Influence of soil physical properties and vegetation coverage at different slope aspects in a reclaimed dump

Abstract

Vegetation coverage is an important parameter for affecting soil erosion and the physical and chemical properties of soil. To analyze the mutual influence between vegetation coverage and soil quality at different slope aspects in a reclaimed dump, fitting analyses were built between the normalized difference vegetation index and soil physical properties at each slope aspect. Twenty six quadrats were sampled in slope-platform alternate mode. Each quadrat was 10 m × 10 m. Vegetation index and soil physical properties were measured and calculated. Through curve fitting analysis, the results showed that soil bulk density has a negative correlation with the vegetation index on shady and half shady slopes, sunny slopes, and half sunny slopes. Soil porosity has a positive correlation with the vegetation index on shady and half shady slopes, sunny slope, and half sunny slope. The soil mass water content has a concave function relationship with the vegetation index on shady and half shady slopes and has a quadratic function relationship with the vegetation index on sunny and half sunny slopes, with the parabola moving upwards. The soil gravel content has a linear relationship with the vegetation index on shady and half shady slopes, and the image has a negative slope with a quadratic function relationship to the vegetation index on sunny slope and half sunny slope, with the parabola moving downwards. Due to differences among hydrothermal conditions, the relationship between vegetation coverage and soil quality indicators at different slope aspects is different; therefore, reasonable improvement of soil quality indicators on sunny and half sunny slopes could help plants to grow. These findings feed into a reference document that sets out how vegetation and soil quality may be improved in mining areas.

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