Afforestation method for soil and water loss control in extremely difficult site of loess plateau

Abstract

The invention discloses a loess plateau extremely difficult site water and soil loss treatment afforestation method, and the method steps are as follows: step one, early digital surveying and mapping; step two, grading and soil repair; step three, using a new type of micro-ecological pot technology; step four, intelligent drip irrigation and water regulation; and step five, maintenance management. The present application has achieved good ecological benefits in the loess plateau extremely difficult site afforestation, improved the local ecological environment, and through precise control of water flow, water is directly delivered to the root of the seedling, reducing water waste. The drip irrigation system can work stably for a long time, improve irrigation accuracy, increase water saving rate, ensure water supply for each seedling root system, solve the water shortage problem, and greatly improve the survival rate of seedlings. The present application can be used in extremely difficult sites for afforestation and improve the survival rate of seedlings, effectively reduce water and soil loss, and can be applied to various difficult afforestation regions, and has strong popularization applicability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ecological restoration technology, specifically to afforestation methods for controlling soil erosion in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau. Background Technology

[0002] my country is one of the countries in the world most severely affected by soil erosion. Due to its unique natural geographical and socio-economic conditions, soil erosion has become a major environmental problem. To address this, my country has implemented several major soil and water conservation projects, such as comprehensive planning and integrated management at the small watershed level; pilot projects for urban soil and water conservation; key soil and water conservation projects for major rivers; eight major national water and water conservation projects; key prevention and control projects for soil and water conservation in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River; the "Three-North" shelterbelt windbreak and sand control project; and the ecological protection and restoration project for mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands, and deserts. Among these, the ecological protection and restoration project for mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands, and deserts is currently the key project.

[0003] In recent years, most of the suitable afforestation sites in the Loess Plateau region have been afforested. The remaining barren hills and wastelands are mostly extremely difficult sites with poor conditions and high afforestation challenges. These extremely difficult sites include rocky mountains with exposed rocks, arid sunny slopes with thin soil, and windward locations such as ridges, mountaintops, and valleys where air currents converge, making afforestation conditions harsh and hindering seedling root regeneration. Conventional afforestation methods in these areas result in low survival rates and even greater difficulty in establishing forests. Therefore, identifying the dominant environmental factors affecting afforestation survival and growth in extremely difficult sites and implementing corresponding afforestation techniques to resolve these challenges is a major issue in overcoming the difficulties of afforestation in the extremely difficult sites of the Loess Plateau.

[0004] As various projects progress, the proportion of extremely difficult sites within the project area continues to increase. The Loess Plateau region, located in the middle reaches of the Yellow River in my country, covers an area of ​​623,800 km², characterized by numerous gullies, with over 300,000 gullies exceeding 1 km in length, resulting in a gully density of 1.3-8.1 km / km². The Loess Plateau is arid with high evaporation rates, experiencing drought nine out of ten years; drought is a fundamental climatic feature of the region. The gullies, with slopes often exceeding 45 degrees and sparse vegetation, are the main sources of sand production and transport channels in the Loess Plateau. Restoring and rebuilding vegetation on eroded slopes is crucial for improving the ecological environment and preventing soil erosion in the Loess Plateau. However, the arid and barren nature of the gullies, coupled with the difficulty of vegetation restoration and reconstruction, has made them typical extremely difficult sites for afforestation projects in this region. Loess dry, sunny slopes are extremely difficult to cultivate, with harsher natural conditions and a fragile ecosystem, making them the "hardest nuts to crack" for afforestation projects. Vegetation restoration and reconstruction are slow, and the lack of advanced, mature, and effective technologies hinders the progress and effectiveness of afforestation projects, making it urgent to conduct research on relevant engineering afforestation technologies.

[0005] Afforestation is a complex and systematic project, encompassing seedling cultivation, land preparation, planting, tending, management, and forest maturation. Problems in any aspect of management can affect the progress and quality of afforestation. Therefore, afforestation must be viewed as a systematic project and managed scientifically and comprehensively to improve its quality and effectiveness.

