Planting blanket for drought and barren steep slope protection and ecological restoration and method of using same

Abstract

The present application relates to turf, lawn or similar cultivation technical field, disclose a kind of for arid and infertile steep slope protection and ecological restoration vegetation blanket and its use method, in the present application, the inventor finds, with mycorrhiza and root support recovery plant does not become wind roll grass in cryptobiotic state, by the adult of this kind of recovery plant is made into living recovery plant layer with plant fiber and water retaining agent, and is shaded before transplanting, so that its root system no matter how or whether there is root system can be normal planting, so that the plant adult of this kind is batch transplanted on arid and infertile steep slope, and the growth of recovery plant is maintained using moisture-retaining light-shielding layer, nutrient delayed release layer, form a layer with certain water and fertilizer conservation effect " living soil " and carry out preliminary protection to slope surface;After the water and fertilizer condition on slope surface is improved to meet the growth demand of conventional plant, the coating on the surface of seed in seed delay germination layer is degraded, so that seed grows at appropriate time to realize soil and water conservation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of turf, lawn or similar cultivation technology, and in particular to vegetation mats for slope protection and ecological restoration of arid, barren, steep slopes and their application methods. Background Technology

[0002] Difficult sites refer to soil types characterized by severe environmental degradation, acidification, salinization, and desertification due to harsh conditions or significant human disturbance. Difficult sites are categorized in many ways, with arid and barren slopes being one type. Mountain slopes with relatively favorable natural conditions (abundant rainfall, thicker soil in some areas, and less soil erosion) can recover vegetation through afforestation. However, many arid, barren, and steep slopes lack the conditions for afforestation. Even with these conditions, severe soil erosion occurs for a long period before vegetation recovery. Therefore, difficult sites on arid, barren, and steep slopes typically require human intervention to accelerate vegetation recovery, such as land preparation, sowing seeds, and transplanting seedlings to promote rapid vegetation growth.

[0003] However, if the slope of an arid and barren slope is steep, such as a slope ratio exceeding 1:1, conventional artificial intervention methods are difficult to be effective. Taking a demonstration project of a technology for integrated small watershed management and ecological restoration of difficult sites, which is intended to be implemented using the present invention, as an example, there is a section of steep slope on the hillside where ecological restoration is required, and all previous artificial intervention methods have failed.

[0004] The ecological problems in such situations are largely caused by the slope itself; steep slopes are almost completely unable to retain water and soil. The surface rock is exposed, the soil layer is thin (often <20 cm), the organic matter content is mostly below 0.5%, and nitrogen and phosphorus are severely lacking, making it impossible to support plant growth. At the same time, the water and fertilizer retention capacity is extremely poor, and even soil amendments are difficult to maintain for long periods. On slopes with this gradient, even fish-scale pits (applied to slopes of 15°-45°) are unusable. Furthermore, the slope itself cannot currently be solved by any economically feasible means (theoretically, blasting / flattening the mountain could solve the slope problem, but it is not economically feasible).

[0005] Plant fiber blankets, such as coconut fiber blankets, can quickly achieve soil and water conservation effects, and they can also be effective when laid on steep slopes and secured. However, the lifespan of these plant fiber blankets is limited; after degradation, they require vegetation to continue their soil and water conservation effect. But vegetation on steep slopes almost inevitably dies. Steep slopes cannot retain water at all; vegetation growth depends entirely on the water contained in the thin, poorly water-retaining topsoil, which is very little and is consumed within the interval between two rainfalls. Of course, with increased investment, by piling topsoil on steep slopes and using civil engineering methods for slope protection, forcibly maintaining a sufficiently thick layer of soil, vegetation can grow and provide long-term soil and water conservation. Subsequently, with the accumulation of organic matter and weathered debris, the soil can gradually thicken, thus entering a positive cycle. However, this approach requires too much investment and is only suitable for a small number of key areas.

[0006] Some plant species do not die even after drying out; these are known as "resurrection plants." The most common resurrection plants are mosses and selaginella. On dry, barren, steep slopes, even without a thick layer of soil, resurrection plants will not die from the soil drying out completely between two rainfalls (normal plants wither and die, but resurrection plants are an exception).

