Changes in soil properties and plant community characteristics among different vegetation restoration models in the semiarid steppe zone of Inner Mongolia in China
ZHANG Zhihua, LI Xiaoyan, JIANG Zhiyun, SANG Yuqiang
1. College of Forestry, Henan Agriculture University, 450002, Zhengzhou, China; 2. College of Resources Sciences and Technology, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
Abstract：[Background] "Grain for Green Program" (GGP), i.e., reconversion of cropland into forest or grassland, initiated by Chinese government has a profound impact on mitigating environmental degradation. After cropland is re-converted into grassland, land use and vegetation can be altered radically within a short period, and soil physical, chemical, and microbial properties can be improved. In general, natural recovery and artificial forestation/grass planting are two main ways to restoration after re-conversion from cropland to grassland. However, there has not yet formed a unified conclusion on which way is more favorable to improve the vegetation community and soil environment. The objectives of this study were hence to discover the differences in characteristics of vegetation community and soil properties between natural recovery (N-CG) and artificial grass planting (P-CG) in the semiarid steppe region of north China, and then to assess a more suitable restoration ways in the study area. [Methods] Three sites were selected, representing two restoration ways (natural recovery and artificial forestation) and natural grassland (NG), respectively. Vegetation cover, biomass and species diversity were investigated by quadrat method in the field. Soil samplings were collected with different depths to investigate soil properties including organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN) and phosphorus (TP), bulk density (BD) and particle size distribution. Particle size composition was determined by the hydrometer method and SOM was measured by the K2Cr2O7-H2SO4 oxidation method. Additionally, TN was measured using a Nitrogen/Carbon Analyzer and TP was measured by molybdenum blue colorimetry, after H2SO4-HClO4 digestion. [Results] 1) Species diversity, plant coverage, aboveground and belowground biomass were significantly (P<0.01) lower in P-CG among the three typed sites, and the differences between N-CG and NG were not significant. Meanwhile, species composition in N-CG was similar with NG, compared with P-CG. 2) Surface soil (0-10 cm) properties were deeply affected by different restoration ways. P-CG tended to have higher bulk density and sand content, but lower SOM, TN, silt and clay content than N-CG at the soil depths of 0-10 cm, although the differences were not significant. Moreover, NG had the lowest bulk density and sand content, and the highest SOM, TN, TP, silt and clay content. [Conclusions] Soil properties and plant community characters did not return to natural grassland status as before cultivation after 12 years of re-conversion in our study area. N-CG might be a more suitable restoration way to facilitate vegetation community and improve soil physicochemical properties in the study area compared with P-CG. Extra efforts are needed to persistently investigate the changes of vegetation and soil properties in a long time within different restoration ways and to make reliable policy decisions while choosing suitable ways for re-conversion from cropland to grassland in the semiarid steppe region of north China.
张志华1,2, 李小雁2, 蒋志云2, 桑玉强1. 内蒙古典型草原区退耕方式对植物群落特征与土壤特性的影响[J]. 中国水土保持科学, 2017, 15(3): 74-80.
ZHANG Zhihua, LI Xiaoyan, JIANG Zhiyun, SANG Yuqiang. Changes in soil properties and plant community characteristics among different vegetation restoration models in the semiarid steppe zone of Inner Mongolia in China. SSWC, 2017, 15(3): 74-80.
汪疆玮, 蒙吉军. 基于DEA的乌审旗退耕政策实施效率的多尺度差异及影响因素分析[J]. 中国水土保持科学, 2014, 12(4):74. WANG Jiangwei, MENG Jijun. Analysis of influencing factors and multi-scale differences of the operational efficiency in the program of converting cropland to forestland in Uxin Banner, Inner Mongolia, based on data envelopment analysis[J]. Science of Soil and Water Conservation, 2014, 12(4):74.
[2]
薛超玉, 焦峰, 张海东, 等. 黄土丘陵区弃耕地恢复过程中土壤与植物恢复特征[J]. 草业科学, 2016, 33(3):368. XUE Chaoyu, JIAO Feng, ZHANG Haidong, et al. The characteristics of plant species and soil quality in the restoration process of the loess hilly region[J]. Pratacultural Science, 2016,33(3):368.
[3]
张琨, 吕一河, 傅伯杰. 黄土高原典型区植被恢复及其对生态系统服务的影响[J]. 生态与农村环境学报, 2017, 33(1):23. ZHANG Kun, LÜ Yihe, FU Bojie. Vegetation restoration and its influences on ecosystem services in areas typical of the loess plateau[J]. Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment, 2017, 33(1):23.
[4]
JIANG Weiguo, YUAN Lihua, WANG Wenjie, et al. Spatio-temporal analysis of vegetation variation in the Yellow River Basin[J]. Ecological Indicators, 2015, 51:117.
