Abstract: In order to select suitable plant species for vegetation recovering at Songshutou coalfield fire wasteland in Urumqi, China, we investigated plant species at the wasteland and the surrounding regions. Species, abundance, coverage and frequency were recorded and used to calculate the diversity indices for delineating the quantitative phytosociological characters in the study area (including the wasteland and its eastern, western, southern and northern surroundings). The results showed that there were 16 families, 38 genera, 43 plant species in the study area. The maximum Margalef index and Shannon index were observed at the southern surrounding area, where the Pielou index was the smallest in this region. The western surrounding area had the minimum Margalef index, Shannon index and a relatively lower Pielou index. The difference of β index between the southern and eastern surrounding areas was the lowest, while the difference of β index between the southern and western surrounding areas was the highest. The difference of β index between the wasteland and its western surrounding area was the lowest, while the difference of β index between the wasteland and its southern surrounding area was the highest. Stipa capillata widely distributed over the entire area, and S. capillata was the first dominant species in the wasteland and its southern and eastern surroundings. Carex liparocarpos was the dominant specie in all surroundings. Astragalus penduliflorus was distributed in the wasteland and its southern and eastern western surroundings. Based on above analysis, we suggest that S. capillata, A. penduliflorus and C. liparocarpos can be used as the priority species for revegetation in the wasteland, and the southern and western surroundings can be used as the reference for restoration.

Key words: plant soil feedback., ecosystem function, energy channel, soil micro-food web