[0007] However, regenerating plants are not suitable for ecological restoration for the following reasons:

[0008] 1. Shallow or even no root system

[0009] Soil and water conservation relies on plant root systems, but regenerated plants generally have very shallow root systems, with roots distributed only a few centimeters deep in the soil, or even no roots at all (such as moss). This results in regenerated plants having virtually no effect on soil and water conservation.

[0010] 2. Slow growth

[0011] To ensure acceptable efficiency, plant propagation materials, such as seeds, are used in ecological restoration. However, regenerated plants generally grow slowly, and many do not even produce seeds, reproducing instead through spores. The time from spore to mature plant is even longer. Ensuring plant survival over such a long period requires an enormous amount of human and material resources.

[0012] 3. In its cryptozoic state, it easily detaches from the soil.

[0013] Selaginella tamariscina (note that Selaginella beauv.) Spring and Selaginella sinensis (Desv.) Spring are two different species) is a typical example. After drying out, its roots detach directly from the stem, roll with the wind, and revive and re-root upon contact with moist soil. While this increases the plant's survival rate, it is entirely detrimental to slope protection and soil and water conservation. After all, ecological restoration requires vegetation to grow in the necessary locations; if the vegetation grows but then disappears, it is meaningless.

[0014] However, the inventors discovered that while certain resurrection plants do not have soil and water conservation effects, their plants themselves can act as "living soil," possessing excellent water and fertilizer retention capabilities. This "living soil" cannot be blown away by the wind or washed away by water, and it also continuously proliferates. If mature plants can be directly transplanted, ensuring they do not become tumbleweeds, then ecological restoration based on them would be significantly easier. Summary of the Invention

[0015] This invention provides a vegetation blanket for slope protection and ecological restoration of arid, barren, and steep slopes, and its application method.

[0016] The technical problem to be solved is that if a certain thickness of soil layer is not forcibly maintained on arid, barren, and steep slopes, the slope protection plants cultivated on the surface will almost inevitably die.

[0017] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a vegetation mat for slope protection and ecological restoration of arid, barren, and steep slopes, comprising, from top to bottom, a moisture-retaining and light-shielding layer, a living regenerating plant layer composed of living regenerating plants and their substrate, a nutrient delayed release layer for providing long-term nutrients to the plants, a seed delayed germination layer for germination and succession after the regenerating plants grow into a meadow, and a structural stabilizing layer for wrapping the other layers together with the moisture-retaining and light-shielding layer into an integral structure.

[0018] The moisturizing and light-shielding layer is a fiber felt composed of coarse plant fibers;

[0019] The living resurrected plant layer is a fiber mat containing resurrected plants, plant fibers and water-retaining agents. The resurrected plants are varieties that grow into meadows in the wild with mycorrhizae and rootstocks. The resurrected plants in the living resurrected plant layer are dry and in a cryptozoic state.

[0020] The nutrient delayed release layer is a plant fiber layer with slow-release fertilizer;

[0021] The seed delayed germination layer is a plant fiber layer containing a seed coating that degrades in a humid environment. The seeds in the seed delayed germination layer include at least one herbaceous plant seed and at least one shrub seed, and at least one plant belongs to the legume family.

[0022] The structural stabilizing layer is a plant fiber nonwoven fabric with a reinforcing mesh.

[0023] Furthermore, the revived plant is Selaginella tamariscina, and the root surface of Selaginella tamariscina is covered with soil from its place of origin, which contains mycelium for regenerating mycorrhizae.

[0024] Furthermore, the surface of the *Selaginella tamariscina* is coated with a high-viscosity aqueous solution to prevent excessive water loss and soil shedding from the root surface. The high-viscosity aqueous solution is a sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution or a sodium alginate solution. The *Selaginella tamariscina* in the living resurrected plant layer is a cryptophytic plant that was collected and air-dried along with the high-viscosity aqueous solution on its surface.

