In order to find out the impact of the construction of photovoltaic power plants on vegetation and soil in alpine desert steppe

this study selected the Beixiang photovoltaic industry park of Tara Beach in Gonghe Basin as the research object

and conducted consecutive monitoring plots in August of 2013—2015. By choosing 3 typical plots of 10 m×10 m within fenced area

PV+fenced area and natural growth zone

and through using quadrats

this study surveyed vegetation structure characteristics and analyzed soil properties in laboratory. Finally

different indicators that evaluated the effects of photovoltaic plant were combined. The results showed that: Fenced and photovoltaic plants had a significant impacts on the vegetation and soils. Compared with the data surveyed in 2013

the photovoltaic fenced area data of plant species numbers

vegetation coverage

aboveground biomass

richness index

soils water content

organic matter content and nitrogen content respectively increased by 116.7%

83.9%

68.7%

119.2%

88.6%

83% and 81.8% in 2015

which showed significant change tendency (P＜0.05). Voltaic panels improved environmental factors of plant growth in alpine desert steppe

especially increased soil water content

which can protect fragile ecosystems and showed sand-fixing effect

promoting the succession development of desert grassland.