[0006] Research on afforestation began earlier abroad. In 1880, Geyer proposed that afforestation should be based on practical experience and the integrated relationships within forest stands. In 1944, Dengler explicitly stated that afforestation should be based on ecology. Early research focused primarily on the basic theories of afforestation, with less attention paid to the management of afforestation projects. Recently, the implementation of some well-known afforestation projects abroad has provided valuable experience that can be learned from. For example, the Roosevelt Project is demonstrating good ecological benefits, while the failures of the Green Dam project in North Africa and the Soviet Union's "Transforming Nature" project ultimately stemmed from low-quality afforestation, and the results warrant reflection.

[0007] Domestic scholars attribute the poor afforestation results to low afforestation quality. However, the reasons for low afforestation quality are multifaceted, multifactorial, and multi-stage, and should be analyzed comprehensively. Expert Shi Jiachen pointed out that afforestation projects are composed of at least three subsystems and multiple elements, namely: (1) biological system, which mainly includes the tree species selected for afforestation, the biological characteristics of trees, and site conditions. (2) management measures system, which includes technical measures such as seedling cultivation, land preparation, planting, and tending, as well as national policies and systems. (3) socio-economic system, which includes social requirements, organizational structure, and forms. In his article "Research on Construction Quality Management of Afforestation Projects", Zeng Wenqing pointed out that afforestation project management should be carried out in accordance with ISO standards based on the characteristics of afforestation projects. This is a novel approach, but it ignores the problem of insufficient investment in afforestation projects and is not feasible. In his article "Analysis and Discussion on the Preservation Status of Afforestation in China", Gui Laiting analyzed the reasons affecting the preservation of afforestation based on the results of the comprehensive verification of afforestation in China in recent years. He proposed to raise the investment standards of key projects and to focus on closing mountains for afforestation in arid and semi-arid areas. Shanxi Province started its scientific afforestation efforts relatively early, first proposing and implementing "engineering afforestation" in the 1980s. "Engineering afforestation" applies the management procedures and methods of general engineering construction, combined with the characteristics of afforestation, to formulate a set of scientific afforestation management procedures and methods, organize and manage afforestation production, thereby ensuring the quality of afforestation construction and a high survival rate.

[0008] Currently, afforestation projects still face many prominent problems: (1) Scientific management of afforestation is lacking and needs to be improved; Due to inadequate scientific management and technical guidance in afforestation, and relatively low investment in afforestation, existing problems such as low afforestation quality and low survival rate have been caused. The survival rate of seedlings in difficult-to-locate sites is low, making afforestation extremely challenging. Traditional manual surveying methods are not only labor-intensive and inefficient, but also pose significant risks to personnel safety and are heavily constrained by natural conditions, making them inadequate for meeting the demands for high efficiency and precision. Faced with these challenges, how to leverage modern technology to achieve intelligent, efficient, and precise surveying has become a crucial issue that urgently needs to be addressed to improve the quality and efficiency of preliminary work in ecological restoration projects. The geographical locations and soil conditions of afforestation areas vary. Traditional land preparation techniques are too simplistic and cannot adapt to the differences in site conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to select the optimal land preparation method based on the differences in conditions. The afforestation area has a special geographical location. The area is arid and has little rain and water resources are scarce. Therefore, the water for maintenance comes from the collection and utilization of rivers and surface water. The water source is mainly pumped to the barren mountain afforestation area in stages using water pumps, which requires a lot of manpower and material resources and results in a waste of resources. Extremely difficult site environments, lack of soil nutrients and water supply, easily lead to low vegetation survival rates; Afforestation projects cover a large area, and a lack of management can lead to a large number of seedlings dying. Therefore, scientific management and maintenance are necessary. To address the aforementioned technical challenges, there is an urgent need to design a method for afforestation in extremely difficult locations on the Loess Plateau to improve the quality and effectiveness of afforestation. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for afforestation to control soil erosion in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau, solving the problem of "difficulty in afforestation in extremely difficult sites". It integrates a set of technologies including "digital mapping in the early stage + graded land preparation and soil remediation + experimental application of new "micro-ecological pots" + intelligent drip irrigation + maintenance management", planning from the source, and improving the whole-process afforestation technology through the research and development of new technologies and intelligent management in the later stage, thereby improving the survival rate of seedlings and forming a replicable engineering solution to support large-scale promotion and demonstration.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: Afforestation methods for controlling soil erosion in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau, the steps of which are as follows: Step 1: Preliminary digital surveying; Step Two: Graded Land Preparation and Soil Remediation; Step 3: Use the new micro-ecological pot technology; Step 4: Intelligent drip irrigation and water regulation; Step 5: Maintenance and Management.

