Objective This study investigates the effects of typical plant community restoration on soil aggregate stability in the desert-loess transition zone, providing a scientific basis for high-quality vegetation restoration in this region. Methods Typical plant communities in the loess area (including Caragana korshinskii, Stipa bungeana, Medicago sativa, and Artemisia gmelinii) and in the sandy soil region (including Salix psammophila, Caragana korshinskii, and Artemisia ordosica) were selected as research objects to explore their impacts on soil aggregate stability. Results (1) In the desert-loess transition zone, the influence of plant communities on the particle size distribution of water-stable soil aggregates was regulated by soil texture. In the loess region, the S. bungeana was most conducive to the formation of large aggregates, while in the sandy soil region, the C. korshinskii community exhibited the best enrichment of 0.25~0.5 mm aggregates. (2) In the loess region, the S. bungeana community most effectively enhanced soil aggregate stability and erosion resistance, whereas in the sandy soil region, the C. korshinskii community exhibited the optimal effect in improving soil structure and enhancing erosion resistance. (3) Soil matrix type determined the coupling pattern between nutrients and aggregate stability. The loess region was dominated by non-nutrient factors, while the sandy soil region exhibited a tight coupling relationship of organic matter-driven structural improvement. (4) Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that in the loess area, the A. gmelinii community achieved the optimal comprehensive soil quality by efficiently enhancing soil nutrients (PC1 contribution rate 43.2%) and maintaining a favorable aggregate structure (PC2 contribution rate 29.3%). In contrast, in the sandy soil region, the C. korshinskii community primarily enhanced the stability of large soil aggregates (PC2 contribution rate 24%) and coordinated the supply of available nutrients (PC1 contribution rate 41.7%), thereby achieving a relatively optimal soil health status in barren sandy soils. Conclusion In the loess region, restoring and preserving A. gmelinii grasslands better meets the demand for “soil functional integrity” for soil and water conservation. In the sandy soil region, planting C. korshinskii effectively improves soil quality.
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