands than in natural grassland. Moreover, soil moisture in the shallow soil layers（0-100 cm） under the three vegetation restoration types did not significantly vary with slope length, but a significant increase with slope length was observed in deep soil layers（below 100 cm）. In2015, a severe drought hydrological year, higher water depletion was observed at lower slope positions under three vegetation restoration types due to higher transpiration and evapotranspiration and unlikely recharge from upslope runoff. However, in 2016, a normal hydrological year, there was lower water depletion, even infiltration recharge at lower slope positions, indicating receiving a large amount of water from upslope. Vegetation restoration type, precipitation, slope length and soil depth during a rainy season, in descending order of influence, had significant effects on soil moisture. Generally, natural grassland is more beneficial for vegetation restoration than natural and artificial forestlands, and the results can provide useful information for understanding hydrological processes and improving vegetation restoration practices on the Loess Plateau

Effects of vegetation coverage and seasonal change on soil microbial biomass and community structure in the dry-hot valley region

Soil microorganisms are sensitive indicator of soil health and quality. Understanding the effects of vegetation biomass and seasonal change on soil microorganisms is vital to evaluate the soil quality and implement vegetation restoration. This study analyzed the soil phospholipid fatty acids(PLFAs) in fresh and withered Kudzu(Pueraria montana var. lobata) vegetation conditions in different seasons. The results showed that vegetation biomass and seasonal change significantly affected microbial biomass and its community structure. Both fresh and withered Kudzu cover significantly increased soil microbial biomass, and the growth effect of microbes in the soil with fresh Kudzu cover was more obvious than that with withered Kudzu cover. Compared with the dry season, the rainy season significantly increased the microbial biomass and the B/F(the ratio of bacterial to fungal PLFAs) ratio but dramatically reduced the G+/G-(the ratio of gram-positive to gram-negative bacteria PLFAs). Kudzu cover and seasonal change had a significant effect on microbial structure in soil covered by higher vegetation biomass. Furthermore, soil temperature and moisture had different correlations with specific microbial biomass in the two seasons. Our findings highlight the effect of Kudzu vine cover on the soil microenvironment and soil microhabitat, enhancing the soil quality in the Dry-hot Valley of Jinsha River, Southwest China.

Changes in vegetation and soil properties during recovery of a subtropical forest in South China

Secondary forests account for a large amount of subtropical forest due to persistent anthropogenic disturbance in China.The interaction between vegetation and soil during recovery process is rather complex and dependent on forest conditions.Understanding how vegetation and soil properties changes and how their relationship develops in secondary forests is key to effective forest restoration and management.Here we explored the patterns of vegetation and soil properties as well as their correlations during forest recovery process in a subtropical forest in south China.Plots of three forest types,i.e.,broadleaf-conifermixedforest,broadleaved forest and old growth stand,were established to represent the recovery stages.The results showed that diversity patterns in the tree,shrub and herb layers were different:in the tree layer the species diversity peaked at the intermediate stage,while in the understory layers it decreased chronologically.Most of the soil factors showed an increasing trend,and different effects of soil factors were found for the three layers as well as for the two spatial scales.Together,our results suggested that vegetation and soil might be interdependent during the recovery course.Further studies are needed on exploring how vegetation interplays with soil at different scales and how nutrient limitations affects the vegetation development in a chronosequence.

Impacts of Sloping Land Conversion Program on the vegetation in loess hilly and gully area of northern Shaanxi

Aiming at alleviating the serious soil erosion, the Chinese government initiated the Sloping Land Conversion Program （SLCP） in 1999. Now; after 8 years of project implementation, the ecological recovery effects of the SLCP have become the hot issue of academic circle. This paper; raking the loess hill and gully area of northern Shaanxi as an example, presents a methodology for assessing the vegetation restoration effect of SLCP with normalized difference vegetation index （NDVI）. The key components include calculation of the Growing Season NDVI （GSNDVI）, and estimation of the NVDI change induced by climate and SLCP, respectively. Based on the method, the NDVI change between 2000 and 2006 was obtained using the GSNDVI that excluded the noise from snow and ice. After the part of total NDVI change caused to： climate variation was estimated using empiric formulae, we obtained the part induced by human factors, i.e. the SLCP The human induced part of ND VI change was considered as an approximation indicating the effect of the SLCP on the vegetation. Finally, we analyzed the ND VI change characters of the whole study area, different slope lands and different land use types by spatial statistics method. Results show that the vegetation condition is significantly improved by the SLCP, particularly land types that directly involved in the SLCP, such as steeply slope farmlands, degraded grasslands, etc.

Manipulated microtopography alters plant community development in fragile farm-pastoral transition zone

The ecosystems within agro-pastoral transition zones exhibit inherent fragility and heightened susceptibility to climate variability,exacerbated by profound degradation resulting from anthropogenic activities.Subsequent vegetation degradation in these areas precipitates severe soil erosion,presenting formidable challenges for ecological restoration efforts.The utilization of microtopographic structures to mitigate soil erosion and facilitate vegetation recovery stands as a prominent strategy for vegetation restoration within agro-pastoral transition zones.Despite the acknowledgment in current restoration practices that the efficacy of microtopography-based restoration is contingent upon slope,aspect and elevation,there remains a notable absence of precise observed information on this correlation.This study,conducted in the Bashang Grassland,a typical agro-pastoral transition zone in northern China,aims to fill the information gap concerning the correspondence between microtopographic structures and restoration outcomes.Our findings revealed that microtopography has a significant impact on vegetation characteristics,with outcomes varying by location.Shaded slopes displayed higher biomass and density compared with sunny slopes and valleys.While microtopography affected community structure,it did not substantially alter species richness,highlighting the critical role of location and pit construction in successful restoration endeavors.This study provides insights for the selection,design and assessment of microtopography-based restoration in vulnerable ecosystems.

