Does the Returning Farmland to Forest Program improve the ecosystem stability of rhizosphere in winter in alpine regions?

Abstract

As one of the ecological measures to control soil erosion and land degradation, the Returning Farmland to Forest Program (RFFP) has been implemented about 30 years in China. To date, the effectiveness of the RFFP is debated. Most studies have focused on the changes in landscape patterns at different scales, exploring the forest cover changes. However, few studies revealed the ecological effects especially the ecological stability, even less in alpine areas. Twelve sampling sites in the Huangshui River Basin were selected to test whether the RFFP improved the quality and stability of rhizosphere ecosystems. The sampling sites located in the RFFP zone, natural ecosystems (perennial grassland, perennial forest), and anthropogenic ecosystems (farmland, human activity zone), respectively. The results showed that the RFFP has improved the physicochemical properties of soil and plant, has increased the relevant abundance of nitrogen fixing bacteria and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, and has high network stability than anthropogenic ecosystems, while still has certain distance with natural ecosystems. The RFFP definitely has positive impacts on improving the stability and diversity of the ecosystems in alpine areas. This study provides references for estimating the implementation effects of the RFFP from the ecological perspective, which could further guide the next round of the RFFP policy.