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Influence of vegetation restoration on soil physical properties in the Loess Plateau, China

  • Soils, Sec 2 • Global Change, Environ Risk Assess, Sustainable Land Use • Research Article
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Extensive vegetation recovery has been implemented to control severe soil erosion on the Loess Plateau, China. However, no systematic study has been done on the soil improvement benefit and preferable pattern of vegetation rehabilitation. In this study, the effects of vegetation restoration on soil physical properties at ten sites with different vegetation types and varying restoration periods were investigated.

Materials and methods

The experiment was carried out in the Yanhe river basin in the hilly-gully region of the Loess Plateau. Ten sites, including two replanted arboreal forests for 25 and 35 years, three replanted scrubland for 15, 30, and 45 years, four secondary natural grassland for 10, 20, 30, and 40 years, and one farmland, were selected for soil sampling. Sampling was conducted at 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm layers.

Results and discussion

Vegetation restoration significantly decreased bulk density, and increased aggregate stability and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), while their effects on porosity was complicated. The soil texture class did not change with vegetation succession, but minor differences in sand, silt, and clay components were observed. Bulk density, macroporosity, and > 0.25 mm aggregate stability were the principal physical parameters that affected Ks. Moreover, bulk density had the most effect on Ks (− 0.84), while > 0.25 mm aggregate stability had the lowest impact (0.38). Bulk density and Ks were correlated with most of the other soil physical properties. Replanted scrubland and secondary natural grassland had higher soil physical quality index (SDexter) than replanted arboreal forests and farmland.

Conclusions

It is reasonable to take bulk density and Ks as the indicators to evaluate the effect of vegetation restoration on soil physical properties. Planting shrubs and grassland is better than forest for eco-environment rehabilitation in the study area. Results of this study provide a reference to regional eco-environmental rehabilitation and conservation.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41671285) and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC0501707, 2016YFC0402401).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China

    Chaojun Gu, Xingmin Mu, Peng Gao, Guangju Zhao, Wenyi Sun & Xuejin Tan

  2. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China

    Xingmin Mu, Peng Gao, Guangju Zhao & Wenyi Sun

  3. Rangeland Resources and Systems Research Unit, USDA–Agricultural Research Service, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    John Tatarko

Authors
  1. Chaojun Gu
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  2. Xingmin Mu
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  3. Peng Gao
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  4. Guangju Zhao
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  5. Wenyi Sun
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  6. John Tatarko
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  7. Xuejin Tan
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Correspondence to Xingmin Mu.

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Responsible editor: Saskia D. Keesstra

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Gu, C., Mu, X., Gao, P. et al. Influence of vegetation restoration on soil physical properties in the Loess Plateau, China. J Soils Sediments 19, 716–728 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-018-2083-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-018-2083-3

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