Potential of ecological bag slope protection technology in vegetation restoration in the water level fluctuation zone of Three Gorges Reservoir

Vegetation restoration in the water level fluctuation zone(WLFZ) is vital for maintaining the health and stability of the Three Gorges Reservoir. Many technical methods(i.e. planted species and concrete-engineered methods) of vegetation restoration were performed in this zone. However, these methods are not suitable for the WLFZ with repeated collapse and soil erosion. To evaluate the potential of ecological-bag(eco-bag) slope protection technology, an effective method for slope fixation and re-greening in various environments, population characteristics(density, morphological traits and biomass) of Cynodon dactylon, and physicochemical indicators of soil on/in the eco-bag and around the eco-bag stacking(upper and left sides) at two plots(Shuanglong and Wuxia) in Wushan County of Chongqing Municipality were investigated after 7-year of experimental setup. The results showed that population density and aboveground biomass at two plots were no significant differences between on the eco-bag and around the eco-bag stacking. However, morphological traits and root biomass varied with different plots and positions. In Shuanglong plot, length and inter-node length of C. dactylon on the eco-bag decreased by 23.9% and 22.6% than those around the upper side of the eco-bag stacking, respectively(P