| Abstract: | Soil desiccation is a major issue limiting development and sustainability of forest vegetation in the Loess Plateau of China. Better understanding of the mechanisms of soil desiccation in the Loess Plateau can help scientists and forest managers improve vegetation management practices. The arid soil layer is the ecological aftermath of intense soil desiccation due to disturbed plant succession and soil water reduction. The formation and types of arid soil layer in the Loess Plateau were investigated to determine major causes of soil desiccation and its impact on forest vegetation. The negative effects of soil desiccation on the ecological environment and forest vegetation mainly include drying microclimate, degrading soil quality, poor vegetation growth, difficult forest renewal from natural seed banks, making it even more difficult to reforest forest lands and grasslands following plant senescence. Low precipitation, high evaporation, soil and water losses, improper selection of vegetation types, and too high population density of trees are probably the major reasons for the arid soil layer. Proper selection of vegetation types, adjusting tree density and other management practices can reduce the negative effects of the arid soil layer on forest vegetation. |
