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The study established experimental transects in undisturbed areas of the Caohai Nature Reserve in Weining, Guizhou Province. The study aims to examine complete successional transects in different landscapes: non-karst, karst, and vegetation restoration, using the spatiotemporal substitution method. It analyzes the distribution patterns of Total potassium (TK) and Avail potassium (AK) in the soil and employs a Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) to investigate the effects of geomorphology, soil aggregates, and their interactions on the changes in soil potassium(K) elements. Furthermore, it explores the synergistic effects of K cycling during the vegetation restoration process in karst soils. The findings indicated that: (1) In karst areas, the overall TK content was higher than in non-karst areas, while the AK content in the topsoil was higher in non-karst areas. The TK content in the karst areas tended to approach that of the vegetation restoration zone. (2) After restoration, the dominant plants changed from Gramineae to Gramineae + Asteraceae, and the vegetation richness increased, thereby improving the soil fertility and potassium fixation capacity. (3) The GLMM showed that the karst landscape had a significant effect on the TK and AK contents of surface soil. In the early stage of vegetation restoration, the joint effect of soil and vegetation affected the TK and AK contents in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term vegetation restoration increases soil organic carbon (SOC) stock, while short-term vegetation restoration shows inconsistent results. This paper attempts to explore the short-term and long-term responses of SOC sequestration dynamics to vegetation restoration, and elucidate their influence mechanism, which can provide a theoretical basis for vegetation restoration. Highlights: • Short-term vegetation restoration has inconsistent effect on soil organic Carbon sequestrations. • There are two types of responses of SOC sequestration to vegetation restoration. • Responses of SOC sequestration to vegetation restoration is related to initial SOC level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Vegetation restoration can improve soil carbon (C) sink capacity, and is considered an effective approach for restoring degraded ecosystems. As an important component of soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial- and plant-derived C affect the size and turnover of the SOC pool; however, the effects of different vegetation types on SOC sequestration capacity remains controversial due to the lack of long-term systematic observations in restoration areas. Materials and methods: Amino sugars and lignin phenols (as biomarkers of microbial- and plant-derived C, respectively), together with several soil basic physicochemical properties in the topsoil (0–10 cm) and subsoil (40–50 cm) were investigated in an afforested (AF) and naturally restored grassland (NRG) of a shallow landslide ecological restoration area in the Bailong River Basin, China, following 11 years of restoration. Results and discussion: In the topsoil, SOC sequestration efficiency of AF was 28.18% higher than that of NRG; Whereas AF was 6.69% lower than NRG in the subsoil. Further, the enrichment of amino sugars in soil was more favorable to SOC accumulation than lignin phenols, and the environmental factors affecting SOC and amino sugar accumulation showed relative uniformity. The more suitable environment for microbial survival within AF regions promoted the decomposition of lignin phenols, and increased the contribution of microbial-derived C to SOC compared with NRG; Further, the more stable SOC components in AF facilitated its resistance to external disturbances. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated when compared with NRG, the contribution of plant-derived C to SOC was lower in the AF plots, while the contribution of microbe-derived C was both higher and more stable. These results provide novel information regarding the accumulation pathways of SOC in shallow landslide areas, and emphasize the importance of microbial-derived C in SOC sequestration, as well as suggesting that AF is more effective than NRG in SOC sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation restoration can be effective in containing gully head advance. However, the effect of vegetation restoration type on soil aggregate stability and erosion resistance at the head of the gully is unclear. In this study, five types of vegetation restoration—Pinus tabulaeformis (PT), Prunus sibirica (PS), Caragana korshinskii (CKS), Hippophae rhamnoides (HR), and natural grassland (NG, the dominant species is Leymus chinensis)—in the gully head were studied. Soil aggregate composition and nutrient contents in the 0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm soil layers were also determined, and the soil stability parameters were used to evaluate the soil conditions. The soil erodibility (K) was then determined by measuring the granulometric composition and organic matter. The results showed that the particle size of soil aggregates under different vegetation restoration types was mainly < 0.25 mm, and the percentage of aggregate disruption (PAD) was 22.08–76.07%. This further indicated that in Loess hilly and gully regions, water-stable aggregates were more reflective of the stability of soil aggregates in a gully head under vegetation restoration. The > 0.25 mm aggregates (R> 0.25 mm), geometric mean diameter (GMD), and mean weight diameter (MWD) values of the three soil layers were the highest in PT and the lowest in NG, while the opposite was true for fractal dimension (D) and the percentage of aggregate disruption (PAD). The K ranged from 0.052 to 0.065 t·hm2·h·MJ− 1 mm− 1·hm− 2. GMD can be used to characterize the anti-erosion ability of soil, and increasing the soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and clay content can effectively reduce soil erodibility. The comprehensive analysis indicated that the soil aggregates of arbors planted in the gully head had the highest stability and anti-erodibility, followed by shrubs and grasslands, and can be used to evaluate vegetation restoration measures in gully heads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating responses of soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to vegetation restoration is important for global warming mitigation. On the Loess Plateau, a wide range of vegetation restoration strategies have been implemented to control land degradation. However, the thorough quantification of soil GHG emissions triggered by different modes of vegetation restoration is insufficient. There is still a knowledge gap regarding the regulation of soil biochemical and microbial processing on soil GHG emissions. To do so, we compared responses of soil GHG emissions to various types of vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau, and investigated the changes in soil properties as well as microbial composition and activities. We found that artificial plantation of Caragana korshinskii had low soil carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, while natural grassland had high CO2 emission. The possible explanations could be related to higher moisture and microbial biomass carbon, and greater nitrogen limitation in natural grassland, which was controlled by actinomycetes and gram‐negative bacteria. Natural grassland had low soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emission and high methane (CH4) uptake, whereas Prunus mume had high N2O emission and Medicago sativa had low CH4 uptake, respectively. Soil N2O emission could be driven by fungi and gram‐positive bacteria which were affected by N availability and dissolved organic carbon. Soil CH4 consumption was associated with anaerobic bacteria and gram‐negative bacteria which were affected by N availability and moisture. These different emissions of CO2, N2O and CH4 generated the largest total GHG emissions for plantation of Prunus mume, but the smallest total GHG emissions for natural grassland and plantation of leguminous Caragana korshinskii. Overall, our findings suggested that the restoration of natural grassland and artificial N‐fixing shrubland like Caragana korshinskii should be encouraged to alleviate GHG emissions, with the practical implications for selecting suitable modes and species to improve ecological sustainability in degraded lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial carbon (C) use efficiency (CUE) describes the proportion of organic C used by microorganisms for anabolic processes, which increases with soil organic C (SOC) content on a global scale. However, it is unclear whether a similar relationship exists during natural vegetation restoration in terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we investigated the patterns of CUE along a 160‐year vegetation restoration chronosequence (from farmland to climax forest) estimated by stoichiometric modeling; additionally, we examined the relationship between CUE and SOC content and combined these results with a meta‐analysis. The combination indicated that vegetation restoration decreased CUE from 0.35 to 0.28. Surprisingly, SOC content increased with decreasing CUE during vegetation restoration because forest soils have low pH values and high microbial phosphorus limitations compared to early ecosystems, implying that climax forests may not sequester as much soil C as expected. The