p-ISSN: 0972-6268

Nature Environment and Pollution Technology (Print copies up to 2016)

2021
An International Quarterly Scientific Journal Vol. 20 No.4 pp. 1381-1392
e-ISSN: 2395-3454

Original Research Paper https://doi.org/10.46488/NEPT.2021.v20i04.001

Original Research Paper Open Access Journal

Vegetation Community Characteristics Under Different Vegetation

Eco-restoration Techniques at Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station
B.Q. Zhao*(**), R.Z. Gao*(**), D. Xia**, L. Xia*(**), W.Q. Zhu*(**) and W.N. Xu *(**)†
*Key Laboratory of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443002, China
**Engineering Research Center of Eco-environment in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, China
Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443002, China
†Corresponding author: Wennian Xu; xwn@ctgu.edu.cn

Nat. Env. & Poll. Tech.
Website: www.neptjournal.com
Received: 27-10-2020
Revised: 08-01-2021
Accepted: 22-01-2021
Key Words:
Vegetation eco-restoration
techniques
Vegetation community
Species diversity
Disturbed area
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study is to understand the characteristics of vegetation communities under different
vegetation eco-restoration models (vegetation concrete eco-restoration technique, frame beam
filling soil technique, thick layer base material spraying technique, and external soil spray seeding
technique). Vegetation coverage, dominant species, species composition, and species diversity of
vegetation community under different vegetation eco-restoration modes were analyzed by field survey.
The vegetation community of the abandoned slag slope was unstable due to the simple vegetation
community structure. The species and number of the thick layer base material spraying slope were
low and fail to form a healthy multilayer community structure due to invade of Leucaena leucocephala
(Lam.) de Wit. Studying the allelopathy of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit and seeking the best
species composition that can coexist with it is significant to promote the positive succession of the
vegetation community. The frame beam filling soil technique, external-soil spray seeding technique,
and vegetation concrete eco-restoration technique can effectively promote the succession process of
the vegetation community and have well water and soil conservation capacity. These findings suggest
that artificial vegetation eco-restoration measures can effectively promote vegetation eco-restoration
and the positive succession of vegetation community of disturbed slopes. The research results can
provide scientific advice for vegetation eco-restoration and subsequent control and management of
disturbed slopes in the Xiangjiaba project, and also can be helpful to other similar projects.

INTRODUCTION al. 2017). Though the instability of slope can be solved by

Engineering disturbance can bring serious environmental
problems (Ghanbarpour & Hipel 2009, Cao et al. 2018).
However, a large number of hydropower stations have been
built because of the demand for clean energy (Zhou & Chen
2012, Wang et al. 2019, Gyanwali et al. 2020). The construc-
tion of a hydropower station changes the surface structure on
a large scale and results in vegetation destruction and strong
ecosystem disturbance (Sati 2015). Take Xiangjiaba hydro-
power station as an example, the disturbed area accounts for
more than 50% of the total construction area (Zhou et al.
2016, Xue et al. 2016a). The excavation disturbance results in
the original overburden stripping and backfilling disturbance
of the slope to form a loose exposed slope body, and the
degradation of the slope ecosystem is extremely prominent,
which affects the ecological environment and landscape of
hydropower development projects (Li et al. 2018a). There-
fore, it has become a key topic to reconstruct the vegetation
of the disturbed slope of hydropower projects on the premise
of ensuring the safety of the project (Cao et al. 2010, Xu et
traditional slope treatment methods, it is difficult to restore
the natural vegetation and ecosystem functions. Vegetation
eco-restoration technology can meet the demands of slope
stability and vegetation reconstruction (Xu et al. 2006, Zhao
et al. 2017). The vegetation restoration of disturbed slope
should be carried out on the premise of fully considering
the site conditions and restoration objectives. Healthy veg-
etation ecosystems are reconstructed by adopting artificial
vegetation eco-restoration measures (Alday et al. 2010).
A large number of scholars have studied the vegetation
restoration of different engineering disturbed slopes from
aspects of vegetation restoration technology selection, spe-
cies allocation model, and vegetation succession law (Chiu
2004, Zhang et al. 2013, Xue et al. 2016b, Chen et al. 2018).
The suitability of species for colonization should be taken
into account when a plant is selected to use in vegetation
restoration. Abiotic conditions, such as soil salinity, soil
moisture, hydric stress, and limiting nutrients, could hinder
plant establishment of the selected species (Tormo et al.
2006). Both vegetation type and its effect on controlling soil
1382 B.Q. Zhao et al.

erosion should be considered when implementing vegetation MATERIALS AND METHODS

restoration (Duan et al. 2016). Matesanz & Valladares (2007)
carried out a multispecies controlled experiment simulating Description of Experimental Sites
eight different communities with species typically used in The study was conducted at Xiangjiaba hydropower station,
the revegetation of gypsum motorways slopes and found which is located at the convergence of Sichuan and Yunnan
that the selection of the species to use in gypsum motorway provinces, southeast of China. The experimental sites are
slopes is crucial for the outcome of the vegetation restoration. in the upper Yangtze River’s primary preventative region
Inadequate species selection can render poor results in the for soil and water conservation. The area is characterized
long term, and appropriate native species could allow more by a subtropical monsoon climate with an annual average
gradual and stable colonization of the slopes (Matesanz & precipitation of 1078 mm, and approximately 90% of the
Valladares 2007). Bochet & García-Fayos (2015) built a large total precipitation occurs between May and October. We
database of 296 species 10 traits based on the leaf, seed, and considered typicality in vegetation eco-restoration tech-
root measurements for selecting suitable species based on nique and similarity in evolutionary time when selecting
morphological and functional plant traits. Vegetation growth the sites. The selected experimental sites were vegetation
can effectively reduce soil erodibility of steep gully slope concrete eco-restoration slope (VC), frame beam filling
lands in semi-arid regions, and grassland is more effective soil slope (FB), thick layer base material spraying slope
than shrub on vegetation-restored gully slope lands on the (TB), external-soilTable spray
1: Aseeding slopeof(SS),
brief description abandon
the study sites. slag
Loess Plateau (Zhang et al. 2019). Grasses should be pri- slope (AS), and natural forest (NF). A brief description
Altitude
Site
oritized for the improvement of soil conditions during the ofTechnique
the study sites is presentedLatitude inLongitude
Table 1. The Slope gradient(º)
(m)unrestored
implementation of vegetation restoration projects inVC disturbance
highly Vegetation concrete eco- site (AS) and the undisturbed site (NF) were
28°38′N 104°24′E 328.50 63
fissured areas (Peng et al. 2020). Herbaceous-only vegeta- served
restoration as control
technique and used for comparison with those
Frame beamthe
from filling soil
disturbed site to determine whether the vegeta- 40
tion restoration is not suitable for long-term restoration
FB on
technique
28°38′N 104°24′E 288.9
tion
disturbed slopes, whereas the composition of herbs, shrubs, Thick layer base eco-restoration technique had an effect on vegetation
TB community
and trees is a better vegetation construction model for thematerial spraying technique characteristics.
28°38′N 104°26′E 388.9 51

ecological restoration of disturbed slopes (Li et al. 2018b).

SS
External-soil spray seeding
Methods of Vegetation Investigation
28°39′N 104°23′E 473.9 30
To study the vegetation community structure characteristics technique
AS
of the engineering disturbed slope, this study takes the vege- Abandon slag slope
The combination 28°38′N
of field survey and 104°24′E 520.5
quadrat sampling meth- 42
NF Natural forest 28°39′N 104°23′E 502.4
tation communities under different vegetation eco-restoration od was used to investigate vegetation community in all plots.
modes in the Xiangjiaba engineering disturbed area 5m×5m
as theof Vegetation
Methods
quadrats of tree and shrub layer or 1 m × 1 m
Investigation
research object. By analyzing the vegetation community quadrats of herb layer were set in every plot according to the
classification, species composition, and species diversity types of of
The combination vegetation,
field survey andandquadrat
quadrat was set 5 times
sampling method repeatedly.
was used to invest
community
under different vegetation restoration modes, we can under- in all
The plots.
total 5 m ×
coverage, 5 m quadrats
name of of
eachtree and
plant, shrub layer
fractional or 1 m × 1 m quadr
coverage,
were set in every
stand the structural characteristics of vegetation communities growthplot forms,
according to the height,
average types ofand vegetation, and quadrat
plants numbers werewas
re-set 5 times
total coverage,corded
name in of every
each quadrat.
plant, fractional
The coverage,
important growth
values of forms, average he
different
under different vegetation eco-restoration models, reveal the
numbers were recorded in every quadrat. The important values of different specie
adaptive mechanism of vegetation communities constructed species are calculated according to the results of the quadrat
according to the results of the quadrat investigation and the related data recorded in ev
by artificial vegetation eco-restoration techniques to2010,
the hab-
Niu 2013,investigation
Liu et al. 2016).and the related data recorded in every quadrat
itat conditions in the disturbed area of Xiangjiaba project. (Xia 2010, Niu 2013, Liu et al. 2016).
The research results can provide a theoretical basis for the RH  RF  RC …(1)
IV  …(1)
ecological restoration of the disturbed slope. 3

