黄土丘陵沟壑区撂荒地不同演替阶段植物群落的土壤抗蚀性——以坊塌流域为例

采用野外调查取样与室内试验相结合的方法,在分析土壤颗粒组成、级配状况与群体特性、团粒结构的分形特征及其稳定性变化的基础上,研究了黄土丘陵沟壑区撂荒地不同演替阶段植物群落的土壤抗蚀性.结果表明： 撂荒后植被从一年生草本群落阶段演替到多年生蒿禾类草本群落阶段的过程中,土壤的级配状况在不断改良,颗粒分形维数增大,团粒结构有所改善,土壤团粒结构的分形维数与结构体破坏率均不断减小,稳定性不断增强,从而提高了土壤的抗蚀性.实现植被的自然恢复对改善该区土壤结构、提高土壤抗蚀性、减少水土流失和促进区域生态环境可持续发展具有重要意义.     

The impact of agricultural land use changes on soil organic carbon dynamics in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area of China

Aims

Over recent decades, a large uncultivated area has been converted to woodland and shrubland plantations to protect and restore riparian ecosystems in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area, a water source area of China’s Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project. Besides water quality, afforestation may alter soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics and stock in terrestrial ecosystems, but its effects remain poorly quantified and understood.

Methods

We investigated soil organic C and nitrogen (N) content, and δ ¹³C and δ ¹⁵N values of organic soil in plant root-spheres and open areas in an afforested, shrubland and adjacent cropped soil. Soil C and N recalcitrance indexes (RIC and RIN) were calculated as the ratio of unhydrolyzable C and N to total C and N.

Results

Afforestation significantly increased SOC levels in plant root-spheres with the largest accumulation of C in the afforested soil. Afforestation also increased belowground biomass. The C:N ratios in organic soil changed from low to high in the order the cropped, the shrubland and the afforested soil. The RIC in the afforested and shrubland were higher than that in cropped soil, but the RIN increased from the afforested to shrubland to cropped soil. The δ¹⁵N values of the organic soil was enriched from the afforested to shrubland to cropped soil, indicating an increased N loss from the cropped soil compared to afforested or shrubland soil. Changes in the δ¹³C ratio further revealed that the decay rate of C in the three land use types was the highest in the cropped soil.

Conclusions

Afforestation increased the SOC stocks resulted from a combination of large C input from belowground and low C losses because of decreasing soil C decomposition. Shifts in vegetation due to land use change could alter both the quantity and quality of the soil C and thus, have potential effects on ecosystem function and recovery.     

陕北“三北”防护林下草本群落特征及其与林分结构和土壤养分的关系

林下草本层是人工林生态系统的基础功能层,对维护人工林生态系统的健康、稳定和功能具有重要意义。了解陕北“三北”防护林建设对林下草本群落特征的影响,并解析林下草本群落发育与林分结构和土壤养分变化的响应关系,对合理评估防护林建设工作和指导未来生态建设具有重要价值。为此,调查了陕北典型风沙区和黄土区不同造林阶段防护林下草本地上生物量和物种多样性的变化,并分析其与林分结构和土壤养分的关系。结果表明：（1）风沙区不同造林阶段人工林下草本平均地上生物量（23.64 g/m2）显著低于黄土区（44.53 g/m2）。随造林年限增加,风沙区林下草本地上生物量和物种多样性逐渐升高,而黄土区林下草本地上生物量和物种多样性则逐渐降低。（2）风沙区人工林土壤有效氮和有机碳随造林年限的增加逐渐升高,而黄土区人工林下土壤有效氮和有机碳则无明显变化趋势。（3）风沙区早期林下草本地上生物量和物种多样性升高主要得益于土壤养分的提升。而黄土区早期林下草本生物量和物种多样性降低主要是人工林郁闭度增加所致。风沙区防护林的建设促进了林下草本的发育,而黄土区早期人工林下草本出现退化现象。建议对风沙区进行防护林建设,而黄土区以自然恢复为主。     