[0011] As a further aspect of the present invention: Step one employs multi-dimensional data collection across air, space, and ground, and the specific steps are as follows: S1: First, obtain information on land cover types, hydrogeology, and other data over a wide area using satellite remote sensing technology; S2: Combine drones for aerial photography to acquire high-resolution orthophotos and 3D point cloud data; S3: Utilizing modern information technology such as geographic information systems and employing intelligent analysis software to assist in data analysis, all acquired data is integrated and processed to form a complete dataset for ecological restoration projects, thereby achieving the goal of digital visualization of ecological restoration project site surveys and intelligentization of various types of information in the project area.

[0012] As a further aspect of this invention: Step two employs a tiered land preparation strategy, tailored to varying site conditions. Fish-scale pit land preparation is used. In areas with favorable site conditions, a composite land preparation method of "stone embankment + pit expansion" is implemented. This involves creating intercepting channels by piling stones (25cm high) with a stone thickness of at least 2cm, combined with 50cm deep sand for pit expansion, thereby increasing rainwater interception efficiency by 40%. In areas with poor site conditions, a complete soil replacement process is used, increasing the fish-scale pit volume by 30% compared to conventional methods, creating a "local fertile island" effect, which expands root growth space and meets land preparation standards.

[0013] As a further aspect of this invention: In step three, a novel micro-ecological pot technology is developed and applied in engineering to improve seedling survival rate. The micro-ecological pot uses crop straw as the core raw material, which is physically and biochemically treated and then molded into an elastic organic component. It retains water and fertilizer and resists stress. The integrated planting of seedlings in micro-ecological pots creates an independent microenvironment (microsystem) for plant survival and growth, ensuring that plants are not disturbed by adverse surrounding environments during their growth and development. Several microenvironments come together, interact, and share resources to construct a completely new natural ecological environment, thereby improving vegetation survival rate.

[0014] As a further aspect of the present invention: the microecological pot used in step three has a short degradation cycle and high compressive strength. Before use, seedlings need to be cultivated. The cultivation and integration of seedlings and biological pots should be carried out in flat areas. The specific operation steps are as follows: S1: Preparations; Choose a relatively flat sandy or soily area near the construction site that is sheltered from the wind and sunny, and prepare micro-ecological pots, nutrient soil, bare-root seedlings / cup seedlings, water, and biodegradable film. S2: Operating procedures; Trim the seedling roots, clean up any damaged or withered parts, and prune the branches and leaves appropriately. Place the bare-root seedlings / cup seedlings into the pots, fill with an appropriate amount of nutrient soil, gently lift the seedlings to spread the roots, and compact the soil. Cover the pots with a biodegradable film and place them in an orderly manner on the site, ensuring that the bottom of the pots is in contact with the ground. Fill the film with water, about twice the weight of the seedling, to ensure that the pot is saturated. Water as needed after about a week. Observe the root growth of the seedlings after 20 days. If the roots penetrate the pot and form a single unit with the seedling, it can be transplanted. When transplanting, plant the seedling and the biodegradable film as a whole, with the planting depth 10 cm below the ground. After watering, cover with soil and compact it.

[0015] As a further aspect of the present invention: In S2, bare-root seedlings transplanted into pots in summer should be appropriately shaded, and at the same time, ventilation holes should be provided at the bottom of the degradation film to ensure that the bottom of the seedlings in the pots is permeable to water and air.