Where IV is an important value, RH is the ratio of the height of a plant species to

Table 1: A brief description of the study sites. plant species in the quadrat, RF is the ratio of the frequency of a plant species to the
plant species in the quadrat, RC is the ratio of the coverage of a plant species to the fra
Site Technique Latitude Longitude Altitude (m) Slope gradient (º) Eco-restoration time
of all plant species in the quadrat. The diversity of the vegetation community is ca
VC Vegetation concrete eco-restoration technique 28°38′N
following 104°24′E
equation in Table328.50
2 (Xia 2010,63Niu 2013, Liu et al. 2016).
2004.12
FB Frame beam filling soil technique 28°38′N 104°24′E 288.9 40 2004.11
Table 2: Formula used to calculate vegetation community diversity index.
TB Thick layer base material spraying technique 28°38′N 104°26′E 388.9 51 2004.12
Vegetation community diversity index Formu
SS External-soil spray seeding technique 28°39′N 104°23′E 473.9 30 2005.06 S

AS Abandon slag slope 28°38′N 104°24′E 520.5 Shannon-Wiener

42 diversity index (SW) SW =－
i =1
NF Natural forest 28°39′N 104°23′E 502.4 S

The species diversity index of

Simpson diversity index (SP) SP =1－
i=
vegetation community
Vol. 20, No. 4, 2021 • Nature Environment and Pollution Technology
N－
McIntosh diversity index (MI)
MI =
 The
SS combination SStechnique
of field spray
External-soil survey seedingand
28°39′N quadrat
28°39′N
sampling
104°23′E method was used 30
104°23′E473.9 473.9
to investigate
30
vegetation
2005.06
2005.06
The technique technique
combination of field survey andtree quadrat sampling method was used toinvestigate
investigate vegetation
community
ASThe in
combination all
Methods
Abandon
The
plots. of
of
slag
combination
5 m
field
Vegetation
slope × of
5 m
survey
field
quadrats
and
Investigation
28°38′N
survey
of
quadrat
and
and
sampling
104°24′E
quadrat
shrub
sampling
layer
method
520.5 or
method
1
wasm
was
× 1
used m
42
used
quadrats
toto investigate
of herb layer
vegetation
vegetation
TheAS
AS community combination
Abandon in slag
all slope
plots.
Abandon of slag
field
5 m ×
slopesurvey
5 28°38′N
m and28°38′N
quadrats quadrat
of104°24′E
tree sampling
and shrub
104°24′E method
520.5 layer or
520.5 was
1 m used
42
× 1 mto quadrats
42 investigate of vegetation
herb layer
were NF
community
NF set in inevery
community
community
allNaturalplot
plots.
inin
according
5
forest m
allplots.
all
Natural plots.
forest × 5
55m
m to
m××55 mthe
quadrats types
28°39′N
m of
quadrats
quadrats
28°39′N of vegetation,
tree and
104°23′E
ofof tree
104°23′E shrub
and
and
and
shrub
shrub
quadrat
layer
502.4
502.4layer
layer
or 1
orwasm
or 11was
m set
× 1
m××used
5 m
1settimes
1mm5to
quadrats
quadrats repeatedly.
quadrats
of herb
ofofherb
herb
The layer
layer
layer
were set NF The in
COMMUNITY every plot
combinationNatural according
forest
of field
CHARACTERISTICS tosurvey
the types
28°39′N
and vegetation,
quadrat 104°23′E
UNDERsampling and quadrat
502.4
method
DIFFERENT was times repeatedly.
investigate
ECO-RESTORATION TheTECHNIQUES
vegetation 1383
were
totalsetcoverage,
in
were
were every set plot
name
in every according
of each
plot to
plant,
according the types
fractional
to the of
types vegetation,
coverage,
of vegetation, and
growth quadrat
and forms,
quadrat was
average
was set
set 55 times
height,
times repeatedly.
and
repeatedly. plants The
The
Methods of set
total in everyinplot
coverage,
community
Vegetation all according
name of each
plots.
Investigation 5 m ×to 5the
plant, types
fractional
m quadrats of of vegetation,
coverage,
tree and shrub and
growthquadrat or was
layerforms, set1 5mtimes
1 maverage
× height,
quadrats repeatedly.
and
of herb The
plants
layer
total coverage,
numbers
Methods were
total
total name
recorded
coverage,
of Vegetation
coverage, ofname each ofplant,
inInvestigation
every each fractional
quadrat.
plant, fractional coverage,
The important coverage, growth
values growthofforms,
different
forms, average
species
average height,
areare
height, and
calculated
and plants
andplants
numbersMethods
were were
set inofname
recorded
Vegetation
every of
plot each
according plant,
inInvestigation
every tofractional
quadrat.
the types Theofcoverage,
important
vegetation, growth
values forms,
of
and quadrat different
was average
setspecies height,
5 times plants
calculated
repeatedly. The
numbers
according were
numbersto
numbers
Where
accordingtherecorded
IVresults
were
were is
to
total coverage,
The combination an in
of
recorded
recorded
the the
results
of field every
important quadrat
in
of
namesurvey in quadrat.
every
every
the
of each investigation
value,
quadrat quadrat.
andplant, RH
quadrat. The is important
The
the
The
investigation
quadrat fractionaland the
important
ratio
important
sampling and of
coverage,values
related
thethe
methodvaluesdata
values
related of
growth ofdifferent
recorded
RESULTS
of
data different
different
was forms, recorded
used toaverage in species
AND every
species
species
in
investigateevery are
quadrat
are
DISCUSSION
height,are calculated
(Xia
calculated
calculated
quadrat
and (Xia
vegetation plants
according
2010,
community according
Niu to2013,
The
2010,
according
height the
of Niu
aall
numbers
in to to2013,
results
Liu
combination
The
plant thethe
plots.were results
of
etspecies
al. of
Liu
combination
results
5 mthe
2016).
field
et
×of
recorded of
al.
5 the
to the
quadrat
survey
of2016).
the
m quadrat
field
quadrat
in height and
every
quadrats survey investigation
investigation
quadrat
and
investigation
ofofall
quadrat.
tree sampling
quadrat
plant The
and and
andspecies
the
and the
related
sampling
the
important
shrub related
method
in
layer method
related
values
or 1data
data
wasdata
mof recorded
recorded
used
was to
1used
×recorded
different toinin
in
m investigate every
every
investigate
every
species
quadrats quadrat
ofquadrat
vegetation
are (Xia
vegetation
quadrat
herb (Xia
(Xia
calculated
layer
2010,
were Niu
set 2010,
community 2013,
in Niu
in Liu
community
every
according 2013,
all
plotet al.
plots.inLiu 5
all
according et
2016).
m al.
×
plots. 2016).
5to5m m
thequadrats
× 5
typesm of
quadrats
of tree ofand
vegetation, treeshrub
and layer
shrub orCoverage
layer1 mor ×
1 1
m m ×andquadrats
1 m
and the related data recorded in every quadratThe
and quadrat was set 5 times Species
quadrats of Composition
herb
of
repeatedly. layer
herb (Xia of Vegetation
layer
the2010,
quadrat, Niu 2013,RF istothe theratio
Liu etresults
al. of of
thethe
2016). quadrat investigation
frequency of a plant species
totalwere set in
coverage, wereevery
2010, nameNiuplot
set ofaccording
in2013,
every each
Liu al.to
plotetplant,
according the
2016). types
fractional
to the
RH  of
RF vegetation,
coverage,
types  of vegetation,
RC and quadrat
growth Community
andforms, wasaverage
quadrat set
was5set times5height,repeatedly.
times and plants
repeatedly. TheThe
to thewere frequency of in alleachplantplant, RH
species
IV  RFinThe
fractional
RH RCimportant
the
RF quadrat,
RC coverage, RC is of …(1) …(1)
numbers
total coverage,
the ratio
totalrecorded
of the
name of
coverage,
coverage
name IV
every
of
of quadrat.
a RHeach
IV
plant   plant,
RH RF
species   RF RC
3 to
coverage,
fractional
RC
the fractional
values
growth different
forms,
growth …(1) average
forms, species
average height, areand
height, calculated
plants
and plants
according
numbers tonumbers
the results
were recorded
were of recorded
theinIVquadrat
 IV
every in quadrat.
every 3 RH
investigation The
quadrat.
3 RF and
important
The
 RC the related
importantvalues of
values…(1)
data …(1)
Vegetation
recorded
different
of different coverage
in species
species every are is the
quadrat most
calculated
are (Xia visual influence of engi-
calculated
IV 3 …(1)
2010, Niu 2013,
coverage
according toofthe
accordingLiu ettoal.
allresults
plant theof2016).
species
results ofin
the quadrat thethe quadrat.
quadrat
investigation 3 The
investigationanddiversity
theand the related
related data data recorded
recorded
neering in every
disturbance in every on quadrat
quadrat (Xia (Xia
the environment. As shown in Fig.
Where
2010, Niu IV
2013, is anLiu important
et al.is2016). value, RH is 3
the ratio of the height of a plant species to the height of all
2010, theNiu
ofWhere 2013,
vegetation Liu et al.
community 2016). calculated by the following
plant IV
Where is an IV
species inisthe important
is an value,
important
quadrat,RH RF RH
value,
is
 RF is
theRHRHthe
ratio
 is ratio
is
RC the
of the of
ratiothe of height
frequencythe of
height 1,
a of
of a…(1)
vegetation
plant
a
plant species
plant
species speciescoverage
to the
to the
to thetofrequency
on
height
heightthe
of ofdisturbed
all all
ofofall
slope of Xiangjiaba
Where
plant equation
plant
species
plant IVspecies
Where in
in theanIV
isTable
Where
species important
in 2the
in the
quadrat, an
(Xia
IV important
is IV
quadrat,
RF
an
quadrat, value,
2010,
is RFthe
important
RC
value,
Niu RH
is
is the
ratio isratio
2013,
value,
the theRH
ratio
of Liu
the the
ratio
of
of iset ratio
the of
al.
frequency
the
the
of the
the
2016).
frequency
ratio
coverage height
ofthe
of height of
a ofplant
of height
a
of
plant
plant
a plant
aspecies
plant
ahydropower
of aspecies
plant
species tospecies
species
to station
to
the
species
the the
frequency
to the
tofrequency
the
fractional
height
theheight
changed offrom
height of
ofall
coverage ofallall
all
45.0% to 97.0%. The veg-
all
plant species in the quadrat, RF RH is 
the 3 RH
RFratio  RF
RC
of 
the RC
frequency of a plant …(1)species to the frequency of all
plant species
plant
plant species
of all in
plant the
species
inplant
the quadrat,
speciesin the
quadrat,
species in the RF
quadrat, is
RCquadrat,
in IV
the the
RC
is the
 is ratio
the
IV isThe
RF
ratio
quadrat. of
ratio
ofthethe the
of
ratio frequency
the coverage
of the
coverage
diversity offrequency
of of
of a
thea vegetation plant
plant
…(1)
plantofspecies species
species
a plant to
tospecies
community to
the the
to
is the
the fractional frequency
fractional coverage
frequency
calculated coverage of all
by oftheall
plant plant
of
species species
all
plant
following plant
inspecies
the in theinquadrat,
species
quadrat,
species
equation inin
theRC the
Tableis RC
quadrat,the
2 (Xiais
quadrat. the
ratio
RC 2010,ratio
3 the
The
of
isdiversity
the of3coverage
ratio
Niu the
diversity coverage
of the
2013, of
Liu theof
coverage
et aofplant
al. a plant
vegetation
of
2016). species
community
species
a community
plant species totothetothe the fractional
isfractional
calculated
fractionalby coverage
by the
coverage
coverage
of all plant
Where
offollowing IV
allspecies is an in the
important quadrat.value, The RH is the ratio of the
of the vegetation
height of a plant species is calculated
to the height theall
of
ofplant
all Table
plant ofplant species
all equation
plant
in species
the inquadrat.
in the
Table quadrat.
2 (Xia
in vegetation
the quadrat.
The TheThe
2010,
diversitydiversity
Niu 2013,
diversity
of of of
Liu
the the
et vegetation
al.
the
vegetation 2016).
vegetation community
community
community isisiscalculated
calculated
calculated by by
by thethe
the
following
species2:equation
following in the
Formula
Where in
used
equation Table
quadrat,
to
IV 2
calculate
in (Xia
RF
isTable
an is 2010,
the
important
2 (Xia Niu
ratio
2010, 2013,
of
community
value, RH
Niu the Liu
2013, et
frequency
diversity
is the al.
ratio
Liu 2016).
of
index.
of
et the
al. a plant
height
2016). species
of a plant to the
species frequency
to height
the height of ofallall
following Where
plant speciesequation IV
following is
in theinquadrat,
equation
an
Table important
2 RC
in
(Xia
TableTable
value,
is 2010,
2: 2
Formula
the ratio
(Xia
RH
Niu 2010,
is the
of2013,
used to Niu
ratio 2013,
Liu
calculate
the coverage of ettheLiu
al.
vegetation et
height
of2016).
al. 2016).
of
community a plant
diversity species
index.
a plant species to the fractional coverage to the of all
plant species plant species in theTable
in theinquadrat, is The
the ratioquadrat,
2: Formula
of the RF is used
frequency theto ratio
calculate
of a plant of vegetation
the frequency
speciesFormula
to thecommunity of adiversity
plant species
frequency of index. to the frequency of all
of all Vegetation
plant community
species the RFindex
diversity
2:quadrat. diversity of the community
vegetation community isFormula
calculated by all
the
plantinspecies
plant species the in Vegetation
Table the
quadrat,
Formula
Table
RC
community
quadrat,
Table used
2:RC
2:community
Formula
is the
tois
Formula
used
ratio
diversity
calculate
the toratio
used
of
index
tovegetation
of the
calculate
calculate
the coverage coverage
vegetation
vegetationof a of diversity
a plant
community
community
plant
index.index.
species
diversity
diversity
species to to fractional
index.
the the fractional coverage
coverage
following equation in Table
Table 2 (Xia
Vegetation
2: Formula 2010,
used Niu 2013,
diversity
to calculate Liu
index et al. 2016).
vegetationofcommunity diversity index. Formula S
of all plant species in the quadrat. The diversity the vegetation community is calculated by the
of all
Theplant
speciesspecies inindex
thecommunity
Vegetation
diversity quadrat.
Vegetation
Vegetation
of The
community
diversity
community diversity
diversity
index
Shannon-Wiener
Shannon-Wiener
diversity of the index
index
diversity
index
diversity vegetation
index (SW)
(SW) community SW is=－
Formula calculated
Formula
Formula 
S P ln P by the
following following
equation equation
Vegetation
in Table
Table in Table
community
2: Formula 2 (Xia
diversity
2 (Xia used
2010, 2010,
index
Niu 2013,
Shannon-Wiener
to calculate Niu 2013, Liu
Liu et al.
diversity
vegetation index et al. 2016). SW =
2016). diversity index. S i =1S i
(SW)
community Formula
－ P
S
i
ln P i
vegetation community