典型喀斯特峰丛洼地不同植被恢复对土壤养分含量和微生物多样性的影响

以桂西北典型喀斯特峰丛洼地植被恢复过程中草丛、灌丛、次生林、原生林4个植被恢复阶段为研究对象,通过测定优势种的根际与非根际的土壤p H、养分含量及微生物多样性,探讨不同恢复阶段根际土壤养分的富集效应及土壤微生物多样性的变化特征。研究结果表明:(1)4个恢复阶段的根际与非根际土壤养分均呈现显著差异;土壤有效态养分较全量养分对植物根际微小的变化响应更为灵敏;大多数养分表现出明显的富集效应,AP和AK在原生林的富集率明显高于其他恢复阶段;(2)4个恢复阶段细菌Shannon-Wiener指数(H)、丰富度指数(S)均高于真菌,根际土壤细菌与真菌Shannon-Wiener指数(H)、丰富度指数(S)与Pielou均匀度(EH)都高于非根际土壤;(3)4个恢复阶段土壤TN分别与p H、SOC、AN呈极显著正相关(P0.01),磷素、钾素与土壤微生物多样性呈显著相关(P0.05)。可研究结果为西南喀斯特脆弱区土壤生态功能恢复与植被恢复重建提供科学依据。     

黄土高原植被建设与土壤干燥化:问题与展望

黄土高原大规模植被建设有效减少了水土流失、改善了区域生态环境,大规模人工植被种植也造成了土壤水分的过度消耗,导致了土壤干燥化,成为当前黄土高原生态恢复的重要制约因素,威胁区域生态系统健康与稳定。系统综述了黄土高原地区人工植被恢复对土壤干燥化的作用机制,植被群落特征与土壤干燥化的耦合关系,多尺度土壤干燥化时空分异规律及其影响因素,明确了当前大规模人工植被恢复过程中土壤水分持续利用面临的问题与挑战。建议今后加强植被动态对水文过程影响的研究,明确多尺度植被格局与土壤干燥化时空分异的耦合关系,系统开展变化环境下不同尺度植被与土壤水分相互作用的模拟研究,探讨基于植被格局优化的土壤水分调控机制,维护黄土高原地区土壤安全,提升区域生态系统服务功能。     

Changes in soil macrofaunal community composition under selective afforestation in shifting sand lands in Horqin of Inner Mongolia, northern China

Large-scale afforestation programs have had some beneficial effects on reducing severity of dust storms and controlling desertification in arid and semi-arid regions. However, the influences of selective afforestation on soil arthropod community are largely unknown in desertified ecosystems. Soil macrofaunal communities, soil physico-chemical properties, and herb vegetation were investigated in afforested shrublands and woodlands (both approximately 30 years old post-afforestation), which were compared to shifting sand lands in Horqin, northern China. In the shrublands, environmental parameters (soil and vegetation properties) indicated a significant improvement of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and herbaceous density and cover, in comparison to the woodlands and shifting sand lands. The improved shrubland habitat maintained significantly higher soil macrofaunal abundance and group richness together with higher diversity compared with the woodlands and shifting sand lands. There were no significant differences in soil macrofaunal diversity between the woodlands and shifting sand lands. The results suggest that shrubs can facilitate macrofaunal assemblies and improve soil and vegetation properties when planted in shifting sand lands. Shrub afforestation is beneficial for the restoration of shifting sand lands, and is recommended for management of artificial plantations in these sandy ecosystems.     

土壤微生物网络复杂性预测黄土高原造林恢复生态系统多功能性

人类活动导致黄土高原土地退化和生物多样性丧失,进而降低了生态系统功能。人工造林是该区域退化土地恢复的重要措施。现有的生态修复研究通常侧重于微生物群落物种多样性的恢复对单一生态系统功能的影响,而忽略了微生物间存在的相互作用与生态系统多功能性(Ecosystem multifunctionality, EMF)的关系。为探究造林恢复过程中土壤微生物多样性和网络复杂性与EMF的关系,本研究采用时空代换法(space-time substitution method),沿50年造林恢复时间序列,分析了黄土高原地区造林恢复对土壤微生物群落多样性、土壤微生物网络复杂性以及与土壤养分循环相关的10个生态系统功能指标的影响,明确了土壤微生物群落特征与EMF的关系。结果表明,随造林恢复时间序列的增加,土壤微生物群落的综合多样性、网络复杂性和EMF均呈现出显著增加后下降的趋势(P<0.05),其中土壤微生物综合多样性和网络复杂性在第8年达到最高值,EMF在第20年达到最大值。在未控制土壤环境因素时,细菌和古菌多样性与EMF无显著相关性,真菌多样性与EMF呈显著正相关(P<0.001);土壤微生...     