[0025] Furthermore, depending on the condition of the collected *Selaginella tamariscina*, the living resurrected plant layer adopts the following two different structures:

[0026] If *Selaginella tamariscina* is collected in the form of meadows, the meadows and plant fibers soaked in water-retaining agents are piled together to form a living regeneration plant layer with roots pointing downwards; otherwise, the living regeneration plant layer is a fiber felt prepared by air-flow web forming process from *Selaginella tamariscina* with roots pointing randomly and plant fibers soaked in water-retaining agents.

[0027] Furthermore, the nutrient delayed release layer is a felt-like material made by mixing and pressing well-rotted organic fertilizer, plant fiber, and slow-release compound fertilizer.

[0028] Furthermore, both the moisturizing and light-blocking layer and the structural stabilizing layer are coconut fiber blankets with biodegradable reinforcing mesh; the surface of the moisturizing and light-blocking layer has a water-based polyurethane layer for weakening ultraviolet rays and pores of not less than 1 cm; the lower surface of the structural stabilizing layer has a layer of waste flocculent material for guiding water upward and ensuring that the vegetation blanket adheres tightly to the slope, including waste cotton, kapok fluff, poplar fluff or waste toilet paper.

[0029] Furthermore, the vegetation mat is fixed to the steep slope by biodegradable anchors evenly arranged on the slope. The biodegradable anchors penetrate the vegetation mat and are tied to the reinforcing mesh in the coconut fiber mat. A row of biodegradable anchors at the top of the slope is connected as one unit by a marking cable parallel to the top of the slope. The marking cable is a ceramic fiber rope.

[0030] Furthermore, the seeds in the delayed germination layer are alfalfa and lespedeza seeds. After being pretreated with PEG6000 solution, the seeds are coated with polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol copolymer and mixed with plant fibers during the initial coagulation of the coating to prepare the delayed germination layer.

[0031] The method of using vegetation mats for slope protection and ecological restoration of arid, barren, and steep slopes includes the following steps:

[0032] Step 1: Assess the water and fertilizer index of the area requiring ecological restoration, and identify the arid, barren, and steep slopes;

[0033] Step 2: After spraying the vegetation mat with water, keep it in the shade for at least two days to allow the revived plants to recover and begin to root.

[0034] Step 3: Sprinkle water to irrigate the dry, barren, and steep slopes, then lay the vegetation mat on the slopes and secure it.

[0035] Beneficial effects:

[0036] In this invention, the inventors discovered that regenerating plants with mycorrhizae and rootstocks do not become tumbleweeds in their cryptozoic state. By creating a living regenerating plant layer from adult plants, plant fibers, and water-retaining agents, and then nurturing them in the shade before transplanting, the plants can establish themselves normally regardless of root orientation or presence. This allows for the mass transplanting of these adult plants on arid, barren, and steep slopes. A moisture-retaining and light-shading layer, along with a nutrient-delayed release layer, sustains the growth of the regenerating plants, forming a layer of "living soil" with certain water and fertilizer retention capabilities (i.e., utilizing the regenerating plants themselves for water and fertilizer retention) and providing initial protection for the slope. Once the water and fertilizer conditions on the slope improve to meet the needs of conventional plant growth, the seed coating in the delayed germination layer degrades, enabling seed germination and growth, thus achieving soil and water conservation. This prevents seeds from germinating prematurely when their growth is unsuitable, which could lead to seed inactivation. Attached Figure Description

[0037] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the structure of the vegetation blanket used for slope protection and ecological restoration in arid and barren steep slopes in this invention.

[0038] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a hillside using the vegetation blanket and its application method for slope protection and ecological restoration of arid, barren, and steep slopes according to the present invention.

[0039] In the diagram, 1-moisturizing and light-blocking layer, 2-living plant recovery layer, 3-nutrient delayed release layer, 4-seed delayed germination layer, 5-structural stabilization layer, 6-biodegradable anchor, 7-marking cable. Detailed Implementation

[0040] Taking the Xiongan New Area Basin Ecological Health Protection and Quality Improvement Technology System Project, which is proposed to adopt the present invention, as an example: serving the demonstration of technology for comprehensive management of small watersheds and ecological restoration of difficult sites, the vegetation mat used for slope protection and ecological restoration of arid, barren, and steep slopes includes, from top to bottom, a moisture-retaining and light-shielding layer 1, a living regenerating plant layer 2 composed of living regenerating plants and their substrate, a nutrient delayed release layer 3 for providing nutrients to plants for a long time, a seed delayed germination layer 4 for germination and succession after the regenerating plants grow into meadows, and a structural stabilizing layer 5 for wrapping the other layers together with the moisture-retaining and light-shielding layer 1 into an integral structure.

