Arid Zone Research ›› 2019, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (4): 1041-1048.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2019.04.30

• Ecology and Environment • Previous Articles    

Effect of Several Engineering Measures on Vegetation Coverage on Steep Slope in the Loess Region

LIU Le1,2, SUN Hong-yi1,2, ZHANG Jian-xin3, LI Dong-ze3   

  1. 1. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China;
    2. Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Lanzhou 730000,Gansu,China;
    3. Gansu Huifeng Ecological Construction Co.,Ltd.,Lanzhou 730000,Gansu,China
  • Received:2018-09-25 Revised:2019-03-19 Published:2025-10-18

Abstract: In this study,a section of steep slope in Lanzhou New Area was taken as the experimental site to analyze the characteristics of vegetation coverage over 4 kinds of micro-topography (long pit,small circular pit,large circular pit and original slope) formed after artificial land preparation at the early stage of vegetation reconstruction. Moreover,the environmental factors affecting vegetation coverage,including the soil hardness,soil moisture content,surface temperature,air temperature,slope position and slope covered with nonwovens,were also analyzed so as to look for several engineering measures to effectively improve the vegetation coverage.The results showed that: ① The vegetation coverage on the slope covered with nonwovens was significantly higher than that on the control slope,and the vegetation coverage at the different positions of steep slope was in an order of lower slope>middle slope>upper slope,which was consistent with the distribution of vegetation coverage on natural slope.② The vegetation coverage over 3 kinds of micro-topography was significantly higher than that on the steep slopes,in which the vegetation coverage,soil moisture content and duration of maximum vegetation coverage over the long pit were the highest and longest.③ The vegetation coverage over the micro-topography and slope was positively correlated with soil moisture content,but negatively correlated with air temperature and surface temperature.The soil hardness of micro-topography at 3 kg·cm-2 was suitable for plant growth,and it would restrict the plant growth if it was higher than this value.It was conducive to the growth of vegetation on the upper slope if it was covered with nonwovens.The results above revealed that,under the conditions that the slope gradient,slope position and temperature of steep slope could not be changed,the vegetation coverage could be effectively promoted by some engineering measures,such as land preparation and tillage on compacted slope,increase of the number of long pits and covering of nonwovens.

Key words: steep slope, slope protection with vegetation, vegetation coverage, micro-topography, engineering measure, soil preparation, environmental factor, Loess Plateau