Relationship Between Vegetation Restoration and Soil Microbial Characteristics in Degraded Karst Regions: A Case Study

The mechanism of vegetation restoration on degraded karst regions has been a research focus of soil science and ecology for the last decade.In an attempt to preferably interpret the soil microbiological characteristic variation associated with vegetation restoration and further to explore the role of soil microbiology in vegetation restoration mechanism of degraded karst regions,we measured microbial biomass C and basal respiration in soils during vegetation restoration in Zhenfeng County of southwestern Guizhou Province,China.The community level physiological profiles(CLPP) of the soil microbial community to were estimated determine if vegetation changes were accompanied by changes in functioning of soil microbial communities.The results showed that soil microbial biomass C and microbial quotient(microbial biomass C/organic C) tended to increase with vegetation restoration,being in the order arboreal community stage > shrubby community stage > herbaceous community stage > bare land stage.Similar trend was found in the change of basal respiration(BR).The metabolic quotient(the ratio of basal respiration to microbial biomass,qCO 2) decreased with vegetation restoration,and remained at a constantly low level in the arboreal community stage.Analyses of the CLPP data indicated that vegetation restoration tended to result in higher average well color development,substrate richness,and functional diversity.Average utilization of specific substrate guilds was highest in the arboreal community stage.Principle component analysis of the CLPP data further indicated that the arboreal community stage was distinctly different from the other three stages.In conclusion,vegetation restoration improved soil microbial biomass C,respiration,and utilization of carbon sources,and decreased qCO 2,thus creating better soil conditions,which in turn could promote the restoration of vegetation on degraded karst regions.

Ecological restoration and recovery in the wind-blown sand hazard areas of northern China: relationship between soil water and carrying capacity for vegetation in the Tengger Desert

The main prevention and control area for wind-blown sand hazards in northern China is about 320000 km2 in size and includes sandlands to the east of the Helan Mountain and sandy deserts and desert-steppe transitional regions to the west of the Helan Mountain.Vegetation recovery and restoration is an important and effective approach for constraining wind-blown sand hazards in these areas.After more than 50 years of long-term ecological studies in the Shapotou region of the Tengger Desert,we found that revegetation changed the hydrological processes of the original sand dune system through the utilization and space-time redistribution of soil water.The spatiotemporal dynamics of soil water was significantly related to the dynamics of the replanted vegetation for a given regional precipitation condition.The long-term changes in hydrological processes in desert areas also drive replanted vegetation succession.The soil water carrying capacity of vegetation and the model for sand fixation by revegetation in aeolian desert areas where precipitation levels are less than 200 mm are also discussed.

Response of sediment yield to vegetation restoration at a large spatial scale in the Loess Plateau

The impact of vegetation coverage on erosion and sediment yield in the Loess Plateau has been extensively studied,but the research has been primarily based on observations from slope runoff plots or secondary forest regions;the scaling method remains unresolved when it is applied at a large spatial scale,and it is difficult to apply to regions with severe soil and water loss given the predominance of herbs and shrubs.To date,there is little data on the quantitative impact of changes to vegetation on sediment concentration at a large spatial scale.This paper is based on vegetation information from remote sensing images,measured rainfall and sediment data over nearly 60 years,and results from previous runoff and sediment variation research on the Yellow River.We introduce the concepts of a sediment yield coefficient and the percentage of effective vegetation and erodible area,analyze the impact of different vegetation conditions on the flood sediment concentration and sediment yield,and evaluate the effect of rainfall intensity on sediment yield under different vegetation conditions at the watershed scale.We propose models to evaluate the impact of vegetation on sediment yield in the loess gully hilly region,which are based on remote sensing data and support an application at a large spatial scale.The models can be used to assess sediment reduction that results from the current significant improvement of vegetation in the Loess Plateau.

Soil calcium content as the driving factor for vegetative structure and soil microbial function diverging across a fire chronosequence of the boreal forests in northeast China

The role of biophysical variables in constructing community structure changes with the time since fire.The major objective of this study is to verify the transition stage and its underlying variables for the postfire forest and soil microbial function in the boreal forested area of China.A 50-year fire chronosequence was presented,and biomass of forbs,shrubs and woody plants was separately weighted to assess their contribution to the whole community with the year since fire(YSF).Simultaneously,soil biophysical properties were measured for stands in different time periods after fire.Soil microbial functions,i.e.growth efficiency(GE)and carbon use efficiency(CUE),were calculated based on ecoenzymatic and soil nutrient stoichiometry.In terms of vegetative structure,forbs’proportion decreased from 75%to 1.5%,but the proportion of woody plants increased from 0.04%to 70%across this fire chronosequence.GE and CUE of soil microorganisms averaged 0.242 and 0.236 and were significantly higher in 9,15 and 31 YSF than in 2 and 3 YSF.Soil metal content was significantly increased at the late stage of this fire chronosequence,and soil calcium content showed a positive correlation with woody plant biomass and a negative correlation with soil microbial function.Overall,the present work highlights that the time period of 15 and 31 YSF is a hallmark stage for aboveground vegetative structure and soil microbial function to change in different trends and that the calcium content may partly account for these two divergent trajectories.