Abstract:

The eastern sandy land of Qinghai Lake is one of the most severely affected areas by wind-blown sand activities on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau， threatening the stability of the regional ecosystem. This study analyzes different types and restoration ages of artificial plant communities to investigate the effects of vegetation restoration on suppressing aeolian activities. The results show that vegetation restoration reduces wind speed and decreases aeolian activity. The “Artemisia desertorum-Hippophae rhamnoides community” on fixed sandy land and the “Artemisia desertorum-Salix cheilophila community” on semi-fixed sandy land were more effective in reducing wind speed compared to shifting sands. Additionally， the structure and diversity of plant communities played a crucial role in wind erosion control， with increased species and functional diversity enhancing ecological functions. The study also found that artificial community restoration improved soil particle size distribution， increasing the content of fine and silt particles， thereby enhancing soil resistance to wind erosion. In summary， artificial vegetation restoration significantly improves ecological functions and mitigates aeolian activities， providing theoretical and practical guidance for ecological restoration in cold sandy areas.

Key words: artificial plant communities, vegetation restoration, windproof and sand-fixation, Qinghai Lake