模拟降雨减少对刺槐人工林土壤养分和微生物群落的影响

降雨是黄土高原地区土壤水分的最主要来源。为探明降雨减少对黄土高原半湿润区土壤养分和土壤微生物群落的影响,以刺槐人工林为研究对象,通过搭设透光遮雨板将部分穿透雨导流至样地外,实施了4年减少总降雨输入约47%的处理,测定了在不同降雨条件下林地的土壤养分含量、土壤微生物多样性及群落结构特征,分析了土壤养分和土壤微生物对降雨减少的响应。结果表明：减雨处理4年后(1)处理样地土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷含量均低于对照样地,全氮含量差异达到显著水平(P<0.05)。(2)对照样地生长季和非生长季土壤微生物多样性差异不显著,减雨处理样地非生长季的细菌均匀度显著低于处理样地生长季和对照样地非生长季(P<0.05);降雨减少对细菌和真菌的群落结构有显著影响(P<0.05),降雨减少显著降低了酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)的相对丰度,提高了放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)、子囊菌门(Ascomycota)和被孢霉门(Mortierellomycota)的相对丰度(P<0.05)。(3)土壤有机碳、全氮含量与部分细菌相对丰度显著相关,土壤...     

Soil carbon stock change following afforestation in Northern Europe: a meta‐analysis

Northern Europe supports large soil organic carbon (SOC) pools and has been subjected to high frequency of land‐use changes during the past decades. However, this region has not been well represented in previous large‐scale syntheses of land‐use change effects on SOC, especially regarding effects of afforestation. Therefore, we conducted a meta‐analysis of SOC stock change following afforestation in Northern Europe. Response ratios were calculated for forest floors and mineral soils (0–10 cm and 0–20/30 cm layers) based on paired control (former land use) and afforested plots. We analyzed the influence of forest age, former land‐use, forest type, and soil textural class. Three major improvements were incorporated in the meta‐analysis: analysis of major interaction groups, evaluation of the influence of nonindependence between samples according to study design, and mass correction. Former land use was a major factor contributing to changes in SOC after afforestation. In former croplands, SOC change differed between soil layers and was significantly positive (20%) in the 0–10 cm layer. Afforestation of former grasslands had a small negative (nonsignificant) effect indicating limited SOC change following this land‐use change within the region. Forest floors enhanced the positive effects of afforestation on SOC, especially with conifers. Meta‐estimates calculated for the periods <30 years and >30 years since afforestation revealed a shift from initial loss to later gain of SOC. The interaction group analysis indicated that meta‐estimates in former land‐use, forest type, and soil textural class alone were either offset or enhanced when confounding effects among variable classes were considered. Furthermore, effect sizes were slightly overestimated if sample dependence was not accounted for and if no mass correction was performed. We conclude that significant SOC sequestration in Northern Europe occurs after afforestation of croplands and not grasslands, and changes are small within a 30‐year perspective.     

黄土区六种植物凋落物与不同形态氮素对土壤微生物量碳氮含量的影响

黄土高原丘陵沟壑区进行的以退耕还林还草为主的生态环境建设,使得进入土壤生态系统有机物的种类及数量发生变化,其对土壤微生物量碳、氮的影响是值得关注的问题。采用室内培养法研究了采自该区6种不同植物凋落物（碳氮比在15.1-50.7之间）及其与不同形态氮素（NH+4-N及NO-3-N）配合对土壤微生物量碳、氮及矿质态氮含量的影响。结果表明,加入不同凋落物均显著提高了土壤微生物量碳、氮含量,其中加入柠条、沙打旺等碳氮比低的凋落物在培养的一段时期内土壤微生物量碳、氮均高于碳氮比高的凋落物（刺槐、沙柳和长芒草）。在加入凋落物再施用NH+4或NO-3,也提高了土壤微生物量碳、氮含量,其中铵态氮处理土壤微生物量碳、氮含量的增加达显著水平,说明微生物更易利用铵态氮。加入C/N高的凋落物后土壤中的矿质氮发生固持,矿质态氮固持量与凋落物的C/N比呈显著的正相关关系。建议在黄土高原丘陵沟壑区植被恢复过程中,有必要考虑不同植物凋落物的碳、氮养分含量及转化特性,以协调土壤碳、氮转化过程。     

Effects of Revegetation on Soil Microbial Biomass,Enzyme Activities,and Nutrient Cycling on the Loess Plateau in China