[0016] As a further embodiment of the present invention: the nutrient soil in S1 is preferably a mixture of substrate, fertile soil and sand in a ratio of 1:1:1.

[0017] As a further aspect of the present invention: In step four, an artificial water storage tank is built at an open space-mountain top, and the drip irrigation equipment is stably fixed at the bottom of the tank. By adjusting the position of the drip irrigation head through the hose, water can be accurately supplied to the roots of the seedlings. The combination of the transition water pipe, the extension water pipe and the drip irrigation head can meet the water needs of different seedlings, ensuring that the equipment can adapt to various scales of maintenance environments, improving the automation level of drip irrigation, allowing the drip irrigation system to work stably for a long time, improving irrigation accuracy, increasing water saving rate, ensuring water supply to the roots of each seedling, solving the problem of water shortage, and greatly improving the survival rate of seedlings.

[0018] As a further aspect of the present invention: in step five, the later stage of the afforestation project involves refined maintenance and management. The seedlings are pruned before and after planting to reduce transpiration and establish a "three-stage precision watering" model to replace traditional extensive irrigation and ensure the growth of the seedlings.

[0019] As a further aspect of the present invention, the "three-stage precision watering" model is specifically divided into: planting period (0-30 days): using a drip irrigation + sprinkler irrigation composite system to maintain soil moisture content within the suitable growth range for seedlings; growth period (1-3 years): dynamically adjusted based on annual meteorological station data, with annual irrigation volume optimized by 35%; stabilization period (after 3 years): through the formation of a self-sustaining system in the early stage, the survival rate reaches 80% by relying on natural precipitation.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: This invention enables afforestation in extremely difficult sites, improves seedling survival rate, effectively reduces soil erosion, and can be applied to various areas where afforestation is difficult, with strong applicability for promotion. With the improvement of the ecological environment as an important goal, this invention has achieved good ecological benefits by carrying out afforestation in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau. It has improved the local ecological environment by precisely controlling water flow and delivering water directly to the roots of seedlings, reducing water waste and improving the efficiency of water resource utilization. The drip irrigation system can work stably for a long time, improves irrigation accuracy, increases water saving rate, ensures water supply to the roots of each seedling, solves the water shortage problem, and greatly improves the survival rate of seedlings. Ecological benefits of this invention: After afforestation, the forest coverage rate, the area of ​​forest greening and the vegetation coverage area are significantly increased, air quality is improved, water and soil resources are protected, and environmental benefits are significant; The social benefits of this invention include: addressing the living environment and ecological security issues of local farmers, which is of great significance for improving the physical fitness and health of the population. Improving the ecological environment plays a positive role in the overall improvement of rural construction and village appearance, laying a foundation for rural revitalization, and promoting employment, industrial development, and regional economic development, resulting in significant comprehensive benefits. Economic benefits of this invention: Digital surveying technology can save a significant amount of human and material resources. Through afforestation, the creation of jobs related to the management and monitoring of young, immature forests increases, leading to sustained and stable income growth for local residents, improving the quality of development, promoting a win-win situation of increased greenery and income, and driving regional economic development. Simultaneously, the improved environmental quality, stable and increased agricultural production, abundant forest by-products, and improved investment environment will also play a positive role in promoting local economic development. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating the process of afforestation for soil and water conservation in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau.