shift in soil pH was the most important predictor of CUE compared to climate, plant, and microbial factors. CUE changes were directly induced by soil pH and not by the pH‐induced microbial community. Alkaline soil acidification tended to decrease CUE. This first large‐scale estimate of the relationship between CUE and SOC during natural restoration highlights the need to strengthen C sink management in mature forests to sustain their C sequestration potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protected areas form the backbone of global conservation efforts. Vegetation is the primary foundation for achieving conservation goals, and soil seed banks is a cryptic biodiversity reservoir for recruiting species that may not be represented in above‐ground vegetation. Unfortunately, unmanaged grazing by wild herbivores has led to vegetation degradation in semi‐arid to arid regions. However, experimental evidence on the long‐term impacts of wild herbivores on soil seed banks is largely lacking.Here, with the aim of examining how wild herbivores impact soil seed banks, we investigated the composition of the germinable seed banks in three protected areas (Yathong, Mungo and Boolcoomatta) along a semi‐arid to arid precipitation gradient in south‐eastern Australia.The density and species richness of the soil seed banks increased with increasing aridity, which indicated that the soil seed banks in arid regions is an important biodiversity reservoir. The effects of wild herbivores on soil seed density were strongly dependent on precipitation. Wild herbivores disrupted the soil seed banks at the most arid site but promoted the accumulation of seeds in the soil at the least arid site. Grazing was linked to an increase in the frequency of the seeds of introduced species and decrease in the frequency of the seeds of perennials.Synthesis and applications: Disruption of the soil seed banks by the grazing of wild herbivores could lead to the failure of post‐rain pulses of vegetation growth and hamper efforts to restore vegetation in protected areas. Therefore, suppressing wild herbivore numbers is a strategy that could enhance soil seed bank reserves and revegetation efforts in arid protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arid Zone Research / Ganhanqu Yanjiu is the property of Arid Zone Research Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bulletin of Soil & Water Conservation is the property of Bulletin of Soil & Water Conservation Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bulletin of Soil & Water Conservation is the property of Bulletin of Soil & Water Conservation Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Loess Plateau in China has experienced a remarkable greening trend due to vegetation restoration efforts in recent decades. However, the response of precipitation to this greening remains uncertain. In this study, we identified and evaluated the main moisture source regions for precipitation over the Loess Plateau from 1982 to 2019 using a moisture tracking model, the modified WAM‐2layers model, and the conceptual framework of the precipitationshed. By integrating multiple linear regression analysis with a conceptual hydrologically weighting method, we quantified the effective influence of different environmental factors for precipitation, particularly the effect of vegetation. Our analysis revealed that local precipitation has increased on average by 0.16 mm yr−1 and evaporation by 5.17 mm yr−1 over the period 2000–2019 after the initiation of the vegetation restoration project. Regional greening including the Loess Plateau contributed to precipitation for about 0.83 mm yr−1, among which local greening contributed for about 0.07 mm yr−1. Local vegetation contribution is due to both an enhanced local evaporation as well as an increased local moisture recycling (6.9% in 1982–1999; 8.3% in 2000–2019). Thus, our study shows that local revegetation had a positive effect on local precipitation, and the primary cause of the observed increase in precipitation over the Loess Plateau is due to a combination of local greening and circulation change. Our study underscores that increasing vegetation over the Loess Plateau has exerted strong influence on local precipitation and supports the positive effects for current and future vegetation restoration plans toward more resilient water resources managements. Key Points: Precipitation moisture source for Chinese Loess Plateau and its change were identified using a moisture tracking modelThe contribution of locally recycled moisture to Loess Plateau precipitation increased from 6.9% in 1982–1999 to 8.3% in 2000–2019Regional greening promotes precipitation by about 0.83 mm yr−1, while local vegetation accounts for about 0.07 mm yr−1 during 2000–2019 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation restoration is a critical strategy for addressing ecosystem degradation globally. However, understanding the specific impacts of land-use changes, particularly the conversion of farmland to forestland and grassland, on soil nutrients and microbial biomass in the Loess Plateau remains limited and requires further evaluation. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore how these conversions affect soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and microbial biomass components under various land-use patterns. We studied the SOC, TN, TP, soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) content and their ratios under six land-use patterns (Farmland (FL), Abandoned cropland (ACL), Natural grassland (NG), Alfalfa grassland (Medicago sativa L. (MS)), Spruce forestland (Picea asperata Mast. (PA)) and Cypress forestland (Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco (PO))). The conversion of FL to grassland and forestland significantly increased C:N and C:P by 9.82~64.12%, 10.57~126.05%, and 51.44~113.40%, 22.10~116.09%, respectively. The conversion of FL to ACL reduced the C:N and C:P by 5.34~13.57% and 1.51~7.55%, respectively. The conversion of FL to NG can increase soil N:P. The conversion of FL to grassland and forestland increased soil MBC, MBN, and MBP by −31.54~84.48%, −48.39~1533.93%, −46.55~173.85%, and −34.96~17.13%, 68.72~432.14%, −38.39~318.46%, respectively. However, the MBC, MBN, and MBP contents in the soil converted from FL to ACL varied from −28.21~11.95%, 11.17~531.25%, and −82.64~70.77%, respectively. Soil SOC, TN, TP, available potassium (AK), pH, and soil bulk density (BD) are the main factors causing microbial biomass differences. These results indicate that converting farmland into forestland and grassland can improve soil nutrient structure and increase soil microbial biomass and carbon accumulation. The results of this study provide theoretical support for the scientific management of regional land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate and land-use change are key factors of vegetation dynamics, and impacts arising from both of them need to be further studied. This study simulated the fraction of vegetation coverage in 2050 through coupling the Patch-Generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model and the Dimidiate Pixel model and explored the effects of climate and land-use change on fraction vegetation coverage in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle region. The findings indicated that: (1) fraction vegetation coverage was mainly restored over the 2000–2020 period, accounting for 59.38% of the investigation area. Under the SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios, fraction vegetation coverage increased by 40.57% and 46.38%, respectively. (2) under the SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios, the superposition effect of climate and land use change on fraction vegetation coverage significantly outweighed the compensation effect. Specifically, the superposition effect of climate and land use change on fraction vegetation cover accounted for 90.69% and 90.57% of the total area, respectively. Conversely, the compensation effect constituted a relatively minor proportion, representing 9.31% and 9.43% of the total area, respectively. (3) the positive superposition effect of climate changes and land use on fraction vegetation coverage was 35.47% and 40.90%, respectively, while the negative superposition effect was 55.22% and 49.67%, respectively. These findings aimed to offer guidance for the execution of vegetation restoration initiatives in the upstream region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the interrelationships among plant species, their ecological niches, and community stability by establishing and investigating long-term biodiversity monitoring plots. Understanding the succession patterns of these communities can provide a foundation for biodiversity conservation, forest resource management, and vegetation restoration in forest parks. A 1 hm² plot was selected within the broad-leaved forest in the Xin’anjiang Forest Park for dynamic monitoring. Based on their importance values, the study focused on the top 13 dominant woody species. Ecological niche widths (BS, BL) and niche overlap indices(Oik) were calculated. Statistical methods including variance ratio, Chi-square test χ2, Pearson’s coefficient of correlation, and Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficient were used to analyze the relationship between species niche overlap indices and species associations. The study found no significant correlation between the ranking of importance values and niche breadths. Schima superba presented the highest importance value, followed by Quercus glauca, Castanopsis sclerophylla, and Lithocarpus glabra. These four species demonstrated a competitive edge in the community’ s resource dynamics, displaying a high degree of niche convergence among the dominant species. The collective linkage of the 13 dominant species demonstrated a marked positive correlation. The χ2 test results indicated strong relative independence among species, with only one species pair showing significant linkage, indicating loose connectivity. The Pearson correlation coefficient presented a significant level of 24. 