Revegetation is a traditional practice widely used for soil and water conservation on the Loess Plateau in China. However, there has been a lack of reports on soil microbial–biochemical indices required for a comprehensive evaluation of the success of revegetation systems. In this study, we examined the effects of revegetation on major soil nutrients and microbial–biochemical properties in an artificial alfalfa grassland, an enclosed natural grassland, and an artificial shrubland (Caragana korshinskii), with an abandoned cropland as control. Results showed that at 0–5, 5–20, and 20–40 cm depths, soil organic carbon, alkaline extractable nitrogen and available potassium were higher in natural grassland and artificial shrubland compared with artificial grassland and abandoned cropland. Soil microbial biomass C (Cmic) and phosphorous (Pmic) substantially decreased with depth at all sites, and in abandoned cropland was significantly lower than those of natural grassland, artificial grassland, and artificial shrubland at the depth of 0–5 cm. Soil microbial biomass N (Nmic) was higher in artificial shrubland and abandoned cropland compared with that in natural and artificial grasslands. Both Cmic and Pmic were significantly different between the 23‐year‐old and the 13‐year‐old artificial shrublands at the 0–5 cm depth. The activities of soil invertase, urease, and alkaline phosphatase in natural grassland and artificial shrubland were higher than those in artificial grassland and abandoned cropland. This study demonstrated that the regeneration of both natural grassland and artificial shrubland effectively preserved and enhanced soil microbial biomass and major nutrient cycling, thus is an ecologically beneficial practice for recovery of degraded soils on the Loess Plateau.     

黄土丘陵区子午岭不同植物群落下土壤氮素及相关酶活性的特征

以黄土丘陵区子午岭林区裸露地为对照,选择撂荒地、白羊草草地、油松、山杨和辽东栎林地五种典型植被群落下0—10cm和10—20 cm土层的土壤为研究对象,对土壤无机氮、有机氮、微生物量氮含量和脲酶、蛋白酶以及硝酸还原酶的活性进行了研究。结果表明,土壤中各种氮素基本表现为乔木林,尤其是辽东栎和油松下含量最高,而有机氮则在白羊草地富集明显。铵态氮为子午岭林区速效氮的主要形式。土壤铵态氮与微生物氮极显著正相关;有机氮和亚硝态氮、矿化氮、微生物氮均显著正相关。脲酶和硝酸还原酶活性在辽东栎群落下最高,蛋白酶在白羊草地下较高,且脲酶活性在土壤上层高于下层,而蛋白酶和硝酸还原酶并没有表现出明显规律。脲酶活性和铵态氮、有机氮含量显著正相关,与微生物量氮极显著正相关;硝酸还原酶活性与铵态氮含量显著正相关;蛋白酶活性和土壤各种氮素含量无相关性。     

黄土丘陵区草地土壤微生物C、N及呼吸熵对植被恢复的响应

以野外样地调查和室内分析法研究了黄土丘陵区不同植被恢复年限下草地土壤微生物C、N及土壤呼吸熵的变化.结果表明,土壤微生物量碳明显地随着植被恢复年限的增加而增加.在恢复前23a, 土壤微生物量碳在0～20 cm土层年增加率为24.1%;20～40 cm为104.4%.植被恢复23a后,0～20 cm土层增长率为0.83%,20～40 cm为0.19%.土壤微生物量N表现为在植被恢复的初期略有下降,3a后,开始出现明显增加.0～20 cm土层年增长率为20.14%,20～40 cm为15.11%.在植被恢复23a后,0～20 cm土层的年增长率为0.14%,20～40 cm变化不大.土壤微生物呼吸强度随着恢复年限的增加逐渐加强;土壤呼吸熵随植被封育时间的增加而呈对数降低趋势.土壤呼吸熵(qCO2)在反映土壤的生物质量变化时,显得更加稳定,受植物生长状况影响较小.相关分析表明,土壤微生物量和土壤微生物活性与土壤有机质、碱解氮和粘粒含量显著正相关;与土壤粉粒含量明显负相关;表层土壤pH值对其也有明显影响.草地植被自然恢复过程可增加土壤微生物活性,有利于土壤质量的提高.     

