Changes in the Properties of Two Typical Plant Species and Their Rhizosphere Bacteria in Eco‐Restoration of Engineered Slopes on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

ABSTRACT Slopes that are created by extensive engineering construction projects accelerate the degradation of the ecologically fragile Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. This adverse impact can be mitigated by implementing ecologically sound restoration programs in these degraded sites. This study investigated the changes in the physiology of two typical plant species and their rhizosphere bacteria on four different engineered slopes subjected to eco‐restoration on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The findings showed that the shear strength, nutrition, and enzymatic activity of the plant rhizosphere improved significantly, and these were positively associated with the restoration effect on vegetation. The growth and development of plants in the frame beam group and the shotcrete group were optimized. The microbial diversity in the plant rhizosphere soil in the restoration areas exhibited a comparable degree of change to the control soil, characterized by a decrease in the relative abundance of microbial phyla and alterations in the indicator species at the order level. However, the community stability in the restoration areas was notably higher than that in the control group. This study offers significant implications and practical value for the eco‐restoration of engineered slopes in alpine regions, which provides a sustainable development framework for protecting fragile ecosystems.