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Pak. J. Bot., 44: 101-106, Special Issue May 2012.

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VEGETATION RECONSTRUCTION IN UPLAND AND RAVINE REGIONS OF LOESS PLATEAU IN NORTHERN SHAANXI, CHINA

LIXIN ZHANG^1* AND HAI ZHANG²

Abstract: Arid regions of China such as upland and ravine regions of Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi Province suffer severe degradation of vegetation, soil and water erosion, and desertification due to the fragility of the natural conditions. The efficient engineering managements in sloping fields and intercropping system of forest and grass have been proved to be important measures to reduce losses of soil and water and reconstruct vegetation in these regions. The slope separated terrace, large terraced field and large scale fish pit patterns in sloping fields were efficient in rainwater conservation and soil water content. The large terraced field + Humulus scandens + non timber product forest was the best conservation pattern in sloping fields with gradient from 15° to 20°, and a vegetation coverage of 47.2% was achieved at the same year and 75.9% after four years  and soil erosion was 34.30% lower than control. As for sloping fields with gradient from 20° to 25°, slope separated terrace + Humulus scandens + arbor ecological forest was the optimum conservation pattern, which led to a vegetation coverage of 33.9% to 49.4% and 34. 30% decrease of soil erosion compared to control. All these measures reduced the effect of rain splash erosion on loose top soil, enhance soil water content, increase vegetation coverage, and promote the formation of the stable harmonious community of forest and grass in upland and ravine regions of Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi of China.

¹College of Life Sciences, Northwest A & F University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China,

²College of Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Tangling 712100, P. R. China

^*Corresponding author e-mail: zhanglixinyangling88@yahoo.com.cn