i
SW== P lnPPi
Vegetation community
Shannon-Wiener diversity index (SW)
Shannon-Wiener
Table Shannon-Wiener
2:diversity
Formula
Shannon-Wiener
Table 2: Formula
diversity
index
used
used toSimpson
index
diversity
to calculate
diversity
calculate
(SW) (SW)
index
vegetation
index
diversity (SW)
indexcommunity
vegetation (SP)
SW =
community diversity
SW
diversity index.
SW －
index.
SP==1 －
－
Formula
－
－PSiSSiln
i =1

S i =1P
=1
P P
i
iln
i

i Plni 2Pii
2
The species diversity index of
Vegetation Simpson Simpson
communitydiversity diversity
diversity index
diversityindexindex
index(SP) (SP)
(SW) SP =1 i =1
SW =－ Formula － iP P 
S

S lni P 2   P 2
S 2P 
The species diversity index of Shannon-Wiener
vegetationVegetation
communitycommunity diversitySimpson
index diversity index (SP)
i =1 =1
SP =1
Formula
S － i i

－ =－ Pi P ln
i =1i =1SS
The species
vegetation diversity index of
community Simpson diversity index
(SP) (SP) SP
SP =1SW =1 － i

P
Simpson diversity index S
The species diversity index of
i =1 
i PPNNi  P
Shannon-Wiener diversity index (SW) i 2
i =1 2
=1 
vegetation community N
The species diversity index of Simpson diversity indexindex
(SP)(SW) SP
SW =－－ － ln
S S i 2 2i
Shannon-Wiener diversity
 
S  N 2
=1
vegetation
vegetation
The species
community
The species diversity index of
community
diversity index of
McIntosh
Simpson diversity
diversity index index
(SP) (MI) SP =1 N－ P ii=1 S i i
i 2
i =1 i =1
vegetation
vegetationcommunity
McIntosh diversity index (MI) MI = N－ i =1
i =1i =1 S
i