[0022] Figure 2 Research methods and technical roadmap for afforestation methods to control soil erosion in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] Please see Figures 1-2 In this embodiment of the invention, the afforestation method for controlling soil erosion in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau comprises the following steps: Step 1: Preliminary digital surveying; Given the wide area of ​​afforestation, the efficiency and accuracy of the reconnaissance work can be improved by collecting data from multiple dimensions (air, space, and ground) and establishing a three-dimensional model. The specific steps are as follows: S1: First, obtain information on land cover types, hydrogeology, and other data over a wide area using satellite remote sensing technology; S2: Combine drones for aerial photography to acquire high-resolution orthophotos and 3D point cloud data; S3: Utilize modern information technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and employ intelligent analysis software to assist in data analysis, integrate and process all acquired data to form a complete dataset for ecological restoration projects, thereby achieving the goal of digital visualization of ecological restoration project site surveys and intelligentization of various types of information in the project area; Preliminary digital mapping can first ensure the accuracy and reliability of basic data such as topography and hydrological conditions in the ecological restoration area; secondly, it can shorten the survey cycle and reduce the intensity of manual labor by using modern technology; it can also reduce manual surveying activities in high-risk areas and ensure personnel safety; and it can also seamlessly integrate data acquired by satellites, remote sensing and traditional instruments to provide comprehensive and accurate information support for the formulation of ecological restoration plans. Step Two: Graded Land Preparation and Soil Remediation; In response to the differences in afforestation site conditions, a graded land preparation method is adopted. In areas with better site conditions, a composite land preparation method of "stone ridges + hole expansion" is implemented, while in areas with poor site conditions, a complete soil replacement process is adopted to meet the land preparation standards and lay a good foundation for the growth of seedlings. Traditional land preparation techniques are too simplistic, using uniformly sized fish-scale pits that cannot adapt to extremely challenging site conditions. An innovative, tiered land preparation strategy is adopted, implemented tailored to varying site conditions. Using fish-scale pits, a composite approach of "stone embankments + pit expansion" is implemented in areas with favorable conditions. This involves creating interception channels by piling 25cm-high stone embankments with a stone thickness of at least 2cm, combined with 50cm-deep sand to expand the pits, increasing rainwater interception efficiency by 40%. In areas with poor site conditions, a complete soil replacement process is used, increasing the fish-scale pit volume by 30% compared to conventional methods, creating a "local fertile island" effect that expands root growth space, achieving the desired land preparation standards. Step 3: Use the new micro-ecological pot technology; Develop and apply novel micro-ecological pot technology in engineering projects to improve seedling survival rates; Micro-ecological pots use crop straw as the core raw material. After physical and biochemical treatment, they are molded into an elastic organic component that retains water and fertilizer and resists adverse conditions. Integrated planting of seedlings in micro-ecological pots creates an independent microenvironment (microsystem) for plant survival and growth, ensuring that plants are not disturbed by adverse surrounding environments during their growth and development. Several microenvironments come together, interact, and share resources, constructing a completely new natural ecological environment and improving vegetation survival rates. Microecological pots have a short degradation cycle and high compressive strength. Before use, seedlings need to be cultivated and integrated with the biological pots in flat areas. The specific operating steps are as follows: S1: Preparations; Choose a relatively flat sandy or soily area near the construction site that is sheltered from the wind and sunny. Prepare micro-ecological pots, nutrient soil, bare-root seedlings / cup seedlings, water, and biodegradable film. The nutrient soil is best prepared by mixing substrate, sunny soil, and sand in a 1:1:1 ratio.

[0025] S2: Operating procedures; Trim the seedling roots, clean up any damaged or withered parts, and prune the branches and leaves appropriately. Place the bare-root seedlings / cup seedlings into the pots, fill with an appropriate amount of nutrient soil, gently lift the seedlings to spread the roots, and compact the soil. Cover the pots with a biodegradable film and place them in an orderly manner on the site, ensuring that the bottom of the pots is in contact with the ground. Fill the film with water, about twice the weight of the seedling, to ensure that the pot is saturated. Water as needed after about a week. Observe the root growth of the seedlings after 20 days. If the roots penetrate the pot and form a single unit with the seedling, it can be transplanted. When transplanting, plant the seedling and the biodegradable film as a whole, with the planting depth 10 cm below the ground. After watering, cover with soil and compact it.

[0026] When transplanting bare-root seedlings into pots in summer, appropriate shading should be provided. At the same time, ventilation holes should be provided at the bottom of the biodegradable film to ensure that the bottom of the seedlings can be permeable to water and air.