[0041] Note that this invention is not suitable for arid and desert areas with rainfall below 200 mm; it should be used in areas with rainfall above 200 mm. Land arid due to its climate, even flat land, cannot support vegetation growth. Only land arid due to factors such as soil and topography has the potential for vegetation restoration through human intervention.

[0042] The moisturizing and light-shielding layer 1 is a fiber felt composed of coarse plant fibers;

[0043] The moisturizing and light-blocking layer 1 here should have enough gaps to ensure that the reviving plants can extend outwards along the gaps.

[0044] The living revived plant layer 2 is a fiber mat containing revived plants, plant fibers, and water-retaining agents. The revived plants are varieties with mycorrhizae and rootstocks, thus ensuring that they do not detach from the soil in a cryptozoic state (dry and dehydrated but still alive).

[0045] The reason why these two characteristics determine that regenerating plants do not detach from the soil in the cryptobiological state is as follows:

[0046] Plants with rootstocks will form rootstocks and adventitious roots at each node as they grow. This means that after drying, they cannot form a shape that is easily carried by the wind. It is meaningless for them to actively break off their roots and stems, unlike Selaginella tamariscina which actively breaks off its roots and stems.

[0047] Mycorrhizae represent the ability of the roots to effectively hold onto the soil even after drying, thanks to the symbiotic fungal hyphae.

[0048] The revived plants also need to be presented as meadows in the wild to effectively play their role as "living soil".

[0049] The revived plants in the living revived plant layer 2 are dried and in a cryptozoic state; this allows for long-term storage and transportation, enabling large-scale use.

[0050] The nutrient delayed release layer 3 is a plant fiber layer containing slow-release fertilizer; here, the nutrient delayed release layer 3 not only provides nutrition for the revived plants, but also provides nutrition for other plants that subsequently grow. At the same time, it also serves as a growth substrate for the revived plants to a certain extent.

[0051] The seed delayed germination layer 4 is a layer of plant fibers containing seed coatings that degrade under humid conditions.

[0052] The seeds buried here are required to decompose in a moist environment to ensure that they can germinate after the water and fertilizer conditions are improved, rather than germinating after just one rainfall and then dying due to the soil drying out completely before the next rainfall.

[0053] The seeds within the delayed germination layer 4 include at least one herbaceous plant seed and at least one shrub seed, and at least one plant belongs to the legume family;

[0054] Of the three main fertilizers required for plant growth, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be continuously obtained through the weathering of minerals, and the rate of weathering can even be accelerated by natural or artificially added phosphorus-solubilizing and potassium-solubilizing bacteria. However, nitrogen fertilizer cannot be obtained. The nitrogen deficiency in soils on arid, barren, and steep slopes is more severe compared to other nutrients, so it is necessary to cultivate leguminous plants that have a low dependence on nitrogen fertilizer on these slopes.

[0055] The reason for using herbaceous plants and shrubs is that Selaginella has a shallow root layer of 0–5cm, herbaceous plants have a medium root layer of 5–20cm, and shrubs have a deep root layer of more than 30cm. This allows for multi-layered root systems to work together to absorb water, stabilize soil, and prevent erosion, thereby reducing rhizosphere competition and improving resource utilization efficiency.

[0056] The structural stabilizing layer 5 is a plant fiber nonwoven fabric with a reinforcing mesh. Its main function is to provide a safety net and strength.

[0057] The "plant fiber" in this invention can be fiber from various sources such as straw fibers, bamboo fibers, and coconut fibers. The length of the fiber needs to meet the requirements of the corresponding preparation process for forming carpets, felts, or fabrics.

[0058] In this embodiment, the revived plant is Selaginella tamariscina, whose root surface is covered with soil from its native habitat, and the soil contains mycelium for regenerating mycorrhizae.

