THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOIL PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND VEGETATION BIODIVERSITY IN NEWLY FORMED RESERVOIR BUFFER STRIPS

Abstract

The patterns of soil physicochemical properties at large-scales such as buffer zone have been extensively studied, while at fine-scales of vegetation buffer strips (represent a trade-off between economic and ecology benefits of land) and the relationship with vegetation biodiversity are yet to be deepened. This study focused on the discrepancy between soil physicochemical properties (categorizing as soil properties, soil texture, soil stoichiometric ratio, soil microbial activity) and vegetation biodiversity indices in the buffer strips of newly constructed Chushandian reservoir, China. The results showed that the woodland buffer strips had higher soil microbial activity and carbon sequestration capacity than grassland and abandoned cropland. Soil physicochemical properties at 0 m in the reservoir buffer strips with three land use types were more influenced by the overlying water. Distance from watercourse is an important factor affecting soil properties in the reservoir buffer strips with different land use types, mainly mediated by affecting the vegetation biodiversity indices. The width of the existing grassland and abandoned cropland (20 m) is not enough for ecological restoration and should be appropriately widened. Finally, we suggest that the restoration of reservoir buffer strips should be set with flexible width according to the previous land use types.