4%, while the Spearman rank correlation coefficient showed that only 28. 2% of species pairs had significant linkage. The niche overlap index was positively correlated with species connectivity. In summary, the overall community was determined to be in a stable state and is currently progressing toward the mid-to-late stage of positive succession. It is recommended that appropriate thinning of denser stands, particularly of Castanopsis sclerophylla and Cunninghamia lanceolata, be conducted to promote the formation of a high-quality forest community while strictly protecting the current forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-elevation and cold regions have harsh natural conditions with low temperatures and intense ultraviolet radiation, which impede plant growth and maintenance. Therefore, soil and water conservation vegetation restoration models are of great significance. In this study, a site condition analysis was performed based on three main limiting factors, including climatic and meteorological, soil, and topographic and geomorphological factors, providing a basis for vegetation restoration. The study area was divided into different site types. After investigating the situation of nurseries distributed in places such as Tibet, Qinghai, and Sichuan, trees, shrubs, and grasses with ecological characteristics similar to those of the local vegetation, including strong stress resistance, good soil and water conservation benefits, and well-established artificial cultivation practices, were selected as alternative vegetation for late-stage planting of indigenous tree species. Combining the results of site condition analysis and site type classification, the configuration of trees, shrubs, and grasses for different off-site condition types and the corresponding greening methods are discussed, providing a scientific reference for ecological restoration in high-elevation and low-temperature regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although dry-hot valleys in Southwest China have shaped a landscape with a vegetation appearance similar to that of African savannas, they are different from the African savannas because of the vertical geomorphology and climate type formed by the depth of river valley and the blocking of air flow by mountains in this region, which are more prone to land degradation, species loss and plant community heterogeneity. However, previous studies have paid little attention to the vertical distribution pattern and main regulatory factors of plant community species composition and diversity. In this study, the soil nutrients, meteorological factors and species composition of 450 m (low elevation, LE), 850 m (middle elevation, ME), 1 250 m (middle-high elevation, M-HE) and 1 650 m (high elevation, HE) were investigated in Yuanjiang National Nature Reserve (Yuanjiang dry-hot valley ), and the species important values, α-diversity and β-diversity were calculated to explore their changes with the elevation gradients. The results were as follows: (1) Soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrous nitrogen (NO3--N) at LE were significantly higher than those at other elevations. (2) The species composition and species importance value of different elevations were significantly different. (3) The species diversity of HE was high, while the species abundance of LE was high. In α-diversity, Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Pielou evenness index increased with elevation, while Simpson dominance index of tree species reached its maximum at LE. In β-diversity Jaccard and Sorenson similarity indexes of communities in adjacent elevations increased with the elevations, but those of communities in non-adjacent elevations decreased with the elevations to compare with adjacent elevations. (4) CCA showed that SWC, SOM, NO3--N and NH4+-N were the main factors affecting species differences at different elevations. It is concluded that the diversity, similarity and stability of plant communities in the hot-dry valley increased with the increasing of elevation, and the future research on the restoration of plant communities and their response and adaptation to drought should consider the spatial heterogeneity of the community, and different protection and restoration measures also should be formulated accordingly in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Stoichiometry of soil extracellular enzymes such as the ratios of carbon (C)‒, nitrogen (N)‒, and phosphorus (P)‒acquiring enzymes as well as their vector length and angle are used to reveal the biogeochemical equilibrium between microbial nutrient requirements and soil nutrient availability. However, the dynamics of soil extracellular enzymes activities and microbial N limitation following afforestation remain poorly understood in karst rocky desertification areas. Methods: Soil samples were collected from Dodonaea viscosa plantations after 0, 10, 20, and 40 years of afforestation following the abandonment of croplands in a karst rocky desertification area, and a natural restored shrubland soil was served as the control. The activities of C, N, and P extracellular enzymes were measured and the stoichiometric and vector ratios of extracellular enzymes were calculated to quantify microbial nutrient limitation. Results: The stoichiometric ratio of soil C: N:P acquisition enzymes was 0.63:1.48:1.0, with a vector angle of 34.7 in croplands, indicating high microbial N limitation. Compared to the croplands, D. viscosa afforestation significantly increased soil C‒, N‒, and P‒acquiring enzyme activities and gradually increased C: N:P stoichiometric ratio and vector angle to 0.75:1.39:1–0.76:1.17:1 and 34.9–38.2, respectively, indicating that afforestation alleviated microbial N limitation. Furthermore, gross N mineralization and gross ammonium immobilization rates increased by 140‒278% and 340‒801% following afforestation due to the increase in soil organic C and total N contents and the > 2 mm soil aggregates. The vector angle positively correlated with β‒N‒acetylglucosaminidase activity, gross N mineralization, and gross ammonium immobilization. Notably, the vector angle of extracellular enzymes following 40‒year afforestation was still 6.63% lower than that of the shrubland soil. Conclusion: Our results suggested that afforestation could substantially increase gross N mineralization through stimulating β‒N‒acetylglucosaminidase activity and gross ammonium immobilization, thereby reducing microbial N limitation. However, this limitation persists even following long‒term afforestation in karst rocky desertification areas. Research highlights: Afforestation improves soil structure and increases organic matter content. Afforestation stimulates the activities of soil C‒, N‒, and P‒acquiring enzymes. Afforestation increases gross N mineralization and NH4+ immobilization rates. Afforestation alleviates soil microbial N limitation in subtropical karst areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantitative assessment of the impact of vegetation restoration on evapotranspiration and its components is of great significance in developing sustainable ecological restoration strategies for water resources in a given region. In this study, we used the Priestley-Taylor Jet Pro-pulsion Laboratory (PT-JPL) to simulate the ET components in the Helong section (HLS) of the Yellow River basin. The effects of vegetation restoration on ET and its components, vegetation transpiration (Et), soil evaporation (Es), and canopy interception evaporation (Ei) were separated by manipulating model variables. Our findings are as follows: (1) The simulation results are compared with the ET calculated by water balance and the annual average ET of MODIS products. The R2 of the validation results are 0.61 and 0.78, respectively. The results show that the PT-JPL model tracks the change in ET in the HLS well. During 2000–2018, the ET, Ei, and Es increased at a rate of 1.33, 0.87, and 2.99 mm/a, respectively, while the Et decreased at a rate of 2.52 mm/a. (2) Vegetation restoration increased the annual ET in the region from 331.26 mm (vegetation-unchanged scenario) to 338.85 mm (vegetation change scenario) during the study period, an increase of 2.3%. (3) TMP (temperature) and VPD (vapor pressure deficit) were the dominant factors affecting ET changes in most areas of the HLS. In more than 37.2% of the HLS, TMP dominated the change affecting ET, and vapor pressure difference (VPD) dominated the area affecting ET in 30.5% of the HLS. Overall, the precipitation (PRE) and VPD were the main factors affecting ET changes. Compared with previous studies that directly explore the relationship between many influencing factors and ET results through correlation research methods, our study uses control variables to obtain results under two different scenarios and then performs difference analysis. This method can reduce the excessive interference of influencing factors other than vegetation changes on the research results. Our findings can provide strategic support for future water resource management and sustainable vegetation restoration in the HLS region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematically and deeply supplement grassland erosion research from erosion mechanisms and erosion models could meet the needs of grassland ecological quality assessment. This study conducted grassland erosion research using simulated rainfall experiments in China. The research results indicate that (1) the regulation effect of grass on stream power is mainly achieved by grass cover that can explain 82.86%-97.51%, and the regulation effect of grass on soil erodibility is mainly achieved by root volume that can explain 73.61%-97.94. (2). The contributions of the R? (Reduction percentage of stream power) and RK (Reduction percentage of soil erodibility) to the decreasing erosion modulus (REM) are 61.02% and 33.55%, respectively, totaling to 94.57%. This finding indicates that herbaceous vegetation decreases the interrill erosion mainly by decreasing the stream power. 