半干旱黄土高原退化生态系统的修复与生态农业发展

首先分析了半干旱黄土高原区域生态系统的特点,指出：这里地带性植被极度退化,土壤质量严重恶化,治理难度大,可持续发展受到严重威胁。然后,进行生态系统退化关键驱动力的分析,认为,在不同时期,农民的利益驱动始终是土地利用格局和生态系统演化／退化的关键驱动力。在寻求分析退化生态系统修复的突破口时,认为提高作物产量和经济效益,解决农民的需求是具有可操作性的途径。而实现这一途径必须提高单产,以减轻更广大土地面积上的生产力需求压力。通过集水、覆盖等措施改善农田水分条件,再配合地膜、化肥,在对农田进行合理管理的情况下,粮食单产可获得持续大幅度的提高。在此基础上,提出了实现区域可持续发展的途径——集水型生态农业及其景观配置模式。在这一模式中,经济作物、粮食作物、人工草地和天然草地在一个完整的景观单元内合理配置,形成完整的景观复合生态系统。对这一模式的深人研究和正确实施将推动半干旱黄土高原退化生态系统的修复,并为西部开发中经济建设和生态建设并举提供理论与实践指导。     

植被恢复对黄土区煤矿排土场土壤团聚体特征的影响

目前关于植被恢复对排土场土壤团聚性的影响还不清楚,以植被恢复下黄土区露天煤矿排土场为研究对象,采用湿筛法测定了排土场土壤水稳性团聚体组成,研究了植被恢复类型(草地、灌木)和排土场地形(平台、边坡)对土壤团聚体特征的影响。结果表明:植被恢复促进了排土场水稳性团聚体的形成,平台0—20 cm土层水稳性大团聚体数量(R_(0.25))、平均重量直径(MWD)和几何平均直径(GMD)分别达到31.1%,0.70 mm和0.26 mm,边坡分别达到13.3%,0.37 mm和0.17 mm,均显著高于裸地,分形维数(D)在平台和边坡分别为2.91和2.96,均显著低于裸地;平台土壤团聚性要好于边坡,草地对于平台土壤团聚结构改良效果较好,而灌木对于边坡改良效果较好;排土场土壤有机碳和粘粒含量均与土壤团聚体指标有显著相关性。植被恢复提高了排土场土壤团聚性,植被恢复类型和地形对排土场土壤团聚体特征有显著影响。     

How afforestation affects the water cycle in drylands: A process‐based comparative analysis

The world's largest afforestation programs implemented by China made a great contribution to the global “greening up.” These programs have received worldwide attention due to its contribution toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, emerging studies have suggested that these campaigns, when not properly implemented, resulted in unintended ecological and water security concerns at the regional scale. While mounting evidence shows that afforestation causes substantial reduction in water yield at the watershed scale, process‐based studies on how forest plantations alter the partitioning of rainwater and affect water balance components in natural vegetation are still lacking at the plot scale. This lack of science‐based data prevents a comprehensive understanding of forest‐related ecosystem services such as soil conservation and water supply under climate change. The present study represents the first “Paired Plot” study of the water balance of afforestation on the Loess Plateau. We investigate the effects of forest structure and environmental factors on the full water cycle in a typical multilayer plantation forest composed of black locust, one of the most popular tree species for plantations worldwide. We measure the ecohydrological components of a black locust versus natural grassland on adjacent sites. The startling finding of this study is that, contrary to the general belief, the understory—instead of the overstory—was the main water consumer in this plantation. Moreover, there is a strict physiological regulation of forest transpiration. In contrast to grassland, annual seepage under the forest was minor in years with an average rainfall. We conclude that global long‐term greening efforts in drylands require careful ecohydrologic evaluation so that green and blue water trade‐offs are properly addressed. This is especially important for reforestation‐based watershed land management, that aims at carbon sequestration in mitigating climate change while maintaining regional water security, to be effective on a large scale.     

黄土高原人工刺槐林生长衰退的生态生理机制

刺槐是黄土高原广泛栽植的水土保持树种,然而人工刺槐林的树木个体生长衰退已经成为该区域开展植被恢复建设、实现森林可持续经营所面临的重大生态环境问题之一.目前人工刺槐林生长衰退的定义、界定标准、量化指标尚未形成统一标准.探讨刺槐生长衰退的机理不仅是植被恢复的理论基础,也是退耕还林还草工程持续开展的直接需求,具有实际价值和研究意义.通过汇集相关研究文献,综合国际和黄土高原关于森林生长衰退、死亡率增加的研究,从生态学(气候变化、土壤干化、群落结构失调、森林经营管理不当)和树木生理学(水力学故障、碳饥饿、遗传及分子调节)两个角度概述了黄土高原人工刺槐林生长衰退的机制以及取得的研究进展.最后提出黄土高原人工刺槐林生长衰退研究的不足,并对未来研究进行展望.     