[0059] Selaginella tamariscina, after research, has been found to be particularly suitable for use as living soil. Besides possessing all the characteristics of revitalizing plants, it remains in the soil in a cryptophytic state, presenting a meadow-like appearance. The structure of its leaves and stems also allows for excellent water absorption, both internally and on the surface. Living Selaginella tamariscina itself has excellent water and fertilizer retention capabilities. While roots are not essential for transplanting, as they can regenerate through shade cultivation even without roots, the regeneration of mycorrhizae is difficult. Transplanting to soil lacking its symbiotic fungi significantly impacts survival rates due to the difficulty in mycorrhizal regeneration. Therefore, during transplanting, the roots should be moistened with a small amount of soil containing fungal hyphae, which facilitates rapid mycorrhizal regeneration.

[0060] The surface of *Selaginella tamariscina* is covered with a high-viscosity aqueous solution to prevent excessive water loss and soil shedding from the root surface. The high-viscosity aqueous solution is sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution or sodium alginate solution. The *Selaginella tamariscina* in the living resurrected plant layer 2 is a cryptozoic plant that was collected and air-dried along with the high-viscosity aqueous solution on its surface.

[0061] If revived plants dehydrate too quickly, they will not be able to properly enter the cryptobiotic state and will die directly. Excessive water loss during storage will also lead to death. Generally, their water content needs to be above 8% for revival. In the wild, their water loss rate is relatively slow, but it becomes rapid after harvesting. To prevent immediate death, the rate of water loss needs to be controlled. One method used in this practice is to spray the surface with a high-viscosity aqueous solution and then air-dry it. This controls the rate of water loss and prevents it from falling below 8%. After air-drying, the revived plants appear as withered grass, will not mold, and can be stored for a long time.

[0062] Depending on the condition of the collected Selaginella sinensis, the living resurrected plant layer 2 adopts the following two different structures:

[0063] If Selaginella tamariscina is collected in the form of meadow, the meadow and the plant fibers soaked in water-retaining agent will accumulate together to form a living resurrection plant layer 2 with the roots pointing downwards.

[0064] Selaginella sinensis harvested in patches as meadows already forms a blanket upon collection; only the center needs to be filled with other plant fibers. This method ensures that the roots of the harvested Selaginella sinensis are facing downwards when placed on the vegetation blanket.

[0065] However, such conditions are not always present during collection. If the plants are more dispersed, the second layer of the living resurrected plant needs to be a fiber mat prepared by air-flow forming process using randomly oriented *Selaginella tamariscina* and plant fibers soaked in a water-retaining agent. The air-flow forming process is used because it minimizes mechanical damage to the plants. However, the root orientation cannot be controlled. Nevertheless, during the shade cultivation stage, the roots can anchor themselves in the water-retaining agent-soaked plant fibers, allowing for normal growth subsequently.

[0066] The nutrient delayed release layer 3 is a felt-like material made by mixing and pressing well-rotted organic fertilizer, plant fiber, and slow-release compound fertilizer.

[0067] The well-rotted organic fertilizer used here should preferably be cow or sheep manure, which is conducive to the preparation of felt-like materials, while the plant fiber should preferably be straw filaments. At the same time, some microbial fertilizers such as phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria and potassium-solubilizing bacteria can also be mixed in.

[0068] Both the moisturizing and light-blocking layer 1 and the structural stabilizing layer 5 are coconut fiber blankets with biodegradable reinforcing mesh (such as hemp rope mesh);

[0069] The moisturizing and light-blocking layer 1 has a water-based polyurethane layer to weaken ultraviolet rays and pores of at least 1 cm to ensure that the plants underneath can grow out. Specifically, it is a coarse-fiber coconut fiber blanket. The structural stabilizing layer 5 needs to support the bottom, so it needs to use a fine-fiber coconut fiber blanket, which can already be called a non-woven fabric. These coconut fiber blankets can be purchased directly from the market and do not need to be prepared at home. However, after purchasing them, the coarse-fiber coconut fiber blankets need to be sprayed with some biodegradable water-based polyurethane such as polycaprolactone glycol on the surface of the coconut fiber.