3). The NSE (Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency index) of the RHEM (A Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model) established by rain intensity, flow discharge and cover is 0.700, which is 0.142 larger than that of the revised RHEM established by rain intensity and flow discharge. More suitable composite grass indicators should be added to the parameters in the revised RHEM to improve the simulation effect of the model. The study will optimize global grassland use and management, and assist in the development of carbon reduction on Earth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological sluices were constructed along the Tarim River to supplement the ecosystem's water supply. However, the impact of water regulation by these sluices on the surface water area (SWA) and its relationship with the vegetation response remain unclear. To increase the efficiency of ecological water use, it is crucial to study the response of SWA to water control by the ecological gates and its relationship with vegetation restoration. We utilized the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform, which integrates Landsat-5/7/8 satellite imagery and employs methods such as automated waterbody extraction via mixed index rule sets, field investigation data, Sen + MK trend analysis, mutation analysis, and correlation analysis. Through these techniques, the spatiotemporal variations in SWA in the middle reaches of the Tarim River (MROTR) from 1990–2022 were analyzed, along with the relationships between these variations and vegetation restoration. From 1990–2022, the SWA in the MROTR showed an increasing trend, with an average annual growth rate of 12.47 km2 per year. After the implementation of ecological gates water regulations, the SWA significantly increased, with an average annual growth rate of 28.8 km2 per year, while the ineffective overflow within 8 km of the riverbank notably decreased. The NDVI in the MROTR exhibited an upward trend, with a significant increase in vegetation on the northern bank after ecological sluice water regulation. This intervention also mitigated the downward trend of the medium and high vegetation coverage types. The SWA showed a highly significant negative correlation with low-coverage vegetation within a 5-km range of the river channel in the same year and a significant positive correlation with high-coverage vegetation within a 15-km range. The lag effect of SWA influenced the growth of medium- and high-coverage vegetation. These findings demonstrated that the large increase in SWA induced by ecological gate water regulation positively impacted vegetation restoration. This study provides a scientific basis for water resource regulation and vegetation restoration in arid regions globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active vegetation restoration plays an important role in the improvement in soil organic matter (SOM), including the carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) sequestration of degraded mining ecosystems. However, there is still a lack of understanding of the key drivers of SOM pool size and dynamics in active vegetation restoration. For this study, soil was collected from five different sites (Xiaoxian, Dingyuan, Chaohu, Tongling and Dongzhi), four habitats (platforms, slopes, steps and native areas) and two soil layers (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm) in limestone mines of Anhui province to quantify the spatial distribution of SOM contents and their stoichiometric characteristics and influential factors. It was found that the top soil in Chaohu had the highest significant C, N and P contents in the ranges of 14.95–17.97, 1.74–2.21 and 0.80–1.24 g/kg, respectively. Comparing the stoichiometric ratios of the different sites revealed significant differences in C:N and N:P ratios, but C:P ratios were relatively consistent. In particular, the C:N and C:P ratios in deep soil were higher than those in top soil, whereas the N:P ratio in deep soil was lower than that in top soil, suggesting that soil N is a major limiting factor in the top soil. The SOM content did not differ significantly between the three reclaimed habitats, but was significantly higher than that in the native habitat, suggesting that mine restoration has significantly enhanced SOM accumulation. Further analysis showed that nutrient availability and enzyme activity are important factors affecting soil C, N and P content in top soil, while the relationship gradually weakens in deep soil. This was attributed to active anthropogenic management and conservation measures during the early stages of reclamation. This study shows that the ecological recovery of the mining area can be enhanced by implementing differentiated vegetation planting strategies and anthropogenic management on different habitats in the mining area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Grain for Green Project (GGP) is a major national initiative aimed at ecological improvement and vegetation restoration in China, achieving substantial ecological and socio-economic benefits. Nevertheless, research on vegetation cover trends and the long-term restoration efficacy of the GGP in the Loess Plateau remains limited. This study examines the temporal–spatial evolution and sustainability of vegetation cover in this region, using NDVI data from Landsat (2000–2022) with medium-high spatial resolution. The analytical methods involve Sen's slope, Mann–Kendall non-parametric test, and Hurst exponent to assess trends and forecast sustainability. The findings reveal that between 2000 and 2022, vegetation coverage in the Loess Plateau increased by an average of 0.86% per year (p < 0.01), marked by high vegetation cover expansion (173 × 103 km2, 26.49%) and low vegetation cover reduction (149 × 103 km2, 22.83%). The spatial pattern exhibited a northwest-to-southeast gradient, with a transition from low to high coverage levels, reflecting a persistent increase in high vegetation cover and decrease in low vegetation cover. Approximately 93% of the vegetation cover in the Loess Plateau showed significant improvement, while 5% (approximately 31 × 103 km2) displayed a degradation trend, mainly in the urbanized and Yellow River Basin regions. Projections suggest that 90% of vegetation cover will continue to improve. In GGP-targeted areas, high and medium-high levels of vegetation cover increased significantly at rates of 0.456 ×103 km2/year and 0.304 × 103 km2/year, respectively, with approximately 75% of vegetation cover levels exhibiting positive trends. This study reveals the effectiveness of the GGP in promoting vegetation restoration in the Loess Plateau, offering valuable insights for vegetation recovery research and policy implementation in other ecologically fragile regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation restoration plays a crucial role in conserving soil and water, as well as rehabilitating ecosystems, by enhancing soil properties and vegetation attributes. The evaluation of the ecological consequences among different vegetation restoration types can be achieved by clarifying the impacts on carbon, water and nutrient storages. In this study, we selected four typical vegetation restoration types (Pinus tabuliformis forest (PTF), Platycladus orientalis forest (POF) and Robinia pseudoacacia forest (RPF) as typical planted forests, and the natural secondary forest (NSF) as the control treatment) in the eastern Loess Plateau of China. The soil properties (at 0–200 cm depth) and vegetation attributes (including arborous, shrubs and herbaceous plants) were measured, as well as calculated soil carbon, water and nutrient storages, with a total of 1600 soil samples and 180 vegetation survey plots. The partial redundancy analysis (pRDA) and correlation analysis were also used to analyze the contributions and relationships among environmental factors, soil eco-hydrology and nutrient supplement services in different forestry ecosystems. The results indicate the following: (1) NSF has the lowest soil bulk density (1.21 ± 0.184 g·cm−3). Soil properties varied significantly at vertical scales, and had obvious surface accumulation. (2) Soil moisture storages were better in natural forests than those in planted forests, with more drastic changes in soil moisture