Objective To explore the impact of human intervention on the physical and chemical properties of the soil of artificial economic forest on mountain slopes, and to provide scientific basis for forest soil restoration and sustainable management.

MethodsBased on the walnut forests with three intervention methods: unmanaged, clearing of shrubs and grasses, and clearing of shrubs and grasses and fertilizing on Taihang Mountains, the effects of the three interventions on the soil physical and chemical properties of the walnut forest were compared and analyzed through field investigation and laboratory experiments, and principal component analysis was used for comprehensive evaluation of soil quality.

Results(1) The physical and chemical properties of soil in walnut forests with different human intervention were significantly different. Soil clay, silt, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus in the unmanaged forests were the highest, while soil sand and water content were the lowest; The soil clay, silt, electrical conductivity, organic carbon and total nitrogen in the clearing shrubs and grasses were significantly lower than those in the unmanaged forests (p<0.05), while the soil sand and water content were significantly higher than those in the unmanaged forests (p<0.05); The soil clay, silt, conductivity, water content, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium in the cleared shrub and grass for fertilization were slightly higher than those in the cleared shrub and grass, and the soil sand, pH and organic carbon were slightly lower than those in the cleared shrub and grass. (2) There was a significant correlation between the physical and chemical properties of walnut forest soil in each intervention. There was a very significant negative correlation between soil clay and sand (p<0.01), a significant (p<0.05) or very significant (p<0.01) positive correlation between soil organic carbon and total nitrogen; and the other soil physical and chemical indicators showed different degrees of correlation changes in the internal soil layers of each intervention and drying. (3) There was a certain degree of variation in the physical and chemical properties of walnut forest soil under each intervention. The soil pH showed weak variability, the soil organic carbon and total nitrogen showed medium variability, and the rest of the soil physical and chemical indicators were in the dynamic changes of weak variability and medium variability between the soil layers within each intervention and intervention. (4) soil quality in the unmanaged forests was the best (2.120), followed by> clean shrub and grass fertilization (−0.820) and clean shrub and grass (−1.258)The soil quality in clean shrub and grass fertilization walnut forest was not improved significantly.

Conclusion Human intervention significantly affects the physical and chemical properties of soil in walnut forest on Taihang hillside and causes differences in soil quality. Therefore, the regulation and management of human intervention should be paid attention to in the management of walnut forest.