[0070] The lower surface of the structural stabilization layer 5 has a layer of waste flocculent material for guiding water upward and ensuring that the vegetation blanket adheres tightly to the slope. The waste flocculent material includes waste cotton, kapok fluff, poplar fluff, or waste toilet paper.

[0071] The structural stabilization layer 5 is made of non-woven fabric. If the slope is uneven, it is easy for voids to form underneath, which will affect water absorption and plant rooting. Therefore, a layer of waste flocculent material that can adhere tightly to uneven slopes is laminated to the lower surface of the structural stabilization layer 5. This waste flocculent material layer can protrude slightly and be buried in the soil, and it should be relatively thick, for example, 1-3 cm thick, so that some gaps are left after degradation. After the gaps are filled by plant residues, soil can be formed, accelerating the soil formation process.

[0072] The waste flocculent layer can be fed together with the raw materials of the structural stabilizing layer 5 during the preparation of the structural stabilizing layer 5 and integrally formed.

[0073] The vegetation mat is fixed to the steep slope by biodegradable anchors 6 evenly set on the slope. The biodegradable anchors 6 penetrate the vegetation mat and are tied to the reinforcing net in the coconut fiber mat. A row of biodegradable anchors 6 located at the top of the slope is connected as one unit by a marker cable 7 parallel to the top of the slope. The marker cable 7 is a ceramic fiber rope.

[0074] The biodegradable anchor rod 6 here can be made of wood or bamboo. In this embodiment, straw and local weeds are used to make soil and water conservation piles. For the specific manufacturing method, please refer to another invention of the inventor, CN114365662B.

[0075] The purpose of marker rope 7 here is to mark the location of the vegetation mat, observe whether landslides occur, and make timely adjustments after landslides. Since it serves as a marker, it needs to remain intact for a long time, therefore it must have sufficient weather resistance. At the same time, it must also prevent it from remaining in the soil and causing pollution. Ceramic fiber rope meets both of these requirements; it has extremely high weather resistance, and its composition is no different from rock, so it will not pollute the soil. Furthermore, it is a commonly used high-temperature resistant rope and is readily available.

[0076] In this embodiment, the seeds in the delayed germination layer 4 are alfalfa (a perennial leguminous herb) and lespedeza (a leguminous shrub). The seeds are pretreated with PEG6000 solution (a commonly used drought stress simulating agent) and then coated with polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol copolymer (which degrades after prolonged wetting). When the coating initially solidifies (at which point the surface is still adhesive, thus firmly binding with the plant fiber and preventing the seeds from falling off), it is mixed with the plant fiber to prepare the delayed germination layer 4.

[0077] The method of using vegetation mats for slope protection and ecological restoration of arid, barren, and steep slopes includes the following steps:

[0078] Step 1: Assess the water and fertilizer index of the area requiring ecological restoration, and identify the arid, barren, and steep slopes;

[0079] In this embodiment, the method in another invention of the inventor, CN119647882A, is used for evaluation, and the D zone is determined to be arid, barren, and steep slope.

[0080] Step 2: After spraying the vegetation mat with water, keep it in the shade for at least two days to allow the revived plants to recover and begin to root.

[0081] When preparing revived plants into living revived plant layer 2, they may not have roots, and the root system may be pointing upwards instead of downwards. This problem can be solved by keeping them in the shade (cultivating them in a humid, shaded environment) for a few days. At the same time, the process of keeping them in the shade itself also improves the survival rate.

[0082] Step 3: Sprinkle water to irrigate the dry, barren, and steep slopes, then lay the vegetation mat on the slopes and secure it.