 PN2i 2
community S 2i
MI =SPN=1

N－ S N
McIntosh McIntosh diversity index(SP)
(MI) －
 － S

i N
diversitydiversity
Simpson index (MI)
index
The species diversity index of N=1
SPMI － =－ N－ P NN N
S i =12 i
McIntosh
Simpson diversity
diversity indexindex
(SP)(MI)
MI =  i =1  NNi 
    2
The species diversity index
vegetation of
community McIntosh diversity
Margalef index index
richness (MI) (MA) MAN N－
=－ S － N 1 i =1
－ ln i =1i
i
McIntosh diversity index
index (MI) MI MA=  S－
== i
McIntosh diversity (MI) i =1
vegetation community Margalef richness index (MA) MI N 1－ =1 lnNNi =1 S
MI =MA = － SS－ 1Nln N
－1 N N
The species richness index of 2
Margalef richness index (MA)
Menhinick richness index（ME） ME NN
N－=－ N S
The species richness index of
 
vegetation community 2 i
The species richness
The species
vegetation
index
richness
community indexofof Margalef richness
McIntosh
Margalef richness
Menhinick diversity
index
richness index（ME）
index (MI)
(MA)
index (MA) NME
MA － = 
= NS S－ N
N Nln N
i =1 i
MI =
== =MO
McIntosh diversity index (MI) =S S－==
MO
ME 1SSlnln NN
 S1－
richness index（ME） MA
MA N
NNlnNN
vegetation community Menhinick
vegetation community
The species richness index of
Margalef
Margalef
Margalef
Monk
richnessrichness
richness
richness
Monk richness
index
index
index
index
index
(MA)
(MA)
(MA)
(MO)
(MO) MI MA － =N S1－
i =1
The species richness index of
speciesvegetation
Thevegetation richness community
index of Menhinick
Menhinick Monkrichness
richness
Pielou richness
evenness index（ME）
index
index（ME）
index(JSW (MO)
) JME
ME = =SW
NMO
=S
－ S= SN
lnN
N S
The species
vegetation
community
richness index of
community
Menhinick richness
MenhinickPielouMargalef
richness
index（ME）
richness
index（ME）
evenness index(JindexSW)
(MA) MEMA= S===
J SW
SW
SW
S－ N 1ln Sln N
vegetation community Menhinick richness
Monk
Margalef Pielou index（ME）
richness
richness
The species richness index of Monk richness index (MO)
evenness
index
index index(J
(MA) (MO) SW) MA=ME
MOJSMO
－
SWS =
= S=SW
1S SNln2 NNln
N
-1 S

vegetation
The species richness index community
of
Monk
Monk richness
Menhinick
richness
PielouPielou
Monk richness
Alatato
evenness
index
index
evenness
index
evenness
index(J
(MO)
richness
(MO) index（ME）
index(J
(MO)
index(J
SW) SW A)
MO 
J JMO
ME

=S =P
ME
=
= SW S S N
==SW
Si 2 -1N－
SlnNln
S  Pi P S2 S
11
N －－
-1 1

 ln
Menhinick richness index（ME） SW 
The species
vegetation evenness index of
community SWi =1
MO = SSi -1N-1
The The species evenness
vegetation communityindex ofof of Pielou Alatato
Monk
evenness
Pielou evenness evenness
Alatato richness
index(J
evennessindex(J
index
) A)
(MO)
index(J A) JJJSWAJ===Sexp
SW
==S（ 
species evenness index index(J ) i =1
SW ln
2 S
The species evenness index SW i =1SW 2  ）－1
A MO S=
Monkevenness
PNSW
Pielou richness indexindex(J SW)
SW
(MO) JSW =
A
vegetationvegetation community
vegetation
community community
Alatato
Pielou evenness index(JSW)
evenness
Alatato index(J
evenness A)
index(J ) SW=JSSW

J
S exp SW
 （（
exp P iSW
=1S 2 ln
SW
SP

）－1
i -1
ln－

）－1
-1
S－
11
J A J= S -1
The species
Theevenness index ofindex of Pielou evenness index(J SW) A
JA SJ=P 1=－
species evenness i =1
i=
SP）－1
Simpson evenness index(JS) =J （ 2 1
S
2－
vegetation community
vegetation community evenness
AlatatoSimpson evenness
index(J index(J
A) index(JS)
exp Sexp
 S（
iSW PSW1SP
iP i ）－1  －11
-1S －
The species evennessindex
indexofof Alatato Simpson
evenness evenness
index(J
Alatato evenness )
index(JAA)index(JA)
S) 
J AJ= =J  =i =1
i =1 1 － 21 
1－1 S S
=SW i   －1
The species evenness
The species evenness index of Alatato evenness P i =1 SP
vegetation
vegetation community
community
vegetation community evennessindex(Jindex(JSA)) A expJASi（ SP
The species evenness index of Alatatoevenness
Simpson
 exp
=1J exp
（
1= （ ）－1
SW
1 SWS）－1 ）－1
vegetation community
Simpson evenness index(JS) JA= S －
exp（SW SPSP 1 － ）－1SP1S
Simpson evenness
Simpson evenness
Simpson evennessindex(J S) index(J
index(J S)
S) J S J= J=S SP =
J S =S1－11－ 1S－1 S
Simpson
Simpson evennessindex(J
evenness index(JSS)) 1S
1－1 S

a
=a
JC =JCJC a－a
Jaccardsimilarity
The similarity diversity index of Jaccard similaritydiversity(JC)
diversity(JC)
 b+c=b+c
Jaccard similarity diversity(JC)
vegetation community Jaccard similarity diversity(JC) － a
 b+c －a
The similarity diversity index of
The similarity diversity index of 2a 2a
The similarity
vegetation communitydiversity index of Sorensen
Sorensensimilarity
similarity diversity(SR)
diversity(SR) SR =SRSR = 2a
b+c=b+c
vegetation community Sorensen similarity
Sorensen diversity(SR)
similarity diversity(SR)
vegetation community
b+c
2a
Mountfordsimilarity
Mountford similarity diversity(MT)
diversity(MT) MTMT
= MT= 2a 2a
Mountford
Mountford similarity
similarity diversity(MT)
diversity(MT) 2bc2bc
=
－2bcab－－ ab－ac
－acab－ac
Note: SNote:
is the the quadrat, P
S is the numbers of plant species in the quadrat, Pii  Nii N isisthe
numbers of plant species in  N N theratio
ratioof of thethe individual
individual numbers
numbers of species
of species i to thei to the
Note: S is the numbers of plant species in the quadrat, P  N N is the ratio of the individual numbers of species i to the
individual numbers
Note:
individual theofnumbers
S isnumbers allofspecies,
all species,Ni N
of plant is the
species individual
in
is the the quadrat,
individual numbers i
Pi = Nof
numbers of
i/Nspecies
i i,N Nisofis
is the i,ratio
species the the
the individual
individual
individual numbers
numbers
numbers ofof
of all all species
species
species thetheinindividual
ini to the numbers of all species,
N individual
a iisisthe
quadrat,quadrat,
numbers numbers
thenumbers
individualof
of all species,
the same plant
i
N i isi, in
of species
species
the
N twoisindividual
the numbers
individual
quadrants, and b
of species
numbers
and c ofthe
is
i, Nspecies
all is the individual
numbers in
ofthe
all
numbers
quadrat,
plant a isofin
species
allnumbers
thetwo
species inofthe
quadrants. the same plant species in two
a is the numbers
quadrants, and of thethe
same plant species inplant
two quadrants, inand
twob and c is the numbers of all plant species in two quadrants.
quadrat, a and
is theb numbers
c is numbers
of the same plant of all
species inspecies
two quadrants, quadrants.
and b and c is the numbers of all plant species in two quadrants.
RESULTS ANDAND
RESULTS DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Coverage and and
Coverage Species Composition
Species CompositionofofVegetation Community
Vegetation Community
Coverage and Species Composition of Vegetation Community
Nature Environment and Pollution Technology • Vol. 20, No. 4, 2021
Vegetation coverage
Vegetation is the
coverage most
is the mostvisual
visualinfluence of engineering
influence of engineeringdisturbance
disturbance on environment.
on the the environment.
As As
shownshown Vegetation
in Fig. coverage
1, vegetation is the most visual
coverage influence of engineering disturbance on thestation
environment. As
in Fig. 1, vegetation coverageononthe
thedisturbed slope
disturbed slope ofofXiangjiaba
Xiangjiaba hydropower
hydropower changed
station changed
 from 45.0% to 97.0%. The vegetation coverage of FB was 96.1%, which is slightly higher than the
vegetation coverage of other artificial sample sites. Based on the statistical analysis of families, genera,
and species, the vegetation community in different vegetation eco-restoration modes has been
1384 preliminarily analyzed (Table 2). The vegetation B.Q.community
Zhao et al. of NF was belonging to 18 families, 22
genera, and 23 species. The vegetation community of AS was a total of 8 families, 14 genera, and 15
etationspecies,
coverageand
of FBmuch
wassimpler
96.1%, than
whichNF. The FBhigher
is slightly had the eco-restoration
most plant species in artificial
modes has been vegetation eco- analyzed
preliminarily
restoration sites and totaled 20 families, 41 genera, and 42 species, and 40% of the total number of species
than the vegetation coverage of other artificial sample sites. (Table 2). The vegetation community of NF was belonging
were Gramineae and Compositae. The TB had the simplest species, and belonging to 6 families, 10
Based on the statistical analysis of families, genera, and to 18 families, 22 genera, and 23 species. The vegetation
genera, and 10 species. And the dominant species were Gramineae and Leguminosae, making up for 60%
species, the vegetation community in different vegetation community of AS was a total of 8 families, 14 genera, and
of the total species.
100

90

Vegetation coverage (%)

80

70

60

50

40

30
VC FB TB SS AS NF

Fig.1: Vegetation coverage in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.

