Effects of management models in sloping fields on soil moisture and vegetation restoration in the hilly and gully regions of the Loess Plateau

Effects of slope-separated terrace, large terraced field and large fish-scale pit patterns in sloping fields on soil moisture and vegetation restoration were investigated in the hilly and gully regions of the Loess Plateau using comparing method. Results indicate that the engineering treatments of sloping fields produce an efficient increase in rainwater conservation and soil water content while an obvious break in the vegetation and original soil structure. Especially, a stronger evaporation of soil moisture is occurred in 0～40 cm surface soil. Moreover, the side ridge in the large terraced field induces serious moisture losses. And the shorter distance from the side ridge is, the more losses of soil moisture would be. The plantation with stronger roots and high water consumption enhance the development of dry soil layer on the basis of the management in the sloping fields. Therefore, the renewal ability of natural forest is affected. As a result, slope-separated terrace is the best management mode, whose soil moisture is obviously higher than others in the order of slope-separated terrace > large terraced field > large fish-scale pit > the control. The herbage yield, projected area of plant canopy and vegetation coverage in slope-separated terrace were increased by 5.5％, 29.4％ and 4.1％ more than the large terraced field, 22.6％, 24.3％ and 5.4％ more than large fish-scale pit pattern and 8.4％, 50.5％ and 0.8％ more than the control respectively in four years after different engineering managements, resulting in marked economic and ecological benefits.