[0083] The embodiments described above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention should fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vegetation mat for slope protection and ecological restoration of arid, barren, and steep slopes, characterized by: From top to bottom, it includes a moisture-proof and light-blocking layer (1), a living resurrected plant layer (2) composed of living resurrected plants and their substrate, a nutrient delayed release layer (3) for providing nutrients to plants for a long time, a seed delayed germination layer (4) for germination and succession after the resurrected plants grow into meadows, and a structural stabilizing layer (5) for wrapping the other layers together with the moisture-proof and light-blocking layer (1) into an overall structure. The moisturizing and light-shielding layer (1) is a fiber felt composed of coarse plant fibers; The living resurrected plant layer (2) is a fiber mat containing resurrected plants, plant fibers and water-retaining agents. The resurrected plants are varieties that grow into meadows in the wild with mycorrhizae and rootstocks. The resurrected plants in the living resurrected plant layer (2) are dry and in a cryptozoic state. The nutrient delayed release layer (3) is a plant fiber layer with slow-release fertilizer; The seed delayed germination layer (4) is a plant fiber layer of seeds with a coating that degrades in a humid environment. The seeds in the seed delayed germination layer (4) include at least one herbaceous plant seed and at least one shrub seed, and at least one plant belongs to the legume family. The structural stabilizing layer (5) is a plant fiber nonwoven fabric with a reinforcing mesh; The revived plant is Selaginella tamariscina, and the root surface of Selaginella tamariscina is covered with soil from its native habitat, which contains mycelium for regenerating mycorrhizae. The surface of the Selaginella tamariscina is covered with a high-viscosity aqueous solution to prevent excessive water loss and soil shedding from the root surface. The high-viscosity aqueous solution is sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution or sodium alginate solution. The Selaginella tamariscina in the living resurrection plant layer (2) is a cryptophyte plant that has been collected and dried in the shade along with the high-viscosity aqueous solution on its surface. Depending on the condition of the collected Selaginella sinensis, the living revived plant layer (2) adopts the following two different structures: If Selaginella tamariscina is collected in the form of meadow, the meadow and the plant fibers soaked in water-retaining agent are piled together to form a living resurrection plant layer (2) with the roots facing downward; otherwise, the living resurrection plant layer (2) is a fiber felt prepared by air-flow web forming process from Selaginella tamariscina with roots facing randomly and plant fibers soaked in water-retaining agent.

2. The vegetation mat for slope protection and ecological restoration of arid, barren, and steep slopes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The nutrient delayed release layer (3) is a felt-like material made by mixing and pressing well-rotted organic fertilizer, plant fiber and slow-release compound fertilizer.

3. The vegetation mat for slope protection and ecological restoration of arid, barren, and steep slopes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The moisturizing and light-shielding layer (1) and the structural stabilizing layer (5) are both coconut fiber blankets with biodegradable reinforcing mesh; the surface of the moisturizing and light-shielding layer (1) has a water-based polyurethane layer for weakening ultraviolet rays and pores of not less than 1 cm; the lower surface of the structural stabilizing layer (5) has a layer of waste flocculent material for guiding water upward and ensuring that the vegetation blanket adheres tightly to the slope; the waste flocculent material includes waste cotton, kapok fluff, poplar fluff or waste toilet paper.

4. The vegetation mat for slope protection and ecological restoration of arid, barren, and steep slopes according to claim 3, characterized in that: The vegetation mat is fixed to the steep slope by biodegradable anchors (6) evenly set on the steep slope. The biodegradable anchors (6) penetrate the vegetation mat and are tied to the reinforcing net in the coconut fiber mat. A row of biodegradable anchors (6) located at the top of the slope are connected as one unit by a marking cable (7) parallel to the top of the slope. The marking cable (7) is a ceramic fiber rope.

5. The vegetation mat for slope protection and ecological restoration of arid, barren, and steep slopes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The seeds in the delayed germination layer (4) are alfalfa and lespedeza seeds. The seeds are pretreated with PEG6000 solution and then coated with polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol copolymer. When the coating initially solidifies, the seeds are mixed with plant fibers to prepare the delayed germination layer (4).

6. A method for using vegetation mats for slope protection and ecological restoration of arid, barren, and steep slopes, characterized by: The vegetation mat described in claim 1 for slope protection and ecological restoration of arid, barren, and steep slopes is used for slope protection and ecological restoration, and includes the following steps: Step 1: Assess the water and fertilizer index of the area requiring ecological restoration, and identify the arid, barren, and steep slopes; Step 2: After spraying the vegetation mat with water, keep it in the shade for at least two days to allow the revived plants to recover and begin to root. Step 3: Sprinkle water to irrigate the dry, barren, and steep slopes, then lay the vegetation mat on the slopes and secure it.

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