[Background]The severe condition of soil and water loss in the Loess Plateau has resulted in
critical agricultural and environmental problems. Vegetation restoration plays an essential role in
controlling the soil erosion in the Loess Plateau. Yet there were few researches on analyzing the
characteristics of soil erosion of different plant communities converted from slope cropland in the region.
[Methods] The research was conducted between 2012 and 2015. Based on the succession of local
plants,10 plant communities on abandoned slope croplands in 4 watersheds of Ansai County were
selected and were classified in 4 groups: naturally restored herbage community ( Artemisia scoparia,Stipa
bungeana,Bothriochloa ischaemun,Artemisia gmelinii,and Artemisia giraldii) ,naturally restored shrub
community ( Sophora viciifolia) ,artificially established shrub community ( Caragana intermedia and
Hippophae rhamnoides) and artificially established arbor community ( Robinia psendoacacia and Populussimonii) . Totally 45 plots were selected and in each of these communities 3 - 6 plots were selected,in
each plot 3 quadrats were placed as repetition. Annual soil erosion intensity was monitored by erosion
pins placed in these plots. Characteristics of soil erosion of different plant communities were analyzed with
ANOVA,combined with the hydrologic years divided by the characteristics of rainfall. Gray theory was
used to determine the influence of potential indices caused soil erosion. [Results]Rainfall in research
area was distributed unevenly,and rainfall erosivity was the driver factor causing the differences of soil
erosion intensity of plant communities in different years. The ability of controlling soil erosion depended
on the species of plant community: naturally restored shrub community ( 1 285. 36 t /km2 ) > naturally
restored herbage community ( 2 152. 65 t /km2 ) > artificially established shrub community( 2 320. 50 t /
km2 ) > artificially established arbor community( 2 661. 14 t /km2 ) . The soil erosion intensity of Robinia
psendoacacia was the largest ( 3 875. 02 t /km2 ) among these plant communities. Gray correlation analysis
revealed that the rainfall and slope gradient had more impact on soil erosion than coverage in all
communities. In shrub and arbor communities,the effect of slope gradient > rainfall,but in herbage
communities,rainfall > slope gradient. When mentioned coverage,in natural restored community,cover
of litters > vegetation cover; and in artificially established community,vegetation cover > cover of
litters. [Conclusions]Under current status of vegetation,effects of precipitation on soil erosion reduced
effectively in undisturbed plant communities. Natural vegetation should be restored initially with trees and
shrubs introduced by human at proper time and place. Meanwhile,the undergrowth vegetation and litters
in forest communities should be promoted earlier and protected,meanwhile human disturbances should be
reduced as more as possible.
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