Effects of Vegetation Reclamation Practices on Soil Mite Communities in Seriously Alkalinized and Degraded Grasslands of Songnen, Northeastern China

In this paper，the data on the soil mites under different vegetation reclamation practices were collected using the Tullgren method, in seriously alkalinized and degraded grasslands of Songnen, Northeastern China between May and October in 2005. Using the community parameters of generic richness, abundance, diversity index, and maturity index (MI) (Mesostigmata), the community structure and its seasonal changes were described. A total of 1 104 soil mite individuals were captured and classified into 41 genera. Our results showed that fencing an enclosure and planting Puccinellia chinampoensis substantially improved soil mite communities after five years reclamation, and less mites were taken in the control treatment. Mite abundance and MI were significantly increased when P. chinampoensis was planted than under fencing enclosure treatments. MI index indicated that planting P. chinampoensis altered the ratio of K-selection of soil predatory mites after reclamation. The results suggested that planting P. chinampoensis may be more beneficial to restoring soil mite communities, than fencing enclosures in seriously alkalinized and degraded grasslands of Songnen.