The purpose of this research was to estimate the response of surface soil organic carbon and soil nutrition to the combining actions of grazing and vegetation restoration.A grazed hillslope with four types of vegetation in the Majiasongpo catchment

Xichang

Sichuan Province was investigated to understand the effects of grazing on surface soil organic carbon(SOC)

available nitrogen(N) and bulk density.The 0-5 cm surface soil samples at top

upper

middle and lower positions of the eroded hillslope were collected respectively.There were four treatments of tree-growth area

shrub-growth area

natural-grass re-growth area

and bareland at each slope position.Results show that surface SOC and available N are enhanced with restoration of vegetation.The improving effect of the vegetation ranks in the ascendant order of tree

grass and shrub.Grass and shrub can significantly improve the content of available N

while there is no significant difference found between tree and bare land.Differences in SOC and available N between slope positions are not significant.Treatments

in terms of increased soil bulk density

are shrub

tree

grass and bare land in turn.Significant difference exists between shrub and bare land

and there are no significant differences among other treatments.The response of surface soil to the combining actions is different.Surface SOC and available N are significantly decreased by grazing under the tree

while there are no significant influences under the shrub and grass.