Vegetation Types Effects on Soil Properties in Small Watershed of the Loess Plateau

Re-vegetation in the Loess Plateau poses great significance on eco-environmental rehabilitation and exerts important influences on soil properties and soil quality,which is essential for maintaining and improving for the ecosystem functions in the re-vegetation systems. In this study,field investigation and laboratory analysis were combined to reveal the changes of soil properties and subsequently soil quality in various vegetation coverage conditions in the loessial gully region of the Loess Plateau. The results showed that the optimal soil physical properties were occurred in grassland. In the studied vegetation types,most nutrients and soil properties were all decreased with soil depth apart from pH and total P. Additionally,soil properties varied greatly with vegetations. After 51 years,Chinese pine improved soil quality in 0-105 cm soil depths,while black locust improved soil quality in 0-45 cm. Soils in 45-105 cm were degraded after 51 years' growth of black locust.