[5]
于贵瑞, 谢高地, 王秋凤, 等. 西部地区植被恢复重建中几个问题的思考[J]. 自然资源学报, 2002, 17(2):217. YU Guirui, XIE Gaodi, WANG Qiufeng, et al. Considerations to some issues on vegetation rehabilitation in western China[J]. Journal of Natural Resources, 2002, 17(2):217.
[6]
郑子成, 王永东, 李廷轩, 等. 退耕对土壤团聚体稳定性及有机碳分布的影响[J]. 自然资源学报, 2011, 26(1):119. ZHENG Zicheng, WANG Yongdong, Li Tingxuan, et al. Effect of abandoned cropland on stability and distributions of organic carbon in soil aggregates[J]. Journal of Natural Resources, 2011, 26(1):119.
[7]
谷长磊, 刘琳, 邱扬, 等. 黄土丘陵区生态退耕对草本层植物多样性的影响[J]. 水土保持研究, 2013, 20(5):99. GU Changlei, LIU Lin, QIU Yang, et al. Effects of ecological restoration on species diversity of herb layer in the hilly-gullied area of the Loess Plateau[J]. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 2013, 20(5):99.
[8]
张晓霞, 杨宗儒, 查同刚, 等. 晋西黄土区退耕还林22年后林地土壤物理性质的变化[J]. 生态学报, 2017, 37(2):416. ZHANG Xiaoxia, YANG Zongru, ZHA Tonggan, et al. Changes in the physical properties of soil in forestlands after 22 years under the influence of the Conversion of Cropland into Farmland Project in loess region,Western Shanxi Province[J]. Acta Ecologica Sinica,2017,37(2):416.
[9]
刘学彤, 魏艳春, 杨宪龙, 等. 水蚀风蚀交错带不同退耕模式对土壤有机碳及全氮的影响[J]. 应用生态学报, 2016, 27(1):91. LIU Xuetong, WEI Yanchun, YANG Xianlong, et al. Effects of different re-vegetation patterns on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in the wind-water erosion crisscross region, China[J].Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2016, 27(1):91.
[10]
QIU Guoyu, XIE Fang, FENG Youcan, et al. Experimental studies on the effects of the "Conversion of Cropland to Grassland Program" on the water budget and evapotranspiration in a semi-arid steppe in Inner Mongolia, China[J]. Journal of Hydrology, 2011, 411(1/2):120.
[11]
方精云, 王襄平, 沈泽昊, 等. 植物群落清查的主要内容、方法和技术规范[J]. 生物多样性, 2009, 17(6):537. FANG Jingyun, WANG Xiangping, SHEN Zehao, et al. Methods and protocols for plant community inventory[J]. Biodiversity Science, 2009, 17(6):537.
[12]
李永强, 焦树英, 赵萌莉, 等. 草甸草原撂荒地演替过程中植被多样性指数变化[J]. 中国草地学报, 2016, 38(3):118. LI Yongqiang, JIAO Shuying, ZHAO Mengli, et al. Change of plant community diversity index during abandoned succession in meadow steppe[J]. Chinese Journal of Grassland, 2016, 38(3):118.
[13]
师阳阳, 张光辉, 陈云明, 等. 黄土丘陵区不同退耕模式林下草本变化特征[J]. 中国水土保持科学, 2012, 10(5):64. SHI Yangyang, ZHANG Guanghui, CHEN Yunming, et al. Characteristics of undergrowth herbage of different restoration models in the loess hilly region[J]. Science of Soil and Water Conservation, 2012, 10(5):64.
[14]
韩福贵, 魏林源, 王理德, 等. 民勤退耕地物种多样性与土壤养分及其相关性分析[J]. 中国农学通报, 2015, 31(6):109. HAN Fugui, WEI Linyuan, WANG Lide, et al. Analysis of species diversity and soil nutrition and the correlation between them in the abandoned land in Minqin[J]. Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin, 2015, 31(6):109.
[15]
CHANG Ruying, FU Bojie, LIU Guohua, et al. The effects of afforestation on soil organic and inorganic carbon:A case study of the Loess Plateau of China[J]. Catena. 2012, 95(3):145.
[16]
刘勇, 王凯博, 上官周平. 黄土高原子午岭退耕地土壤物理性质与群落特征[J]. 植物资源与环境学报, 2006, 15(2):42. LIU Yong, WANG Kaibo, SHANGGUAN Zhouping. Study of soil physical properties and community characteristics of different abandoned lands in Ziwuling area of Loess Plateau[J]. Journal of Plant Resources & Environment, 2006, 15(2):42.
[17]
杨金艳, 王传宽. 东北东部森林生态系统土壤碳贮量和碳通量[J]. 生态学报, 2005, 25(11):2875. YANG Jinyan, WANG Chuankuan. Soil carbon storage and flux of temperate forest ecosystems in northeastern China[J]. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2005, 25(11):2875.
2017, Vol. 15 
