Soil properties influence the distribution and diversity of plant communities in the desert-loess transition zone

Abstract

Soil properties are the most important factors affecting plant community organization and distribution. In the desert–loess transition zone, sandy dune and loess hill distribution and heterogeneity in soil properties influence plant community distribution, diversity, and restoration approaches. Understanding how soil properties affect the distribution and diversity of plant communities is very important for managing transition zone ecosystems. However, the links between soil properties and their relationships with plant community distribution and species diversity in the desert–loess transition zone are unclear. In this study, a desert–loess transition zone in the northern Loess Plateau was used as the study area to investigate soil properties and related vegetation characteristics, and regression analysis and Pearson’s correlation analysis were used to explore the correlations among soil nutrients, soil particle size, plant species diversity, and plant species importance values. The results revealed that soils with fine particles are more effective at retaining nitrogen, potassium and organic matter, whereas soils with coarse particles promote the accumulation of phosphorus. Soil particle size and soil nutrients have effects on plant distribution and diversity. Under the same climatic conditions, loess soil with fine particles is better able to promote plant species diversity than soil with coarse particles. Plants that are distributed mainly on loess soil grow better in fine soil rich in nitrogen, potassium and organic matter, whereas plants that are distributed mainly on sandy soil can adapt to coarse-grained soil that is poor in soil nutrients. Our findings highlight the pivotal role of soil particle size and nutrient in shaping plant community distribution and diversity in desert–loess transition zones. These insights are essential for developing site-specific vegetation restoration strategies that align with local soil conditions.