Fig.1: Vegetation coverage in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.
Table 3: Family, genus, and species in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.
Table 2: Family, genus, and species in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.
Number Latin name Site
Site
Number Latin name
VC
VC FB
FB TBTB SSSS ASAS NFNF
1 Liliaceae 1/1
1 Liliaceae 　 　 　 　 　 1/1
2 Plantaginaceae 1/1
2 3 Plantaginaceae Labiatae 1/1
　 　 　 1/1
1/1 　 　
3
4 Labiatae Euphorbiaceae 1/1
2/2
　 　 1/1 　 　
5 Aquifoliaceae 1/1
4 6 EuphorbiaceaeLeguminosae 　
4/4 4/4
2/2 　
3/3 　
2/2 　 2/2　
5 7 Aquifoliaceae Pteridaceae 　 　 1/1
　 　 　 1/1
8 Lygodium 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1
6 9 Leguminosae Gramineae 4/4
4/4 4/4
10/11 3/3
3/3 2/2
5/5 4/4　 2/22/2
7 10 Pteridaceae Betulaceae 　 　 1/1 　 　 1/1　
11 Malvaceae 1/1
8 12 Lygodium Compositae 　
1/1 1/1
6/6 1/1 1/1
3/3 3/3　 1/1
9 13 Gramineae Fagaceae 4/4 10/11 3/3 5/5 4/4 1/12/2
14 Gesneriaceae 1/1 1/1 1/1
10 15 Betulaceae Gleicheniaceae 　 　 　 　
1/1 　 1/11/1
11 16 Malvaceae Malvaceae 　 1/1
1/1 　 　 　 　
12 Compositae 1/1 6/6 　 3/3 3/3 　
13 Fagaceae 　 　 　 　 　 1/1
14 Gesneriaceae 　 1/1 　 1/1 1/1 　
15 Gleicheniaceae 　 　 　 1/1 　 1/1
16 Malvaceae 　 1/1 　 　 　 　
17 Polygonaceae 　 　 　 1/1 　 　
18 Lindsaeaceae 　 　 　 　 　 1/1
19 Asclepiadaceae 　 1/1 　 　 　 　
20 Verbenaceae 2/2 2/2 　 　 　 　
21 Loganiaceae 　 1/1 　 　 　 　
22 Ranunculaceae 　 　 　 　 　 1/1
23 Equisetaceae 　 　 　 1/1 　 　
Table cont....

Vol. 20, No. 4, 2021 • Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

 COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS UNDER DIFFERENT ECO-RESTORATION TECHNIQUES 1385

Number Latin name Site

VC FB TB SS AS NF
24  Lythraceae 　 　 　 1/1 　 　
25 Rosaceae 　 1/1 　 1/1 　 2/2
26 Solanaceae 　 1/1 　 　 　 　
27 Caprifoliaceae 　 　 　 　 　 1/1
28 Umbelliferae 　 1/1 　 1/1 　 　
29 Moraceae 1/1 3/3 1/1 　 1/1 　
30 Cyperaceae 　 　 　 　 　 1/1
31 Theaceae 　 　 　 　 　 2/3
32 Phytolaccaceae 1/1 　 　 　 　 　
33 Pinaceae 　 　 　 　 　 1/1
34 Oleandracea 　 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 　
35 Amaranthaceae 1/2 1/1 　 　 2/2 　
36 Scrophulariaceae 　 　 　 　 1/1 1/1
37 Urticaceae 　 1/1 　 　 　 　
38 Commelinaceae 　 1/1 　 　 　 　
39 Rutaceae 　 　 　 　 1/1 1/1
40 Lauraceae 　 　 　 　 　 1/1
41 Oxalidaceae 　 1/1 　 1/1 　 　
Total (family) 8 20 6 15 8 18
Total (genus) 15 41 10 22 14 22
Total (species) 16 42 10 22 14 23

15 species, and much simpler than NF. The FB had the most
plant species in artificial vegetation eco-restoration sites and
totaled 20 families, 41 genera, and 42 species, and 40% of
the total number of species were Gramineae and Compositae.
The TB had the simplest species, and belonging to 6 fam-
ilies, 10 genera, and 10 species. And the dominant species
were Gramineae and Leguminosae, making up for 60% of
the total species.
Growth Forms of Vegetation Community
The growth forms of vegetation community under different
vegetation eco-restoration modes were shown in Fig. 2 and
classified by trees, shrubs, lianas, perennial herbs, and annual
herbs or biennial herbs. Growth forms of different vegetation
eco-restoration modes were different significantly. Perennial
herbs and shrubs accounted for 43.75% and 31.25% of the
vegetation community in VC, respectively. Perennial herbs
accounted for 42.86% of the vegetation community in FB.
The growth forms of the vegetation community in VC and
FB were diverse and included all five growth forms. There
were only trees, perennial herbs, and annual herbs or biennial
herbs, and herbs were dominant and accounted for 78.57%
of total species in AS. There were trees, shrubs, perennial
herbs, and annual herbs or biennial herbs in TB, and the
quantities of trees, shrubs, and annual herbs or biennial herbs
were almost equal. There were only trees, shrubs, perennial
herbs, and annual herbs or biennial herbs in SS. Perennial
herbs were dominant and accounted for 59.09% of the total
species, and trees and lianas only accounted for 9.09% in
total. Trees and shrubs were dominant in NF, and shrubs,
trees, and perennial herbs accounted for 34.78%, 30.43%,
and 26.09%, respectively.
Important Value of Plant Species
As shown in Table 4, the species composition of vegetation
communities in different vegetation eco-restoration modes
was surveyed, and vegetation species of all plots were 87 in
total. Plant species composition and dominant species were
obviously different. Some initial herb species disappeared
gradually in VC, FB, and SS, and the importance value of
some alien invasive species was increasing, especially some
trees, shrubs, and lianas, and the vegetation community began
to change from herb layer to herbs-shrubs-lianas layer. The
dominant species of TB was Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.)

Nature Environment and Pollution Technology • Vol. 20, No. 4, 2021

 37 Urticaceae 1/1
38 Commelinaceae 1/1
39 Rutaceae 1/1 1/1
1386 40 Lauraceae B.Q. Zhao et al. 1/1
41 Oxalidaceae 1/1 1/1
Total (family) 8 20 6 15 8 18
de Wit with an importance value of 57.14%. Some
Total (genus) 15 initial41 The change
10 trends22of species 14
richness indexes
22 of all plots
species in TB disappeared gradually, such as Festuca
Total (specie) 16 elata42 were basically
10 identical
22 (Fig. 14
4). The highest
23 value of the
Keng ex E. Alexeev, Medicago sativa L., and Cynodondac- Margalef diversity index and Menhinick diversity index ap-
Growth Forms
tylon (Linn.)Pers. of Vegetation
The importance Community
values of invasive species peared in FB, and the lowest value of the Margalef diversity
Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L’Hér. ex Vent. and Sophora index and Menhinick diversity index appeared in TB. The
xanthantha TheC. Y.growth
Ma was forms of vegetation
9.46% and 5.61%, community under Monk
respectively. different vegetation
diversity indexeco-restoration
of NF (0.223) was modes
the were
highest, and the
shown in
The important Fig.of
value 2 dominant
and classified by trees,
species Alnus shrubs, lianas, perennial
cremastogyne herbs, and
Monk diversity annual
index of TBherbs or biennial
(0.075) was theherbs.
lowest. Simpson
Growth
Burk. was forms
12.21% in of
NF.different vegetation eco-restoration modes were index
evenness different
andsignificantly.
Alatato evenness Perennial
index herbs
in NF were both
and shrubs accounted for 43.75% and 31.25% of the vegetation community
the highest, in VC,
but Simpson respectively.
evenness Perennial
index and Alatato evenness
The Diversity Indexes for
herbs accounted of Vegetation
42.86% of Community
the vegetation community in of
FB.
index theThe growth
abandon forms
slag slopeof(AS)
the vegetation
were both the lowest
community in VC and FB were diverse and included (Fig. all five
5). growth
The forms.
Pielou There
evenness were
index ofonly
NF trees,
was the highest
As shown in Fig. 3, the species diversity index of vegetation
perennial herbs, and annual herbs or biennial herbs, and herbs were dominant and accounted for 78.57%
communities (0.923), and the Pielou evenness index of VC was the lowest
of totalinspecies
different vegetation
in AS. eco-restoration
There were modes
trees, shrubs, perennial herbs, and annual herbs or biennial herbs in
was different, but the highest value of species diversity in- (0.498). As shown in Table 5, the range of Jaccard similarity
TB, and the quantities of trees, shrubs, and annual herbs or biennial herbs were almost equal. There were
only trees, shrubs, perennial herbs, and annual herbs index,
dexes appeared in NF. The lowest Shannon-Wiener diversity Sorensen
or biennial herbssimilarity index, andherbs
in SS. Perennial were similarity
Mountford
index appeared in VC. The changing trend of the McIntosh index was 0.000~0.244,
dominant and accounted for 59.09% of the total species, and trees and lianas only accounted for 9.09%0.000~0.393, and 0.000~0.043
diversity
in index
total. and
TreesSimpson diversity
and shrubs wereindex were similar
dominant respectively.
in shrubs,
in NF, and trees, The
and lowest
perennialsizeherbs
of theaccounted
three similarity
for indexes
all plots. The lowest
34.78%, species
30.43%, anddiversity
26.09%, index occurred in AS. all appeared between VC and NF.
respectively.

