To investigate the effects of different dominant species on the microbial functional diversity of vegetation concrete substrates, the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils of three dominant species (Pennisetum alopecuroides (PA), Arthraxon hispidus (AH) and Pueraria lobata (PL)) of vegetation concrete were studied using the Biolog-Eco method at Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station. The results showed that the microbial activity and microbial functional diversity indices in the rhizosphere soil of the three dominant plants were significantly higher than those in the non-rhizosphere soil and that the microbial activity and functional diversity indices in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil of AH, as well as in the rhizosphere soil of PL, were at a high level. The carbon sources predominantly used by rhizosphere soil microbes were carbohydrates, amino acids and polymers, while the carbon sources predominantly used by non-rhizosphere soil microbes were carboxylic acids, amino acids and polymers. The governing elements of the carbon source metabolic features of the microbial community were the soil moisture content (WC), organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), potential of hydrogen (pH), microbial carbon (MBC), microbial nitrogen (MBN) and microbial phosphorus (MBP). Based on a thorough examination of these aspects, it was concluded that vegetation had altered the microbial community structure and functional diversity of the vegetation concrete substrate, perhaps improving the overall metabolic activity. A. hispidus with high adaptability should be prioritized in the regeneration of vegetation on concrete slopes.

The goal of this research is to investigate strategies to increase the erosion resistance of the slope surface during the early stages of vegetation concrete construction, as well as to offer a scientific foundation for improving vegetation concrete formulation. Simulated rainfall experiments were carried out at 2 different slope gradients (50° and 60°), 2 different rainfall intensities (60 and 120 mm·h⁻¹), and 4 treatments (CK-no additive, 0.4% P-polyacrylamide, 4% C-biochar, and 0.4% F-palm fiber). PAM, palm fiber, and biochar significantly reduced the initial runoff time of the vegetation concrete slope by an average of 47.03%, 46.41%, and 22.67%, respectively (p < 0.05). The runoff rate of each slope under different conditions increased with the expansion of rainfall duration and then fluctuated and stabilized, whereas the erosion rate decreased and then fluctuated and stabilized. PAM and palm fiber both increased runoff rates while decreasing erosion rates, but biochar increased both runoff rates and erosion rates. The runoff reduction benefits of PAM, palm fiber, and biochar were −69.84~−1.97%, −68.82~−14.28% and −63.70~−6.80%, respectively, while the sediment reduction benefits were 69.21~94.07%, −96.81~−50.35%, and 36.20~60.47%, respectively. PAM and palm fiber both have obvious sediment reduction benefits and can be used in the ecological restoration of high and steep slopes in areas with heavy rainfall.

In this chapter, we present the analysis of urban heat island (UHI) effects on coastal urban areas using satellite images as a case study in Hangzhou, China. With the sustainable development of coastal areas, land use and land cover have been dramatically changed. Such changes make the phenomenon of urban heat island (UHI) becoming serious, which has brought some negative influences on human activities or public health issues in coastal regions. This study takes Hangzhou as an example of coastal cities and uses the Landsat TM, ETM+ and OLI images to retrieve the urban land surface temperature (LST). We also mapped and compared the intensity of UHI effects in different years of 2003, 2008 and 2013. The result shows that the intensity of UHI effect in 2013 was more serious than previous years, which is increasing year by year. The study also analyzed the relationship between UHI, NDVI, and NDBI and provided some useful suggestions to mitigate the UHI effects on coastal cities such as Hangzhou in China.