Variation in physicochemical and biochemical soil properties among different plant species treatments early in the restoration of a desertified alpine meadow

Abstract

Soil nutrients, enzyme activities, and microbial biomass have important significance for biogeochemical cycles and are affected by vegetation restoration in degradation ecosystems. To explore the effects of replanting different plant species on soil restoration in a desertified alpine meadow on the eastern Tibetan Plateau and to optimize the restoration process with locally appropriate plant species, the soil physicochemical and biochemical properties were measured beneath the plant species Rhodiola kirilowii, Salix cupularis, and Kengyilia rigidula over two periods of vegetative growth (2 years and 5 years). The results showed that all the soil properties significantly improved over the recovery periods (p < .001) and the plant species significantly affected the patterns of soil bulk density, available resources, and biochemical properties (p < .05). However, R. kirilowii improved soil properties most significantly among the three plant species as the recovery time elapsed, and these improvements were strongly related to the greatest fresh vegetation biomass and coverage. Furthermore, R. kirilowii enhanced microbial biomass phosphorus even more, which is an important available phosphorus stock in the soil, and more effectively promoted the development of soil fungi than the two other species. Therefore, we suggest that R. kirilowii is the preferred species of the three to expedite the recovery of desertified alpine soil, and that the appropriate addition of P fertilizer and propelling the development of specific fungi groups in the soil are key to soil restoration in the desertified alpine meadow.

Effects of ryegrass canopy and roots on the distribution characteristics of eroded sediment particles during heavy rainfall events on steep loess‐cinnamon slopes in Zhangjiakou, China

“…Vegetation is an effective measure in the control of soil erosion (Guo et al, 2020). The destruction of vegetation will lead to further (Liu et al, 2019;Xia et al, 2017). In this research, compared with the bare slope, the runoff rate and erosion rate of the ryegrass slope were decreased by 40.91 and 63.70%, respectively.…”

“…The destruction of vegetation will lead to further aggravation of soil erosion. Vegetation can regulate and control the physicochemical properties of soil, such as soil compaction, bulk density, permeability, water‐stable aggregate content, and nutrient content (Liu et al, 2019; Xia et al, 2017). In this research, compared with the bare slope, the runoff rate and erosion rate of the ryegrass slope were decreased by 40.91 and 63.70%, respectively.…”

Artificial reseeding improves multiple ecosystem functions in an alpine sandy meadow of the eastern Tibetan Plateau

“…Ecological restoration measures were performed to counteract the negative consequences of grassland desertification on biodiversity and ecosystem functions in alpine regions (Dong et al, 2020; Huang et al, 2019). Artificial reseeding is a widely used strategy to restore alpine sandy grasslands (Jian et al, 2022; L. Liu et al, 2019; G. L. Wu et al, 2011). The restoration of desertification by the reseeding approach has received much emphasis in researches on alpine grasslands and has been demonstrated to increase plant diversity and productivity (J. J. Hu et al, 2022; Y. Liu et al, 2022), improve soil nutrient accumulation (Gou et al, 2019; L. Liu et al, 2019; G. L. Wu et al, 2011), and raise soil microbe activity (Y., F. Hu et al, 2016; N. N. Zhang et al, 2019).…”

Quality assessment of shrub observation data based on TLS: A case of revegetated shrubland, Southern Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau

“…Desertification is defined as land degradation in arid, semiarid, and some sub‐humid regions due to climate variations and/or human activities (Liao et al, 2020; UNCCD, 1994). The Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is one of the most ecologically vulnerable regions in terms of grassland degradation (Liu et al, 2019). The area of sandification has covered 21.58 × 10 4 km 2 on Tibet by 2014 (State Forestry Administration, P. R. China, 2015).…”

“…Artificial restoration is an effective method in ecological restoration to counteract desertification, including fencing, non‐grazing, afforestation and revegetation of degraded land (Liao et al, 2019). From 2008 to 2017, we established a set of experimental plots for revegetation of the sandy land in the QTP, to determine the suitable restoration plant species through field vegetation observation Shrubs like Artemisia sphaerocephala and Artemisia younghusbandii are suitable as the pioneer species for revegetation of a sand land (Li et al, 2019; Liao et al, 2019), to improve the soil organic carbon and accelerate the recovery of desertification (Liu et al, 2019; Yang et al, 2016). In addition, as an important living carbon sink, shrubs play an important role in the global carbon cycle (Scurlock & Hall, 1998) and biodiversity conservation (Dong et al, 2020).…”