The effects of vegetation on restoration of physical stability of a severely degraded soil in China

Vegetative restoration may increase stability of degraded soil through enrichment of soil organic carbon (SOC). It is not clear whether hydrophobic fractions of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) function, although soil water repellency is generally linked to soil stability. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of vegetative restoration and hydrophobic DOC fractions on soil hydrological and mechanical stability. Five investigated plots included eroded bare soil as a control, restored eroded soils planted either with Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) or Lespedeza shrub (Lespedeza bicolor) since 1987, and two undisturbed soils with the same vegetation types. Water stability (WS), tensile strength (TS), and soil water repellency (SWR) of soil aggregates were measured at three water potentials, i.e., −6, −60 hPa and oven drying at 40 °C and at three depths (0-5, 5-10 and 10-20 cm). Reforestation of Lespedeza and Camphor trees for over 15 years increased SOC, hydrophobic DOC (H-DOC) and hydrophobic acid DOC (HA-DOC), WS and TS of the restored soils compared with the eroded bare soil, with more profound effects under Lespedeza shrubs than under Camphor trees, especially for TS. No significant differences were found between the restored and undisturbed soil under the same vegetation type. SOC was significantly correlated to total porosity, hydrological and mechanical stability and soil water repellency, suggesting the significant effect of SOC on soil restoration. SWR was more closely correlated to SOC and to H-DOC concentration than to total DOC and HA-DOC in the top soil. The humification and aromaticity indices of DOC indicated that greater SWR in the soils under Lespedeza than under Camphor trees can be attributed to greater amount of litter fall and more active microbial decomposition. Although WS and TS varied with soil water potentials, TS was strongly correlated to SWR, but no link was found with WS. This study suggests that the combined influences of soil organic compounds binding and coating soil particles, retarding water wettability and modifying soil porosity are probably extremely important mechanisms of mechanical stabilization in soil. Such intricate feedback during vegetation restoration needs further study.