Tree Shrub Liana perennial herb annual herb or biennial herb

Percentage of Different Growth Forms (%)

100

80

60

40

20

0
VC FB TB SS AS NF

Fig. 2: Growth forms of vegetation community in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.

Fig. 2: Growth forms of vegetation community in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.

Shannon-Wiener diversity index McIntosh diversity index Simpson diversity index

3.0

2.5
Species diversity indexes

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0
VC FB TB SS AS NF

Fig. 3: Species diversity indexes of vegetation community in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.
Fig. 3: Species diversity indexes of vegetation community in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.

Vol. 20, No. 4, 2021 • Nature Environment and Pollution

Margalef richness index Technology
Menhinick richness index Monk richness index
8.0
7.0
s
 0.0
VC FB TB SS AS NF

COMMUNITY
Fig. 3:CHARACTERISTICS
Species diversity indexes of UNDER DIFFERENT
vegetation community ECO-RESTORATION
in different TECHNIQUES
vegetation eco-restoration modes. 1387

Margalef richness index Menhinick richness index Monk richness index

8.0
7.0

Species richness indexes

6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0 Shannon-Wiener diversity index McIntosh diversity index Simpson diversity index
3.0
0.0
VC FB TB SS AS NF
2.5
Species diversity indexes

Fig. 4: Species richness indexes of vegetation community in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.
Fig. 4: Species
2.0 richness indexes of vegetation community in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.

1.5
DISCUSSION Simpson evenness index Pielou vegetation eco-restoration
evenness index plotsindex
Alatato evenness was different but was domi-
1.0 nant by perennial plants all, and vegetation community struc-
1.0
Vegetation community characteristics can be used as a
0.9 ture began to change from herb layer to herbs-shrubs-lianas
measuring index to describe 0.80.5 the process of vegetation
Species evenness indexes

layer mixed. Perennial plants being dominant, especially

restoration (Wang et al. 2012).
0.7 And according to a large
the trees and shrubs showed that the vegetation community
number of studies, vegetation
0.60.0 community characteristics is stable (Fike & Niering 1999). The important value of
include vegetation coverage,0.5species composition,
VC FBdominant TB SS AS NF
the dominant species reflects the complexity of vegetation
species, and species diversity
0.4 (Ding & Zang 2005, Ruiz-Jaen
community structure, and dominant species influence both
& Aide 2010, WortleyFig.
et al. 2013).diversity
3:0.3
Species Vegetation coverage
indexes is ancommunity in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.
of vegetation
species and functional composition of the vegetation com-
important index to evaluate0.2the growth status of vegetation
munity (Kompala-Baba et al. 2020). The important value of
communities and the ability0.1of conservation of soil index
Margalef richness and water,
Menhinick richness index
8.0is easier to lead to soil erosion a dominant speciesMonk richness index
called Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de
and low vegetation coverage 0.0
7.0 (Yuan VC et al. 2016,
FB Chen et TB Wit was
SS far higher
ASthan other accompanying species in TB,
NF
than high vegetation coverage
Species richness indexes

al. 2019). There was 6.0 difference

a Species
litter between artificial which showed that the complexity of vegetation community
Fig. 5: evenness indexes of vegetation community in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.
vegetation eco-restoration5.0 plots in vegetation coverage, structure was low. The invasive plants can affect native plants
which basicallyTable
reached the4.0
4: Species level of vegetation
similarity coverage
indexes among
by producing
ofcommunities
vegetation
allelochemicals (Mignoni et al. 2017).
in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.
NF. However, there were differences
3.0 in community species The α diversity is an important index to describe com-
Species similarity indexes
Site
composition among variousJaccard
plots.
2.0 Species composition
similarity index isSorensen similaritycharacteristics,
an munity index which similarity
Mountford include index
species diversity
VC-FB
important index to describe community
1.0 0.160 characteristics (Ding indexes,
0.276 species richness index, and
0.018 species evenness index
& Zang 2005). VC-TB
The number 0.0 0.182in FB (20 families, 41
of species 0.308 et al. 2005, Wang et al. 2006).
(Zhang 0.037 The α diversity level
VC-SS 0.056 0.105 0.006
genera, and VC-AS
42 species) increased 0.111 greatly
VC FB to AS,TB of vegetation
compared SS community
AS wasNF discussed from three aspects:
0.200 0.017
but the plantsVC-NF
were primarily herb and 0.000accounted for 69.05% the number
0.000 of species, the individual
0.000 difference of species,
of the total species.
FB-TB The species composition
0.106 among artificial and the
0.192 evenness of species distribution
0.017
Fig. 4: Species richness indexes of vegetation community in different vegetation eco-restoration modes. (Zhang et al. 2005,
FB-SS 0.185 0.313 0.017
FB-AS 0.244 0.393 0.039
FB-NF Simpson
0.032 evenness index Pielou evenness
0.062 index Alatato evenness index
0.002
TB-SS 1.0 0.143 0.250 0.026
TB-AS 0.9 0.200 0.333 0.043
TB-NF 0.8 0.031 0.061 0.005
Species evenness indexes

0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
VC FB TB SS AS NF
Fig. 5: Species evenness indexes of vegetation community in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.
Fig. 5: Species evenness indexes of vegetation community in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.

Table 4: Species similarity indexes among vegetationNature

communities in different
Environment andvegetation
Pollutioneco-restoration • Vol. 20, No. 4, 2021
Technologymodes.
Species similarity indexes
Site
Jaccard similarity index Sorensen similarity index Mountford similarity index
1388 B.Q. Zhao et al.

Table 4: Species composition and important value of vegetation community in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.

Number Latin name IV (%)

VC FB TB SS AS NF
1 Artemisia argyi Levl. et Van. 4.42 4.72
2 Smilax china 1.33
3 Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. 11.47 15.49 3.98
4 Saccharum arundinaceum Retz. 4.30
5 Plantago depressa Willd. 1.96
6 Clerodendrum bungei Sterd. 2.88 1.23
7 Solanum torvum Swartz 1.00
8 Euphorbia humifusa Willd. ex Schlecht. 0.59
9 Ilex chinensis Sims 4.25
10 Indigofera amblyatha 6.49
11 Commelina bengalensis 0.93
12 Urena procumbens Linn. 1.50
13 Pteris cretica Linn. var. nervossa (Thunb.)Ching et S.H.Wu 5.57
14 Festuca elata Keng ex E. Alexeev 6.89
15 Pueraria lobata (Willdenow) Ohwi 8.74 3.26 5.23
16 Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. 1.11 15.66
17 Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L’Hér. ex Vent. 7.68 4.58 9.46 6.50
18 Lygodium japonicum (Thunb.)Sw. 3.81 3.42 1.82 1.19
19 Albizia julibrissin Durazz. 6.55
20 Polygonum orientale L. 2.93
21 Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. 2.94 4.73
22 Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. 10.75
23 Artemisia annua 3.72
24 Sophora xanthantha C. Y. Ma 2.46 5.61
25 Themeda villosa (Poir.) A. Camus 1.13
26 Pogonatherum crinitum (Thunb.) Kunth 2.28
27 Lonicera japonica Thunb. 1.59
28 Arthraxon hispidus (Thunb.) Makio 11.81 7.83 4.95 3.39 3.86
29 Citrus reticulata 1.87
30 Alternanthera philoxeroides 1.69
31 Conandron ramondioides S. et Z. 0.86 2.90 2.49
32 Melia azedarach Linn. 3.41
33 Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng. 25.61 1.42
34 Diplopterygium glaucum (Thunb. ex Houtt.) Nakai 7.08 2.49
35 Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb. 4.92
36 Arundo donax 4.19
37 Metaplexis japonica (Thunb.) Makino 1.45
38 Humulus japonicus 0.64
39 Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. 1.68 4.31 1.91 2.74
40 Pinus massoniana Lamb. 6.96
41 Alternanthera sessilis (L.) DC. 3.64 1.98 5.58
42 Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. 1.52 1.59
43 Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud. 7.55 7.09
44 Vitex negundo L. 9.39 0.91
45 Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. 0.63
46 Rubus hirsutus Thunb. 3.35
Table cont....