[0027] Step 4: Intelligent drip irrigation and water regulation; By employing intelligent drip irrigation and water regulation technology, water flow is precisely controlled, and water is delivered directly to the roots of seedlings, reducing water waste and improving the efficiency of water resource utilization. Traditional methods of greening seedling maintenance, such as manual flood irrigation, result in significant water waste. To address this, we have independently developed a drip irrigation system for watering seedlings. By precisely controlling the water flow, the system delivers water directly to the roots of the seedlings, reducing water waste and improving water resource utilization efficiency.

[0028] An artificial water storage tank was built on an open space-topped hill. The drip irrigation equipment was stably fixed at the bottom of the tank. By adjusting the position of the drip head through a flexible hose, water could be precisely supplied to the roots of the seedlings. The combination of transition pipes, extension pipes, and drip heads could meet the water needs of different seedlings, ensuring that the equipment could adapt to various scales of maintenance environments. This improved the automation level of the drip irrigation system, allowing it to work stably for a long time. The irrigation accuracy was improved, the water-saving rate was increased, and the water supply to the roots of each seedling was ensured, solving the problem of water shortage and significantly improving the survival rate of the seedlings.

[0029] Step 5: Maintenance and Management; In the later stages of afforestation projects, meticulous maintenance and management are carried out. Seedlings are pruned before and after planting to reduce transpiration. A "three-stage precision watering" model is established to replace traditional extensive irrigation and ensure the growth of seedlings.

[0030] The "three-stage precision water supply" model is specifically divided into: Planting period (0-30 days): Use a drip irrigation + sprinkler irrigation combined system to maintain soil moisture content within the suitable range for seedling growth; Growing season (1-3 years): Dynamically adjusted based on annual meteorological station data, with annual irrigation volume optimized by 35%; Stable period (after 3 years): Through the formation of a self-sustaining system in the early stage, the survival rate reaches 80% by relying on natural precipitation.

[0031] 1. Site Overview A sunny slope of an eroded gully in Lishi District, Lüliang City, Shanxi Province, was selected as the experimental site. This area is a typical extremely difficult site on the Loess Plateau. The geographical features include rocky mountains with over 60% exposed rock, a slope of approximately 42°, and infertile chestnut-calcareous soil with an average soil layer thickness of less than 15 cm, a pH of 8.2, and an organic matter content below 0.4%. The region receives only 420 mm of rainfall annually, with 65% occurring from July to September. Evaporation is more than three times the amount of rainfall. Previous attempts to afforest the area using traditional fish-scale pit planting combined with containerized cypress seedlings resulted in a survival rate of less than 30%.

[0032] 2. Implementation process Step 1: Preliminary digital surveying; A site survey was conducted in early March 2023. Land cover data for a 100-hectare area was acquired using Gaofen-1 satellite remote sensing imagery. Subsequently, a DJI M300 RTK drone equipped with an L1 lidar was used for six sorties to acquire orthophotos and 3D point cloud data at a resolution of 5cm. The data was processed using ArcGIS software, identifying 18 hectares of areas with good site conditions (soil layer >20cm, slope <35°) and 82 hectares of areas with poor site conditions (exposed rock, slope >40°). Based on this, a site preparation design was created to precisely guide subsequent construction.

[0033] Step Two: Graded Land Preparation and Soil Remediation; Based on the digital mapping results, land preparation will be carried out in zones: In areas with better site conditions (18 hectares): a combination of "stone embankment + pit expansion" was used for land preparation. Local stones were manually collected and piled up to form a 25cm high and 3cm thick intercepting stone embankment. A 50cm deep pit was dug on the inner side and backfilled with sand to improve the soil structure. A total of 3,200 fish-scale pits were constructed.

[0034] Areas with poor soil conditions (82 hectares): A complete soil replacement process was adopted. Fish-scale pits with a volume 30% larger than conventional pits (approximately 1.2 m³) were excavated, and gravel inside the pits was thoroughly removed. High-quality topsoil was transported from the foot of the mountain for complete replacement of the pits, creating "local fertile islands." A total of 14,500 fish-scale pits were constructed. Land preparation was completed after the soil thawed and before the seedlings sprouted.