dynamics. (3) The soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus storages significantly differed among four vegetation types, with the highest carbon storages in PTF (207.75 ± 0.674 t·ha−1), the highest nitrogen storages in POF (5.54 t·ha−1), and the highest phosphorus storages in RPF (4.33 t·ha−1), respectively. (4) Soil carbon storages depend primarily on the coupling effect of soil properties and precipitation, while nutrient storage is mainly influenced by soil properties. The results quantify the significant differences in soil water, carbon, and nutrient storage across various vegetation restoration types, and reveal the individual and combined contributions of environmental factors, providing new insights into the mechanisms driving these differences. These findings offer practical guidance for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems and the optimization of ecological restoration strategies on the Loess Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bulianta Coal Mine is among the problematic coal mining areas in China that is still creating environmental damage, especially associated with soil destruction. Therefore, a scientific investigation was conducted to establish a scientific basis for evaluating the impact of planted forest on soil physical and chemical properties, as well as the ecological benefits following 15 years of vegetation restoration in the area. The soil physicochemical characteristics and distribution of organic carbon storage in the 0–80 cm layer soils of Pinus sylvestris forests, Prunus sibirica forests, and Hippophae rhamnoides forests restored after 5, 10, and 15 years were investigated. The immersion method was used to determine soil porosity and density followed by the determination of soil indicators, and a statistical ANOVA test was applied to examine the differential effects of different vegetation types and restoration years on soil properties. The results clearly demonstrated the following: (1) The recovery of vegetation was achieved after a period of 15 years, with the average bulk density of the 0–80 cm soil layer as follows: P. sylvestris forest (1.513 g·cm−3) > P. sibirica forest (1.272 g·cm−3) > H. rhamnoides forest (1.224 g·cm−3), and the differences among different forest types were statistically significant (p < 0.05). (2) In planted forests, soil nutrients were predominantly concentrated in the 0–20 cm layer, while soil carbon storage exhibited a decline with an increasing soil depth. (3) The soil carbon storage across the three forest types was as follows: P. sylvestris forest (45.42 t·hm−2) > P. sibirica forest (44.56 t·hm−2) > H. rhamnoides forest (41.87 t·hm−2). In summary, during the ecological vegetation restoration process in the Bulianta Core Mine, both P. sylvestris forest and P. sibirica forest exhibit superior carbon storage capacities compared to H. rhamnoides forest, as well as more effective soil improvement outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intricate climate and surface composition of the wind‐water erosion crisscross region create a distinctive environment for erosion and sediment production. However, research on the hydrological characteristics and responses to vegetation restoration in this area is limited. This study focuses on a representative catchment (3253 km2) in the northern Loess Plateau of China, examining the streamflow and sediment transport dynamics before (P1: 1977–1988) and after (P2: 2006–2017) vegetation restoration. Our results show that streamflow is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, while sediment transport is highly concentrated over a few days during the wet season. Flood events account for the majority of sediment yield, contributing over 70% in both periods, with hyperconcentrated flows (SSCp ≥ 300 kg m−3) being particularly significant. Vegetation restoration has resulted in an 85% reduction in annual sediment yield and an 89% decrease in the frequency of hyperconcentrated flood events. Despite these reductions, hyperconcentrated floods remain the dominant sediment transport mechanism, with just 9.7% of events in P2 responsible for nearly half of the sediment transported. Analyses of effective sediment transport discharge and sediment rating curves indicate a higher discharge threshold for hyperconcentrated floods post‐vegetation restoration, leading to a greater sediment transport magnitude in P2. Hysteresis analysis shows a predominant counter‐clockwise pattern in both periods, driven by abundant sediment sources and the high transport capacity of hyperconcentrated floods. Vegetation restoration has reduced the availability of sediment for transport, resulting in more linear relationships and decreased complexity in hysteresis patterns. Under future scenarios of intensified climate extremes, this region remains at high risk of erosion and sediment yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Vegetation restoration can be effective in containing gully head advance. However, the effect of vegetation restoration type on soil aggregate stability and erosion resistance at the head of the gully is unclear. In this study, five types of vegetation restoration—Pinus tabulaeformis (PT), Prunus sibirica (PS), Caragana korshinskii (CKS), Hippophae rhamnoides (HR), and natural grassland (NG, the dominant species is Leymus chinensis)—in the gully head were studied. Soil aggregate composition and nutrient contents in the 0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm soil layers were also determined, and the soil stability parameters were used to evaluate the soil conditions. The soil erodibility (K) was then determined by measuring the granulometric composition and organic matter. The results showed that the particle size of soil aggregates under different vegetation restoration types was mainly 0.25 mm aggregates (R> 0.25 mm), geometric mean diameter (GMD), and mean weight diameter (MWD) values of the three soil layers were the highest in PT and the lowest in NG, while the opposite was true for fractal dimension (D) and the percentage of aggregate disruption (PAD). The K ranged from 0.052 to 0.065 t·hm2·h·MJ− 1 mm− 1·hm− 2. GMD can be used to characterize the anti-erosion ability of soil, and increasing the soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and clay content can effectively reduce soil erodibility. The comprehensive analysis indicated that the soil aggregates of arbors planted in the gully head had the highest stability and anti-erodibility, followed by shrubs and grasslands, and can be used to evaluate vegetation restoration measures in gully heads.

Different grasses in the eastern steppe have different proportions of living space, so the study on the relationship between the growth and competition of the grassland grasses is of great significance to reveal the 1ecological evolution of the grassland. According to the current situation of the habitat and the dump in the Shengli opencast mining area in Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, different plant ratios combined with microbial inoculation were used to investigate the effect of plant-fungus combination on the soil improvement and vegetation restoration in the dump and screen the best planting mode suitable for the ecological restoration in the dump. The selection of suitable fungi is an important prerequisite for the ecological remediation of mining areas. To verify the ecological effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF), the comprehensive restoration of plant and microbial (AMF) in the dump of the Shengli coal mining area was investigated. Results showed that the dominant factors affecting soil and plants were planting patterns and AMF inoculation, respectively. The comprehensive influence of soil and plant indicators was as follows: AMF inoculation > plants planting. Therefore, adding appropriate microbial agents would actively improve the remediation efficiency in the dump of mining area. The weight ratio of Leguminosae∶Poaceae = 1∶3 + AMF planting mode could promote soil improvement, accelerate the accumulation of soil nutrients, and promote plant growth and nutrient absorption, which was the best combination suitable for the ecological restoration of dump in the Shengli opencast mining area. In addition, the inoculation of AMF affected the colonization of the local soil fungi DSE in plant roots. The colonization intensity of DSE was decreased compared with the natural restoration area after artificial plants planting and inoculation of AMF. The colonization of AMF at the primary roots was higher than the secondary roots. The AMF inoculation reduced the colonization of DSE in the primary roots and improved its colonization in the secondary roots. The AMF and DSE were dominant in the niche of plant primary and secondary roots, respectively. There might be niche competition between AMF and DSE. The total colonization of DSE was significantly positively correlated with soil quality and comprehensive quality index. To a certain extent, the improvement of total colonization of DSE was conducive to the accumulation of nutrients in soil and the improvement of regional comprehensive quality. This study indicates that the incorporation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) into the ecological rehabilitation of dump in the open-pit mining areas has a positive effect on restoration outcomes. It provides data support for the application of microbial-plant configurations in the reclamation technology for dump.

