Abstract:
In order to study soil physical and chemical properties and soil fertility status under the
Sabina vulgaris Ant. community on the southern edge of the Mu Us Sandland, we collected soil samples from 9 typical sampling plots with cutting ring, measured their physical and chemical properties, analyzed their spatial distribution characteristics, and evaluated soil fertility status of each plot by using the methods of membership value of fertility index and the modified Nemerow index. The results showed that: (1) The soil nutrients were significantly different (
P < 0.05) among different plots and soil layers; (2) The soil physical properties of each plot in the study area showed an irregular fluctuation state. The soil nutrients in each plot had obvious vertical distribution characteristics. Especially, the soil chemical indices were obviously decreased with soil depths; (3) The soil fertility index was decreased in the order of lowland between hills (0.376) > lower dune (0.356) > middle dune (0.341), and was higher in the windward slope (0.435) than that in the Leeward (0.417). The soil fertility index outside the forest was the highest in the grassland (0.417), followed by
Sabina vulgaris Ant. (0.376), and the lowest in the sand land (0.364). Soil fertility under the
Sabina vulgaris Ant. community was at an intermediate level. Therefore, vegetation restoration in the study area can effectively improve sandy soil quality.