[0035] Step 3: Application of novel micro-ecological pot technology; Two-year-old bare-root arborvitae seedlings were selected, and micro-ecological pot cultivation was initiated in mid-March 2023 on flat sandy land near the site.

[0036] Substrate preparation: In strict accordance with the patent requirements, the substrate, fertile soil, and river sand are mixed in a 1:1:1 ratio to prepare the nutrient soil.

[0037] Potted seedling cultivation: Trim the roots and branches of the seedlings, and plant them into micro-ecological pots molded from crop straw. Fill the pots with nutrient soil and compact it. Cover the pots with a biodegradable film, with four 0.5cm diameter ventilation and drainage holes at the bottom. Fill the pots with water until saturated (approximately twice the total weight of the seedlings). During the placement period, due to the strong winds of spring, use shade netting to cover the plants appropriately for wind protection and moisture retention.

[0038] Transplanting: After 20 days of observation, the new roots of the Chinese arborvitae have penetrated the pot, forming a unified pot and seedling. Transplanting was carried out in early April. The seedling, along with the biodegradable film, was planted into the fish-scale pit at a depth 10cm below the ground. After tamping down the soil, the soil was thoroughly watered and covered with a layer of topsoil to retain moisture.

[0039] Step 4: Intelligent drip irrigation and water regulation; A 200m³ reinforced concrete reservoir was constructed on the hilltop to collect rainwater runoff and irrigation water from the Yellow River. A photovoltaic-driven smart drip irrigation system was installed, with the main pipeline laid along contour lines and branch pipes connected to each seedling pit. The drip heads extend through flexible hoses to the edge of the micro-ecological pots, precisely targeting the roots of the seedlings. The system is set to automatically start drip irrigation every morning on sunny days, with each drip lasting 15 minutes, ensuring a moisture depth of 30cm.

[0040] Step 5: Refined maintenance management and three-stage precision water supply; Planting period (April-May 2023): A combination of drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation will be used. Sprinkler irrigation will be applied for 3 consecutive days in the early stage of planting to reduce leaf transpiration, and then drip irrigation will be used as the main method to maintain the soil moisture content in the rhizosphere at 16%-18% (the suitable growth range of Platycladus orientalis).

[0041] Growing season (June 2023 - 2025): Dynamically adjusted based on local meteorological station data. During the summer of 2023, a drought occurred, and the system automatically increased the drip irrigation frequency to once every two days; irrigation was suspended during the rainy season of 2024. Calculations show that the annual water saving rate is over 35% compared to traditional flood irrigation. Regular inspections were conducted during this period, and damaged biodegradable membranes were repaired promptly.

[0042] Stabilization period (starting from 2026): Artificial irrigation will be stopped, and growth will be maintained by natural rainfall and the improved soil structure of the micro-ecological pots. Implementation effect

[0043] As of October 2023, the survival rate of Platycladus orientalis in the experimental area reached 92%, an increase of more than 60 percentage points compared with traditional afforestation techniques. Soil loss in the fish-scale pits was reduced by 85% compared with the control area, and the organic matter content of the soil in the pits increased to 0.8%. The micro-ecological pots had completely degraded with no residue, and the roots had penetrated deep into the native soil. This example verified the feasibility and significant effect of the present invention on extremely difficult sites on rocky sunny slopes.

[0044] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for afforestation to control soil erosion in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau, characterized by: The method and steps are as follows: Step 1: Preliminary digital surveying; Step Two: Graded Land Preparation and Soil Remediation; Step 3: Use the new micro-ecological pot technology; Step 4: Intelligent drip irrigation and water regulation; Step 5: Maintenance and Management.

2. The afforestation method for controlling soil erosion in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau according to claim 1, characterized in that: Step one involves multi-dimensional data collection from space, air, and ground, and the specific steps are as follows: S1: First, obtain large-scale information on land cover types and hydrogeological conditions through satellite remote sensing technology; S2: Combine drones for aerial photography to acquire high-resolution orthophotos and 3D point cloud data; S3: Utilizing modern information technology such as geographic information systems and employing intelligent analysis software to assist in data analysis, all acquired data are integrated and processed to form a complete dataset for ecological restoration projects, thereby achieving the goal of digital visualization of ecological restoration project site surveys and intelligentization of various types of information in the project area.