[Objective] This study is aiming to evaluate the dynamic evolution of soil microstructure stability during vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau. [Methods] Soil samples from four stages of vegetation succession in the Ziwuling forest region were examined. Utilizing the amplitude sweep test method, soil shear strength and viscoelastic parameters were assessed under various matric potentials (0, -3 and -10 kPa). Correlation analyses between these parameters and soil physicochemical properties were conducted. [Results] (1) Soil shear strength and viscoelasticity exhibited an increasing trend with advancing vegetation succession stages, attributed primarily to the increasing of soil organic carbon, exchangeable Ca2+ and sand content, along with reduced Na+ during vegetation recovery. This augmentation contributed to enhanced interparticle adhesion and frictional forces. (2) The soil shear strength parameter increased with the decreasing of matric potential. Under low matric potential conditions, there was no significant correlation between soil shear strength parameters (G′LVE、τLVE and τmax) and exchangeable Ca2+ and sand content. Under high matric potential conditions, soil shear strength parameters showed a significant positive correlation with exchangeable Ca2+ (p

Abstract Different vegetation restoration methods have improved soil quality to varying degrees. This study, focused on the forest–grassland–desert transition zone in the Hebei–Inner Mongolia border region, and employed a systematic grid sampling method to establish fixed monitoring plots in the Saihanba Mechanized Forest Farm and the Ulan Buh Grassland. The differences in soil quality evolution across various vegetation restoration methods under the same climatic and soil historical conditions were analyzed, elucidating the roles of these vegetation restoration methods in degraded forest ecosystems, with the aim of providing a reference for ecological restoration under similar land conditions. This study used a grid method to establish sample points in the forest–grassland–desert transitional zone and assessed five methods of vegetation restoration sites: artificial forest composed of native species of Larix principis-rupprechtii (FL), artificial forest composed of exotic Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica (FP), natural secondary broad-leaved forest (FN), open grassland (GO), and enclosed grassland (GC). The differences in soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen (AN), rapidly available phosphorus (AP) and rapidly available potassium (AK) among the different vegetation restoration sites were compared via variance analysis, and the soil quality index (SQI) was calculated to assess the soil quality at the sample points. The SOC, TN, and AN contents of forest soil were significantly greater than those of grassland, and the TN, TP, AN, AK, and SOC contents of FL, FN, and GC were significantly greater than those of FP and GO. Among them, the TN, TP, and SOC contents were the highest in the FL, reaching 2.74, 0.39, and 47.27 g kg−1, respectively. In terms of ecological stoichiometric characteristics, the average N:P ratio in the study area was 6.68, indicating a serious lack of N in the study area. Among the different types of restoration sites, the effect was stronger in the FP than in the FL, and the TN and AN contents were only 1.48 g kg−1 and 116.69 mg kg−1, respectively. The SQI in the FL was not significantly different from that in the FN or GC, but it was significantly greater than that in the FP and GO. These findings indicate that native tree species restoration in degraded forest ecosystems significantly improved soil quality, while the introduction of exotic tree species for afforestation had a minimal effect on improving soil quality.

[Objective] This study is aiming to evaluate the dynamic evolution of soil microstructure stability during vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau. Methods］ Soil samples from four stages of vegetation succession in the Ziwuling forest region were examined. Utilizing the amplitude sweep test method. soil shear strength and viscoelastic parameters were assessed under various matric potentials ((), --3 and 一10 kPa). Correlation analyses between these parameters and soil physicochemical properties were conducted. Results］ (1) Soil shear strength and viscoelasticity exhibited an increasing trend with advancing vegetation succession stages. attributed primarily to the increasing of soil organic carbon. exchangeable Ca'+ and sand content, along with reduced Na+ during vegetation recovery. This augmentation contributed to enhanced interparticle adhesion and frictional forces. (2) The soil shear strength parameter in creased with the decreasing of matric potential. Under low matric potential conditions. there was no significant correlation between soil shear strength parameters (G'i.ve、tn and t„u,x) and exchangeable Ca'+ and sand content. Under high matric potential conditions, soil shear strength parameters showed a significant positive correlation with exchangeable CaJ+ (p<().()5): while lve, rYj>, and G'yf exhibited significant positive correlations with sand content. (3) Soil viscoelastic parameters (7yj> and/z) showed a decreasing trend with declining matric potential. Particularly, under high matric potential conditions, these parameters exhibited a positive correlation with organic carbon content, which gradually attenuated with the decreasing of matrix potentiaL Viscoelastic parameters were negatively correlated with clay content under different matric potentials. (4) The overall mechanical stability of soil was positively correlated with soil Ca2+ at () kPa, negatively correlated with soil silt and K+ content at 一3 kPa, and positively correlated with clay content at 一1() kPa. _Conclusion] The changes and influencing mechanism of soil mechanical stability under different vegetation types and different matric potentials were revealed, which provided an important basis for understanding the evolution of soil characteristics in the process of vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau, and also provided theoretical support for soil protection and ecological restoration in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in vegetation coverage resulting from the implementation of the Grain for Green Project (GFGP) on the Loess Plateau (LP) in China has sparked debates on how the GFGP affects the water cycle, due to the limited understanding of the interaction between land cover and the atmosphere. This study investigated spatiotemporal changes in atmospheric water vapor (WV) from 1979 to 2022 using ERA5 dataset and quantified the impacts of the GFGP on the WV budget on the LP through numerical simulations with the Community Earth System Model. The analysis of ERA5 data revealed an increase in WV content (WVC) after the implementation of the GFGP (2000–2022) compared to the pre-program period (1979–1999). This increase was primarily attributed to a greater reduction in WV outflow at the eastern boundary than the reduction in inflow at the western boundary, resulting in greater WV retention. Our sensitivity simulation experiments indicated that the GFGP had positive effects on WVC, with evident increases in the lower atmosphere (700–1000 hPa). The GFGP increased WV inflows at the southern and western boundaries by 3.84 × 104 kg·s-1·m-1, while WV outflows at the eastern and northern boundaries also increased by 1.40 × 104 kg·s-1·m-1, leading to a net WV input in the low atmospheric layer due to higher inflows than outflows. These findings suggested that although the GFGP positively impacted WV, the observed post-2000 WV increase cannot be solely attributed to the GFGP, indicating that changes in atmospheric circulation patterns under climate change also play an important role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil priming effect is a key mechanism influencing carbon (C) cycling processes between the forest soil organic carbon (SOC) pool and the atmosphere. Different vegetation restoration modes have different SOC pool compositions, and it is not clear whether such differences affect the soil priming effect. Therefore, we selected soil from six typical vegetation restoration modes Platycladus orientalis (PO), Pinus sylvestris (PS), Quercus acutissima (QA), shrub (SH) and wasteland (WL) in the soil and rocky mountainous areas of northern China and measured the soil properties, microbial communities, microbial necromass carbon (MNC), SOC fractions and the soil priming effect. The SOC content decreased in the order of PO (21.33 g kg−1), PS (22.00 g kg−1), QA (13.67 g kg−1), SH (13.33 g kg−1) and WL (10.33 g kg−1), and the trends of the mineral‐associated organic carbon (MAOC) and fungal necromass carbon (FNC) content were the same as those of the SOC content. The soil priming effect was greater in both forests and shrublands than in wastelands, with the greatest effect occurring in PO forests, where the soil priming effect reached 159.91 mg CO2‐C kg−1 soil after 30 days of incubation, which was 1.4 times greater than that in WL. The soil priming effect was mainly determined by the difference in MAOC content. In addition, the soil C/N ratio and bacterial community diversity also indirectly affected the soil priming effect by influencing the soil MNC and SOC fractions. Overall, afforestation increased the SOC content, fungal necromass contribution and mineral conservation, increasing the soil priming effect. This theoretical foundation supports the enhancement of SOC sequestration capacity by implementing various modes of vegetation restoration in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fenced enclosures, a proven strategy for restoring degraded grassland, have been widely implemented. However, recent climate trends of warming and drying, accompanied by increased extreme rainfall, have heightened soil erosion risks. It is crucial to assess the long-term effectiveness of fenced enclosures on grassland restoration and their impact on soil physicochemical properties and water infiltration capacity. This study investigated the effects of enclosure duration on soil organic matter, aggregate composition and stability, and infiltration capacity in Yunwu Mountain Grassland Nature Reserve, comparing grasslands with enclosure durations of 2, 14, 30, and 39 years. Results showed that grasslands enclosed for 14, 30, and 39 years had infiltration rates increased by 20.66%, 152.03%, and 61.19%, respectively, compared to those enclosed for only 2 years. After 30 years of enclosure, soil quality reached its optimum, with the highest root biomass, soil organic matter, aggregate stability, and a notably superior infiltration rate. The findings suggest that long-term fenced enclosures facilitate grassland vegetation restoration and enhance soil infiltration capacity, with the most significant improvement observed at the 30-year enclosure milestone, followed by a gradual decline in this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the context of the large-scale management of the Loess Plateau and efforts to reduce water and sediment in the Yellow River, this study focuses on a typical watershed within the Loess Plateau. The potential for vegetation restoration in the Kuye River Basin is estimated based on the assumption that vegetation cover should be relatively uniform under similar habitat conditions. The potential for terrace restoration is assessed through an analysis of topographic features and soil layer thickness, while the potential for silt dam construction is evaluated by considering various hydrological and geomorphological factors. Based on these assessments, the overall potential for soil erosion control in the watershed is synthesized, providing a comprehensive understanding of target areas for ecological restoration within the Kuye River Basin. The study demonstrates that the areas with the greatest potential for vegetation restoration in the Kuye River Basin are concentrated in the upper and middle reaches of the basin, which are in closer proximity to the river. The total potential for terracing is 1013.85 km2, which is primarily distributed across the river terraces, farmlands, and gentle slopes on both sides of the riverbanks. Additionally, the potential for the construction of check dams is 14,390 units. The target areas for terracing measures in the Kuye River Basin are primarily situated in the middle and lower reaches of the basin, which are in closer proximity to the river. Conversely, the target areas for forest, grass, and check dams, as well as other small watershed integrated management measures, are predominantly located in the hill and gully areas on the eastern and southern sides of the basin. The implementation of the gradual ecological construction of the watershed, based on the aforementioned objectives, will facilitate the protection, improvement, and rational utilization of soil, water, and other natural resources within the watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The planting of mangroves is extensively used to control the invasive plant Spartina alterniflora in coastal wetlands. Different plant species release diverse sets of small organic compounds that affect rhizosphere conditions and support high levels of microbial activity. The root-associated microbial community is crucial for plant health and soil nutrient cycling, and for maintaining the stability of the wetland ecosystem. Methods: High-throughput sequencing was used to assess the structure and function of the soil bacterial communities in mudflat soil and in the rhizosphere soils of S. alterniflora, mangroves, and native plants in the Oujiang estuarine wetland, China. A distance-based redundancy analysis (based on Bray–Curtis metrics) was used to identify key soil factors driving bacterial community structure. Results: S. alterniflora invasion and subsequent mangrove afforestation led to the formation of distinct bacterial communities. The main soil factors driving the structure of bacterial communities were electrical conductivity (EC), available potassium (AK), available phosphorus (AP), and organic matter (OM). S. alterniflora obviously increased EC, OM, available nitrogen (AN), and NO3−-N contents, and consequently attracted copiotrophic Bacteroidates to conduct invasion in the coastal areas. Mangroves, especially Kandelia obovata, were suitable pioneer species for restoration and recruited beneficial Desulfobacterota and Bacilli to the rhizosphere. These conditions ultimately increased the contents of AP, available sulfur (AS), and AN in soil. The native plant species Carex scabrifolia and Suaeda glauca affected coastal saline soil primarily by decreasing the EC, rather than by increasing nutrient contents. The predicted functions of bacterial communities in rhizosphere soils were related to active catabolism, whereas those of the bacterial community in mudflat soil were related to synthesis and resistance to environmental factors. Conclusions: Ecological restoration using K. obovata has effectively improved a degraded coastal wetland mainly through increasing phosphorus availability and promoting the succession of the microbial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understory vegetation constitutes an essential component of the ecosystem within the coal mining area, disclosing the correlation between plant species composition and soil properties throughout the multi-year restoration process, and offering a theoretical framework for ecological restoration and reconstruction in the northwest wind-blown sand mining area. We investigated the coupling and coordination degree between the composition of understory vegetation and soil in Pinus sylvestris forests, Hippophae rhamnoides forests, and Prunus sibirica forests at different restoration stages (5 years, 10 years, 15 years) using field survey methods and indoor separation techniques. The results clearly indicate that: (1) After 15 years of recovery, a total of 32 species of herbs appeared in different plantations, belonging to 8 families and 21 genera, of which Artemisia scoparia had the highest importance value (42.85); (2) Significant differences were observed in herb diversity, soil physicochemical properties, and their relationships among different plantations (p < 0.05); (3) The vegetation–soil coupling coordination index of the plantations was as follows: P. sibirica forest (0.5111) > P. sylvestris forest (0.5069) > H. rhamnoides forest (0.4932). The vegetation status of the H. rhamnoides forest is a state of vegetation lagging development type of intermediate-level coordinated development, while the vegetation status of the P. sibirica forest and the P. sylvestris forest is barely harmonious. The status of the P. sibirica forest and P. sylvestris forest is better than that of H. rhamnoides forests. It is essential to enhance the management measures implemented in the Bulianta mine area. Appropriate tending, particularly the regulation of soil nutrients, might be more conducive to the restoration of vegetation and the improvement of forest ecosystem services in the mining area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the mechanisms and patterns of runoff generation in watersheds is fundamental to building hydrological and soil erosion models. It also provides important guidance for watershed water resources management and rational utilization. In order to reveal the in- fluence of vegetation restoration on the runoff production mechanism and model of the Loess Plateau, the Dongzhuanggou watershed, which