In order to investigate the effects of pruning measures on the vegetation and soil of the salt lake protection forest in the transition zone of the Jilantai Desert Oasis

planted flower stick forests with different pruning years (1

2 and 3 years) were used as research objects to compare and analyse the vegetation growth characteristics and soil physicochemical properties of Hedysarum scoparium forests with different pruning years. The results showed that: (1) Prune measure was beneficial to self-renewal of Hedysarum scoparium. The plant height and basal diameter of Hedysarum scoparium increased with the increase of age

and number of new branches followed an opposite trend. (2) Prune measure increased herbaceous biomass and herbaceous plant diversity under the forest

and the plant life forms were dominated by annuals and perennials in different pruning years of Hedysarum scoparium plantation. Understory vegetation coverage

density

plant height

aboveground biomass

Shannon-Wiener diversity index

Simpson dominance index and Margalef richness index were the highest in pruning 3 years Hedysarum scoparium. (3) At the beginning of pruning Hedysarum scoparium

wind erosion caused some fine particles to be blown away on the surface. The mechanical composition of the 0—30 cm soil layer was dominated by fine sand content and medium sand content

with the values ranging from 77.63% to 88.02%. (4) Pruning measure promoted soil water retention. The soil moisture content in 0—200 cm soil layer ranged as follows: 3 years > 2 years > 1 year > no pruning

and soil water stability became inferior. (5) Prune measure was conducive to soil nutrient accumulation. Soil organic carbon

total nitrogen

total phosphorus

alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen and available phosphorus under Hedysarum scoparium forest were the highest in 3 years

and increased by 6.67%

12.90%

20.00%

115.51% and 66.24%

compared with no pruning

respectively. The study suggests that appropriate prune measure can improve the habitat of artificial Hedysarum scoparium

but the ground surface needs to be covered to prevent soil water evaporation during the initial stage of pruning measure.