3. The afforestation method for controlling soil erosion in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step two, a graded land preparation strategy is adopted, which is implemented according to the differences in site conditions. Fish-scale pit land preparation is adopted. In areas with better site conditions, a composite land preparation of "stone embankment + pit expansion" is implemented. The interception channel is formed by building embankments with stones with a thickness of not less than 2cm. Combined with 50cm deep sandy soil for pit expansion, the rainwater interception efficiency is increased by 40%. In areas with poor site conditions, a full soil replacement process is adopted, which increases the volume of fish-scale pits by 30% compared with the conventional method, creating a "local fertile island" effect.

4. The afforestation method for controlling soil erosion in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step three, the microecological pot uses crop straw as the core raw material. After physical and biochemical treatment, it is molded into an elastic organic component that retains water and fertilizer and resists stress. The integrated planting of microecological pot seedlings creates an independent microenvironment for plant survival and growth. Several microenvironments come together, interact with each other, and share the community.

5. The afforestation method for controlling soil erosion in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microecological pots used in step three have a short degradation cycle and high compressive strength. Before use, seedlings need to be cultivated. The cultivation and integration of seedlings and biological pots should be carried out in flat areas. The specific operation steps are as follows: S1: Preparations; Choose a relatively flat sandy or soily area near the construction site that is sheltered from the wind and sunny, and prepare micro-ecological pots, nutrient soil, bare-root seedlings / cup seedlings, water, and biodegradable film. S2: Operating procedures; Trim the seedling roots, clean up any damaged or withered parts, and prune the branches and leaves appropriately. Place the bare-root seedlings / cup seedlings into the pots, fill with an appropriate amount of nutrient soil, gently lift the seedlings to spread the roots, and compact the soil. Cover the pots with a biodegradable film and place them in an orderly manner on the site, ensuring that the bottom of the pots is in contact with the ground. Fill the film with water, about twice the weight of the seedling, to ensure that the pot is saturated. Water as needed after about a week. Observe the root growth of the seedlings after 20 days. If the roots penetrate the pot and form a single unit with the seedling, it can be transplanted. When transplanting, plant the seedling and the biodegradable film as a whole, with the planting depth 10 cm below the ground. After watering, cover with soil and compact it.

6. The afforestation method for controlling soil erosion in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau according to claim 5, characterized in that: In the S2 section, bare-root seedlings transplanted into pots during the summer should be properly shaded, and ventilation holes should be provided at the bottom of the degradable film.

7. The afforestation method for controlling soil erosion in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau according to claim 5, characterized in that: The nutrient soil in S1 is prepared by mixing substrate, fertile soil, and sand in a ratio of 1:1:

1.

8. The afforestation method for controlling soil erosion in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step four, an artificial water storage tank is built on an open space-mountain top. The drip irrigation equipment is stably fixed at the bottom of the tank. By adjusting the position of the drip irrigation head through the hose, water can be accurately supplied to the roots of the seedlings. The combination of transition water pipe, extension water pipe and drip irrigation head can meet the water needs of different seedlings.

9. The afforestation method for controlling soil erosion in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step five, the later stages of the afforestation project involve meticulous maintenance and management. The seedlings are pruned before and after planting, and a "three-stage precision watering" model is established.

10. The afforestation method for controlling soil erosion in extremely difficult sites on the Loess Plateau according to claim 9, characterized in that: The "three-stage precision water supply" model is specifically divided into: planting period: using a drip irrigation + sprinkler irrigation composite system to maintain soil moisture content within the suitable growth range for seedlings; growth period: dynamically adjusting based on annual meteorological station data, optimizing annual irrigation volume by 35%; stabilization period: through the formation of a self-sustaining system in the early stage, the survival rate reaches 80% by relying on natural precipitation.

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