Vol. 20, No. 4, 2021 • Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

 COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS UNDER DIFFERENT ECO-RESTORATION TECHNIQUES 1389

Number Latin name IV (%)

VC FB TB SS AS NF
47 Ficus tikoua Bur. 0.93
48 Alnus cremastogyne Burk. 12.21
49 Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees 1.17
50 Senecio scandens Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don 2.65
51 Carex breviculmis R. Br. 2.52
52 Celosia argentea L. 3.57
53 Oplismenus undulatifolius (Arduino) Beauv. 9.54
54 Bidens pilosa Linn. 2.89 5.28
55 Camellia japonica L. 5.18
56 Lindera glauca (Sieb. et Zucc.) Bl 5.76
57 Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. 2.76
58 Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss. 0.90
59 Nephrolepis cordifolia (L.)Presl 2.03 3.84 1.91 3.54
60 Mosla scabra (Thunb.) C. Y. Wu et H. W. Li 2.32
61 Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam. 2.31
62 Sesbania cannabina (Retz.) Poir. 1.53 2.37
63 Potentilla chinensis Ser. 2.00
64 Equisetum arvense L. 2.23
65 Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb. 2.71
66 Sphenomeris chinensis (L.) Maxon 2.72
67 Miscanthus floridulus (Lab.) Warb. ex Schum. et Laut. 1.80
68 Capillipedium parviflorum (R. Br.) Stapf. 9.73
69 Eurya nitida Korthals 2.65
70 Prunella vulgaris L. 1.82
71 Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq. 4.01 2.77 5.45
72 Boehmeria spicata (Thunb.) Thunb. 2.55
73 Cirsium setosum (Willd.) MB. 1.21
74 Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit 57.14
75 Rosa rubus Lévl. et Vant. 2.16
76 Paeonia delavayi Franch. 3.65
77 Rosa multiflora Thunb. 2.76
78 Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. 0.69
79 Camellia oleifera Abel. 3.73
80 Caesalpinia decapetala (Roth) Alston 1.30
81 Crotalaria pallida Ait. 0.77
82 Oplismenus compositus (L.) Beauv. 2.83
83 Eupatorium coelestinum L. 3.09 1.30
84 Wisteria sinensis 4.46
85 Lagerstroemia indica L. 22.90
86 Buddleja lindleyana 3.15
87 Oxalis corniculata Linn. 0.78 1.21

Liu 2015). As a result of the positive succession of the
vegetation community, the α diversity increased. (Wang et
al. 2006). The results of the α diversity indexes embody the
structure and complex degree of vegetation community, and
artificial vegetation eco-restoration patterns can promote the
recovery of vegetation community effectively (Pueyo et al.
2006). The β diversity indexes of vegetation communities
focus on reflecting the different degrees of species structure
and composition among different vegetation communities
and expressing heterogeneity among communities (Han et
al. 2009). Results of this study showed that species com-
position among all plots was different, especially between

Nature Environment and Pollution Technology • Vol. 20, No. 4, 2021

1390 B.Q. Zhao et al.

Table 5: Species similarity indexes among vegetation communities in different vegetation eco-restoration modes.

Site Species similarity indexes

Jaccard similarity index Sorensen similarity index Mountford similarity index
VC-FB 0.160 0.276 0.018
VC-TB 0.182 0.308 0.037
VC-SS 0.056 0.105 0.006
VC-AS 0.111 0.200 0.017
VC-NF 0.000 0.000 0.000
FB-TB 0.106 0.192 0.017
FB-SS 0.185 0.313 0.017
FB-AS 0.244 0.393 0.039
FB-NF 0.032 0.062 0.002
TB-SS 0.143 0.250 0.026
TB-AS 0.200 0.333 0.043
TB-NF 0.031 0.061 0.005
SS-AS 0.200 0.333 0.030
SS-NF 0.047 0.089 0.004
AS-NF 0.028 0.054 0.003

NF and artificial vegetation eco-restoration plots, and the
disturbed vegetation community needs a long time to return
to the natural level.
Decrease or even loss of soil and water conservation func-
tion is a prominent problem of engineering disturbed slope
while increasing the surface vegetation coverage is the most
direct and effective method to control soil erosion (El Kateb
et al. 2013, Wang et al. 2016). Numerous studies have shown
that community structure with primary near-surface herbs can
effectively intercept rainfall and weaken the role of rainwater
erosion through the interception precipitation and extend infil-
tration time to reduce slope runoff (Zhou & Shangguan 2008,
Du et al. 2017, Zhang et al. 2017, Gao et al. 2020). Vegetation
coverage of the four artificial vegetation eco-restoration sam-
ple sites increased obviously than AS, especially in VC and FB
which herbaceous were main dominant species. Therefore, it
can be considered that the vegetation concrete eco-restoration
technology, the frame beam filling soil technology, and the
external-soil spray seeding technology can improve soil and
water conservation function of engineering disturbed slope
effectively. In TB, Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit
resulted in the species and quantity of vegetation community
is low, and fail to form the healthy multilayer community
structure. Therefore, the surface vegetation coverage of TB
was much lower than the other three artificial vegetation
eco-restoration sample sites. Studying the allelopathy of
Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit and seeking the best
species composition that can coexist with it is significant to
promote the positive succession of the vegetation community
in TB. It is also of great significance to improve the soil and
water conservation function of the disturbed slope.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of field investigation and analysis undertaken
in disturbed slopes at Xiangjiaba hydropower station have
revealed that there was a big difference in vegetation com-
munity characteristics between different vegetation eco-res-
toration modes. The vegetation coverage, species numbers,
growth type composition, and family, genus, and species of
vegetation community of AS were significantly lower than
that of artificial vegetation eco-restoration slopes and NF.
The simple vegetation community structure indicates that
the vegetation community of AS was unstable. The abso-
lute advantage of the two perennial plants indicates that the
vegetation community of VC is in a stable state. The species
and number of TB were low and fail to form a healthy mul-
tilayer community structure due to the invasion of Leucaena
leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. It is significant to study the
allelopathy of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit and
seek the best species composition that can coexist with it.
The frame beam filling soil technique, external-soil spray
seeding technique, and vegetation concrete eco-restoration
technique can effectively promote the succession process
of the vegetation community. And the absolute advantage
of herbs in FB, SS, and VC can also prove that these three
techniques have good water and soil conservation capacity.

