5. Future perspective

The land use practices have substantially improved the above- and belowground ecophysiological processes in the degraded semiarid grasslands. At the site level, plant roots and soil organisms are two important parts in the plant-soil feedback system, which affect the growth of plants and formation of interspecific competition relationship and vegetation pattern. Therefore, future studies will focus on evaluating the rules of plant-soil feedback during the plant growth process. At the macro level, has climate variation contributed to grassland restoration, and how the LUCC and human activities have affected grasslands in the ecological projects implemented regions? These are still open questions that need to be addressed. These studies will provide insights in effective management measurements for the ecological restoration projects and may serve as guidelines for government and policy makers in adjusting future ecological policies and managing grassland production in the western China for adapting to climate conditions.