is dominated by natural grassland restoration, and the Yangjiagou watershed, which is dominated by afforestation restorationin in the gullied loess plateaus were taken as research areas. The flood process lines and regression curves of two contrasting small catchments under different rainfall types were analyzed, and the change of runoff production pattern in the gullied region of loess plateau under vegetation restoration was studied. The results indicate that with the restoration of the watershed's vegetation and its eco-hydrological functions in these small water- sheds, annual runoff generation capacity decreases, while water retention capacity increases. Vegetation restoration effectively reduces peak flow and prolongs flood duration, especially the recession period of the flood, thereby achieving the effect of flood mitigation. Under the influence of vegetation restoration, the runoff generation pattern tends to shift from the traditional infiltration-excess runoff pattern to a shallow sub- surface saturation runoff pattern. This change demonstrates that vegetation restoration can effectively mitigate floods and thus play a significant role in flood control and disaster reduction. Additionally, it can efficiently transform generalized precipitation resources into soil water and interflow, regulate the seasonal distribution of streamflow, increase ecological water use, and promote the healthy and stable development of vegetation ecosystems in semi-arid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) is crucial for the global carbon cycle and serves as a key indicator of soil quality and eco-system function. In Karst areas, SOC stability is influenced by unique geological conditions. Studying SOC stability in these regions is significant for understanding regional ecosystem functions and the role of SOC in mitigating global climate change. This review examines the fractions and stability of SOC in Karst areas, analyzing the impacts of key factors such as rocky desertification, land use changes, and vegetation restoration on SOC stability, along with their underlying mechanisms. It also discusses the current challenges and opportunities in SOC stability. This review aims to guide the development of effective ecological rehabilitation and management strategies for degraded ecosystems in Karst areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation restoration has an important effect on soil carbon (C) pool dynamics. Highly stable iron (Fe)‐associated C is an important component of the soil C pool and it plays a crucial role in the soil C cycle. However, a knowledge gap remains regarding the existence of Fe‐associated C variation during vegetation restoration.Herein, 0–60 cm soil samples of cropland, grassland, shrubland and forestland from three soil types (loam, loess and sandy soils) were collected to explore the response of Fe‐associated C to vegetation restoration.The results showed that soil Fe‐associated C proportion in the study area ranged from 2.2% to 26.3%. Surface soil (0–20 cm) Fe‐associated C content in loess and sandy soils increased following vegetation restoration, but decreased in loam soil. The accumulation efficiency of soil Fe‐associated C during vegetation restoration was higher in coarser soils. Moreover, the Fe‐associated C content and proportion of forestland with a higher soil organic matter (SOM) pool were the highest among the land use types.Vegetation restoration affects soil Fe‐associated C in two different ways: (1) increasing the SOM and dissolved organic C and improving the efficiency of C and Fe binding to promote the accumulation of Fe‐associated C; (2) decreasing the total soil Fe content, reducing the trivalent iron (Fe(III)) to bivalent iron (Fe(II)) and breaking the binding of C and Fe to decrease soil Fe‐associated C content, and these two different ways were found in all three soil types. Additionally, higher SOM accumulation efficiency and less root destruction caused by vegetation restoration in coarse soils resulted in a higher Fe‐associated C accumulation efficiency.Synthesis and applications. Vegetation and soil type strongly regulated the effects of vegetation restoration on soil Fe‐associated C. Forestlands may be the optimum vegetation type to provide soil C sequestration benefits, effectively increasing soil C pool and maximising Fe‐associated C content. This study has addressed the knowledge gap regarding the effects of vegetation restoration on soil Fe‐associated C and provides scientific basis for a better understanding of the soil C cycle and developing scientific vegetation restoration measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal saline soils are an important soil resource that, when restored, can enhance arable land and preserve the natural ecology. With the aim of improving the use of coastal saline soils, we conducted a spot survey at Bohai coastal saline land to investigate the differences in soil properties between different vegetation types. The soil physical and chemical properties of various vegetation types, including Aeluropus sinensis, Imperata cylindrica, Tamarix chinensis, Lycium chinense, Hibiscus moscheutos, Helianthus annuus, Gossypium hirsutum, and Zea mays, were examined at two depth layers: 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm, and in two seasons, spring and autumn. The soil properties were compared with bare land as a control. The results indicated that the electrical conductivity, total soil salt content, sodium adsorption ratio, and bulk density of soils with vegetation cover were lower than those with bare land. On the other hand, soil pH, organic matter content, mean weight diameter, and saturated hydraulic conductivity were higher. The redundancy analysis results revealed a substantial positive correlation between soil pH, saturated hydraulic conductivity, water content, mean weight diameter, and organic matter content, as well as a significant positive correlation between soil electrical conductivity, total soil salt content, sodium adsorption ratio, and bulk density. Soil pH, saturated hydraulic conductivity, water content, mean weight diameter, organic matter content, and soil electrical conductivity, total soil salt content, sodium adsorption ratio, and bulk density were negatively correlated. The results of the structural equation model and variance decomposition showed that soil organic matter and bulk density were the key factors affecting the degree of soil salinization, and compared with their independent effects, their combined effect on soil salinization was greater. This study's conclusions can provide a point of reference for further research on the mechanisms of soil improvement and desalinization in coastal saline land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Understanding the effects of short-term artificial revegetation on preventing soil degradation in erosion gullies of black soil areas is essential to choosing the most suitable species of vegetation for controlling the development of erosion gullies. A field experiment with short-term artificial revegetation with herbaceous species (Medicago sativa L., Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora Maxim., Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. ex Nevski, Rheum palmatum L., Asparagus officinalis L., Trifolium repens L., Bromus inermis Leyss., Elymus dahuricus Turcz.) and a runoff scouring test were conducted in a typical erosion gully in a black soil area. Soil erosion, physicochemical characteristics, and shoot/root characteristics were measured to evaluate the effects of short-term artificial revegetation. Short-term artificial revegetation significantly decreased (p < 0.05) sediment yield by 91.1% ± 7.2% compared with that of bare soil. Soil total nitrogen (TN), total potassium (TP), available phosphorus (AP), cation exchange capacity (CEC), water-stable aggregates > 0.25 mm (WR0.25), and aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD) and mean geometric diameter (GWD) were significantly correlated with vegetated treatments, indicating they were factors sensitive to short-term artificial revegetation. Except for total potassium (TK), the other soil characteristics decreased in vegetated treatments. In addition to increasing TK, vegetated treatments also increased soil available nitrogen (AN)/TN ratios in the short term. The overall effects of different herbaceous species on soil and water conservation, soil quality, and vegetation growth were evaluated, and Trifolium repens L. is the most suitable for preventing soil degradation in an erosion gully. The results of this study will provide a reference for the restoration and protection of the ecological environment in black soil areas with gully erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]