Can the Study of Natural Vegetation Succession Assist in the Control of Soil Erosion on Abandoned Croplands on the Loess Plateau, China?

Abstract

In the Loess Plateau, China, arable cultivation of slope lands is common and associated with serious soil erosion. Planting trees or grass may control erosion, but planted species may consume more soil water and can threaten long-term ecosystem sustainability. Natural vegetation succession is an alternative ecological solution to restore degraded land, but there is a time cost, given that the establishment of natural vegetation, adequate to prevent soil erosion, is a longer process than planting. The aims of this study were to identify the environmental factors controlling the type of vegetation established on abandoned cropland and to identify candidate species that might be sown soon after abandonment to accelerate vegetation succession and establishment of natural vegetation to prevent soil erosion. A field survey of thirty-three 2 3 2-m plots was carried out in July 2003, recording age since abandonment, vegetation cover, and frequency of species together with major environmental and soil variables.Data were analyzed using correspondence analysis, classification tree analysis, and species response curves. Four vegetation types were identified and the data analysis confirmed the importance of time since abandonment, total P, and soil water in controlling the type of vegetation established. Among the dominant species in the three late-successional vegetation types, the most appropriate candidates for accelerating and directing vegetation succession were King Ranch bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum) and Lespedeza davurica (Leguminosae). These species possess combinations of the following characteristics: tolerance of low water and nutrient availability, fibrous root system and strong lateral vegetative spread, and a persistent seed bank.

Spatiotemporal vegetation cover variations associated with climate change and ecological restoration in the Loess Plateau

“…Last, plantations of trees or shrubs transpire large quantities of water, which lowers the water table and makes it difficult for native grasses and other species to survive (Zhang et al, 2009;Zhou et al, 2009). Research indicates that reforestation actually had a negative impact that resulted in a 6.1% decrease in the vegetation cover in recent decades (Cao et al, 2011;Jiao et al, 2007). Therefore, additional long-term and large-scale assessments of vegetation variation are urgently needed to implement a more effective restoration policy.…”

Vegetation community and soil characteristics of abandoned agricultural land and pine plantation in the Qinling Mountains, China

“…Appropriate approach to restore forest ecosystems depends on the severity of damage to the land resource, the goals of rehabilitation and the availability of resources for repairing the damage (Lugo, 1997). Current restoration approaches have focused on the recovery of composition, structure, natural habitural lands yields insights into conservation and restoration of degraded lands (Lee et al, 2002;Bonet, 2004;Jiao et al, 2007).…”

Soil hydraulic conductivity as affected by vegetation restoration age on the Loess Plateau, China

“…check-dam construction, afforestation and restoration of natural vegetation) have been taken to control soil erosion in this region (Chen et al, 2007). Among these measures, abandoning the steep slope farmland to natural succession has become one of the most widely used techniques on the Loess Plateau (Jiao et al, 2007). In 1999, the Grain-for-Green project was undertaken by the Chinese central government to mitigate soil and water losses (Zhang et al, 2008;Li and Lu, 2015).…”