黄土丘陵沟壑区退耕地土壤养分因子对植被恢复的贡献

为了探求各土壤养分因子对植被恢复贡献的大小．利用因子分析(Factor analysis)对黄土高原丘陵沟壑区退耕地植被恢复中的土壤养分进行了多元统计分析,定量研究了土壤养分环境对植被恢复的作用。结果表明：住所选取的6个土壤养分因子中,土壤有机质、有效N、全P和速效P对植被恢复的贡献较大．是限制该地区植被恢复的主导因素,其它养分因子的贡献相对较小。根据土壤养分因子间的相关系数,土壤有机质与全N和有效N呈显著相关。因此,在评价土壤养分因子对植被恢复贡献大小时．选取土壤有机质、氮和磷的含量作为评价指标,不但节省了时间和财力,而且有助于植被恢复的快速评价。     

中国东部10个海岛植被近自然度评价

植被近自然度评价是森林近自然恢复的重要理论基础。海岛因特殊的生物地理环境,其植被结构和功能有别于陆地植被,当前还未有从植物生理生态角度,联合植物功能性状的海岛植被近自然度评价指标体系。基于中国东部10个典型海岛的74个植物群落,以植被信息、土壤属性和多样性特征（物种和功能多样性）构建海岛植被近自然度评价指标体系。利用敏感性分析筛选出13个反映海岛植被近自然度的中、高敏感性指标,基于筛选指标用层次分析法初次构建了中国东部海岛植被近自然度评价指标体系,并计算典型海岛的植被近自然度综合指数和划定植被近自然度等级。结果显示：海岛植被近自然度综合评价指标的权重：植被信息 > 多样性特征 > 土壤属性,其中植物自然构成系数、土壤含水量、Shannon-Wiener指数、Rao二次熵指数的权重较大;典型海岛的植被近自然度综合指数在0.345-0.611间,其中大金山岛的植被近自然度最高,属半天然林,北长山岛最低,为近人工林,其他海岛为远天然林;中亚热带的海岛植被近自然度较高,暖温带和南亚热带的海岛植被近自然度较低。本研究基于陆地植被近自然度评价指标,联合植物功能多样性对我国东部海岛植被近自然度进行综合评价,为海岛植被的生态状况提供定量依据,以及为海岛植被保护与管理和近自然恢复提供理论支撑。     

A comparison of soil qualities of different revegetation types in the Loess Plateau, China

Serious soil erosion has resulted in widespread land degradation in the Loess Plateau of China. In the past two decades, great efforts have been made to restore degraded soil such as reconverting croplands into forestlands or grasslands. A comparison of soil qualities of different revegetation types has important implications in soil reclamation. Our study investigated the effect of different revegetation types on the physicochemical and microbial soil properties in the Loess Plateau, with the aim of determining which revegetation type has the best capacity for soil recovery. The vegetation types included two shrublands (Caragana korshinskii and Hippophae rhamnoides), two grasslands (Astragalus adsurgens and Panicum virgatum), and two species from croplands that were abandoned for natural recovery (Artemisia capillaries and Heteropappus altaicus). Among the plants studied, H. altaicus and A. capillaries had the highest values of soil organic C, total N, total P, available N, available P, moisture content, microbial biomass C (MBC), substrate-induced respiration, saccharase, urease, catalase, and peroxidase. Soil sampled from the A. adsurgens plot had the highest bulk density and microbial biomass N, and soil from the H. rhamnoides plot had the highest metabolic quotient (basal respiration/MBC). The soil quality index, which was obtained based on the available N, metabolic quotient, MBC, urease, polyphenol oxidase, and bulk density, shows that the abandoned cropland for natural recovery had the highest soil quality, followed by grassland, and then shrubland. Vegetation types affect the physicochemical and microbial properties of soils in arid climatic conditions. Abandoned cropland for natural recovery has the best capacity for improving soil quality in the Loess Plateau among all studied revegetation types. Our study suggests that in the Loess Plateau, natural recovery is the best choice for soil revegetation of sloping croplands.