Vol. 20, No. 4, 2021 • Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

 COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS UNDER DIFFERENT ECO-RESTORATION TECHNIQUES
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This research was supported by the CRSRI Open Research
Program (CKWV2019763/KY), the National Focal Research
Program of China (2017YFC0504902), and the National
Natural Science Foundation of China (51979147).
REFERENCES
Alday, J.G., Marrs, R.H. and Martínez-Ruiz, C. 2010. The importance of
topography and climate on short-term revegetation of coal wastes in
Spain. Ecol. Eng., 36(4): 579-585.
Bochet, E. and García-Fayos, P. 2015. Identifying plant traits: A key aspect
for species selection in the restoration of eroded roadsides in semiarid
environments. Ecol. Eng., 83: 444-451.
Cao, S.X., Xu, C.L., Ye, H.H., Zhan, Y. and Gong, C. 2010. The use of air
bricks for planting roadside vegetation: A new technique to improve
the landscaping of steep roadsides in China’s Hubei Province. Ecol.
Eng., 36(5): 697-702.
Cao, W., Omran, B.A., Lei, Y.K., Zhao, X., Yang, X.M., Chen, Q. and Tian,
G.H. 2018. Studying early-stage slope protection effects of vegetation
communities for Xinnan Highway in China. Ecol. Eng., 110: 87-98.
Chen, J., Xiao, H.B., Li, Z.W., Liu, C., Wang, D.Y., Wang, L.X. and Tang,
C.J. 2019. Threshold effects of vegetation coverage on soil erosion
control in small watersheds of the red soil hilly region in China. Ecol.
Eng., 132: 109-114.
Chen, W., Chen, Y. and Yang, S. 2018. Optimization of Slope Vegetation
System Based on Entropy Method and Relative Entropy Evaluation
Method. Bull. Soil Water Conser., 38(2): 313-317 (In Chinese).
Chiu, P.K.B. 2004. Slope bioengineering in Hong Kong: A study of sub-
strate properties and vegetation development. The Chinese University
of Hong Kong (In Chinese).
Ding, Y. and Zang, R.G. 2005. Community characteristics of early recovery
vegetation on abandoned lands of shifting cultivation in Bawangling
of Hainan Island, South China. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology,
47(5): 530-538.
Du, X.Y., Liang, Y.Z., Xia, Z.Y., Xia, D., X, W.N. and Wang, Y.K. 2017. Soil
nutrient loss characteristic of gravel soil slope on different vegetation
patterns. J. Soil Water Cons., 31(1): 61-67 (In Chinese).
Duan, L.X., Huang, M.B. and Zhang, L.D. 2016. Differences in hydrological
responses for different vegetation types on a steep slope on the Loess
Plateau, China. J. Hydrol., 537: 356-366.
El Kateb, H., Zhang, H.F., Zhang, P.C. and Mosandl, R. 2013. Soil erosion
and surface runoff on different vegetation covers and slope gradients:
A field experiment in Southern Shaanxi Province, China. Catena,
105: 1-10.
Fike, J. and Niering, W. A. 1999. Four decades of old-field vegetation
development and the role of Celastrus orbiculatus in the northeastern
United States. J. Veg. Sci., 10(4): 483-492.
Gao, J.B., Jiang, Y., Wang, H. and Zuo, L.Y. 2020. Identification of dominant
factors affecting soil erosion and water yield within ecological red line
areas. Rem. Sens., 12(3): 399.
Ghanbarpour, M.R. and Hipel, K.W. 2009. Sustainable development conflict
over freeway construction. Environ. Dev. Sustain., 11(2): 241-253.
Gyanwali, K., Komiyama, R. and Fujii, Y. 2020. Representing hydropower in
the dynamic power sector model and assessing clean energy deployment
in the power generation mix of Nepal. Energy, 11: 77-95.
Han, D.Y., Li, H.Y. and Yang, Y.F. 2009. β-diversity patterns of plant commu-
nity in fragmented habitat in a degenerated meadow in Songnen Plain,
China. Chinese Geographical Science, 19(4): 375-381.
Kompala-Baba, A., Sierka, E., Dyderski, M.K., Bierza, W. and Woniak, G.
2020. Do the dominant plant species impact the substrate and vegetation
composition of post-coal mining spoil heaps? Ecol. Eng., 143, 105685.
Nature Environment and Pollution Technology • Vol. 20, No. 4, 2021
1391
Li, B., Li, T., Xu, N.W., Dai, F., Chen, W.F. and Tan, Y.S. 2018a. Stability
assessment of the left bank slope of the Baihetan Hydropower Station,
Southwest China. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 104: 34-44.
Li, R.R., Kan, S.S., Zhu, M.K., Chen, J., Ai, X.Y., Chen, Z.Q., Z, J.J. and
Ai, Y.W. 2018b. Effect of different vegetation restoration types on
fundamental parameters, structural characteristics, and the soil quality
index of artificial soil. Soil Till. Res., 184: 11-23.
Liu, X.Q., Zhang, X., Zhang, L.F., Li, Y. N., Zhao, L., Xu, S.X., Li, H.Q.,
Ma, R.R., Niu, B., Gao, Y.B. and Gu, S. 2016. Effects of exclosure
duration on the community structure and species diversity of an alpine
meadow in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 36(16):
5150-5162 (In Chinese).
Liu, Y. 2015. Plant Diversity and Ecosystem Multifunctionality in Con-
structed Wetlands. Zhejiang University (In Chinese).
Matesanz, S. and Valladares, F. 2007. Improving revegetation of gypsum
slopes is not a simple matter of adding native species: Insights from a
multispecies experiment. Ecol. Eng., 30(1): 67-77.
Mignoni, D.S.B., Simões, K. and Braga, M.R. 2017. Potential allelopathic
effects of the tropical legume Sesbania virgata on the alien Leucaena
leucocephala related to seed carbohydrate metabolism. Biol. Invas.,
20(1): 165-180.
Niu, X. 2013. Studies on Revegetation and Restoration Effects of Yimin
Opencast Mining Wasteland. Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
(In Chinese).
Peng, X.D., Dai, Q.H., Ding, G.J., Shi, D.M. and Li, C.L. 2020. Impact of
vegetation restoration on soil properties in near-surface fissures located
in karst rocky desertification regions. Soil and Till. Res., 200: 104620.
Pueyo, Y., Alados, C.L. and Ferrer-Benimeli, C. 2006. Is the analysis of
plant community structure better than common species-diversity indices
for assessing the effects of livestock grazing on a Mediterranean arid
ecosystem? J. Arid Environ., 64(4): 698-712.
Ruiz-Jaen, M.C. and Aide, T.M. 2010. Restoration success: How is it being
measured? Restor. Ecol., 13(3): 569-577.
Sati, V.P. 2015. Landscape vulnerability and rehabilitation issues: a study
of hydropower projects in Garhwal region, Himalaya. Nat. Hazards,
75(3): 2265-2278.
Tormo, J., Bochet, E. and García-Fayos, P. 2006. Is seed availability enough
to ensure colonization success? An experimental study in road embank-
ments. Ecol. Eng., 26(3): 224-230.
Wang, L., Wang, Y., Du, H.B., Zuo, J., Li, R.Y.M., Zhou, Z.H., Bi, H.H. and
Garvlehn, M.P. 2019. A comparative life-cycle assessment of hydro-,
nuclear and wind power: A China study. Appl. Energy, 249: 37-45.
Wang, W.Y., Wang, Q.J. and Wang, H.C. 2006. The effect of land manage-
ment on plant community composition, species diversity, and produc-
tivity of alpine Kobersia steppe meadow. Ecol. Res., 21(2): 181-187.
Wang, X.D., Yu, J.B., Zhou, D., Dong, H.F., Li, Y.Z., Lin, Q.X., Guan, B.
and Wang, Y.L. 2012. Vegetative ecological characteristics of restored
reed (Phragmites australis) wetlands in the Yellow River Delta, China.
Environ. Manag., 49(2): 325-333.
Wang, Z.J., Jiao, J.Y., Rayburg, S., Wang, Q.L. and Su, Y. 2016. Soil erosion
resistance of “Grain for Green” vegetation types under extreme rainfall
conditions on the Loess Plateau, China. Catena, 141: 109-116.
Wortley, L., Hero, J.M. and Howes, M. 2013. Evaluating ecological resto-
ration success: A review of the literature. Restor. Ecol., 21(5): 537-543.
Xia, Z.Y. 2010. Earlier Succession and Stability of Artificial Vegetation
Community on Disturbed Slope in Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station.
Wuhan University (In Chinese).
Xu, W.N., Xia, D., Zhao, B.Q., Xia, Z.Y., Liu, D.X. and Zhou, M. T. 2017.
Research on Slope Eco-Restoration Technique for Hydroelectric Proj-
ects Disturbed Area. Science Press, Beijing (In Chinese).
Xu, X.L., Zhang, K.L., Kong, Y.P., Chen, J.D. and Yu, B.F. 2006. Effec-
tiveness of erosion control measures along the Qinghai–Tibet highway,
Tibetan plateau, China. Transp. Res. D Trans. Environ., 11(4): 302-309.
Xue, H.L., Xu, W.N. and Liu, D.X. 2016a. Changes of soil fertility and
1392 B.Q. Zhao et al.
enzyme activity on different standing conditions under two slope
ecological restoration patterns. Bull. Soil Water Conserv., 36(4): 182-
187 (In Chinese).
Xue, O., Wei, T.X., Liu, F. and Li, Y.Y. 2016b. Modeling the degree of
coupling and interaction between plant community diversity and soil
properties on highway slopes. J. Beijing Forestry Univ., 38(1): 91-100
(In Chinese).
Yuan, Z.Q., Yu, K.L., Epstein, H., Fang, C., Li, J.T., Liu, Q.Q., Liu, X.W.,
Gao, W.J. and Li, F.M. 2016. Effects of legume species introduction
on vegetation and soil nutrient development on abandoned croplands
in a semi-arid environment on the Loess Plateau, China. Sci. Total
Environ., 541: 692-700
Zhang, B.J., Zhang, G.H., Yang, H.Y. and Wang, H.Y. 2019. Soil resistance
to flowing water erosion of seven typical plant communities on steep
gully slopes on the Loess Plateau of China. Catena, 173: 375-383.
Zhang, J., Zhao, H., Zhang, T., Zhao, X. and Drake, S. 2005. Community
succession along a chronosequence of vegetation restoration on sand
dunes in Horqin Sandy Land. J. Arid Environ., 62(4): 555-566.
Vol. 20, No. 4, 2021 • Nature Environment and Pollution Technology
Zhang, Q.L., Wang, Z.L., Wang, D.D. and Liu, J.E. 2017. Advances in re-
searches on the effects of grassland vegetation on soil erosion in Loess
Plateau. Adv. Earth Sci., 32(10): 1093-1101 (In Chinese).
Zhang, Y., Zhao, T.N., Shi, C.Q., Wu, H.L., Li, D.X. and Sun, Y.K. 2013.
Evaluation of vegetation and soil characteristics during slope vegetation
recovery procedure. Trans. Chinese Soc. Agri. Eng., 29(3): 124-131
(In Chinese).
Zhao, B.Q., Xia, Z.Y., Xun, W.N., Yang, S., Xia, D. and Wang, Z.G. 2017.
Review on the research of slope eco-restoration technique for engi-
neering disturbed area. Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering,
48(2): 130-137 (In Chinese).
Zhou, J. and Chen, G. 2012. Effect analysis of load characteristics on oper-
ation stability of hydropower stations. Energy Procedia, 17: 946-953.
Zhou, M.T., Hu, X.D. and Xu, W.N. 2016. Trend prediction of soil fertility
of various substrate slopes. Bull. Soil Water Cons., 36(4): 107-111
(In Chinese).
Zhou, Z.C. and Shangguan, Z.P. 2008. Effect of ryegrasses on soil runoff
and sediment control. Pedosphere, 18(1): 131-136.