Objective To address the challenges of ecological restoration on bare slopes, enhance and maintain regional ecological functions, and expand the research and application scope of ecological benefits of vegetation blankets with seeds, it is of great significance to study the effects of vegetation blanket coverage with seeds on vegetation restoration and soil physicochemical properties of bare slopes.

Methods Outdoor artificial slope experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of vegetation blankets with seeds of different materials (straw and coir) and specifications (200 g/m² and 300 g/m²) on vegetation restoration and soil physicochemical properties under different slope gradients and aspects (35° and 25°, sunny and shady slopes). The study integrated methods for determining slope vegetation growth indicators, soil hydrothermal changes, and physicochemical properties, and applied the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method for comprehensive evaluation and analysis.

Results 1) Selecting fiber vegetation blankets with seeds of appropriate specifications could significantly promote vegetation restoration in the short term. Straw vegetation blankets with seeds were more suitable for sunny slopes, while coir vegetation blankets with seeds were more suitable for shady slopes. Specifically, the 300 g/m² straw vegetation blanket with seeds on the 35° sunny slope reached the highest vegetation coverage of 97%, and the 200 g/m² coir vegetation blanket with seeds on the 35° shady slope produced the maximum aboveground biomass of 667.81 g. 2) Covering with fiber vegetation blankets with seeds exhibited a significant soil moisture conservation effect. The 300 g/m² coir vegetation blanket with seeds increased soil moisture content to 19.81% on shady slopes. However, vegetation blanket coverage had no significant effect on soil temperature, but showed a tendency to reduce monthly soil temperature fluctuations on certain slope gradients and aspects. For instance, the monthly soil temperature difference under the 300 g/m² coir vegetation blanket with seeds on the 35° shady slope was 1.95°C compared to the control group. 3) Laying straw vegetation blankets with seeds on sunny slopes and coir vegetation blankets with seeds on shady slopes improved soil physical properties. 4) The 300 g/m² coir vegetation blanket with seeds effectively enhanced soil chemical properties on slopes of various gradients and aspects. 5) Based on the comprehensive evaluation using the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method, the optimal slope restoration effect was achieved by laying 200 g/m² straw vegetation blankets with seeds on 35° sunny slopes, 300 g/m² coir vegetation blankets with seeds on 35° shady slopes and 25° sunny slopes, and 200 g/m² coir vegetation blankets with seeds on 25° shady slopes.

Conclusions Laying fiber vegetation blankets with seeds can effectively promote vegetation restoration on bare slopes. Meanwhile, the blankets can reduce monthly soil temperature fluctuations, exert a soil moisture conservation effect, and improve soil chemical properties, although no significant short-term effects have been observed on soil physical properties and moisture content. The comprehensive evaluation results can provide a scientific basis for the deployment of vegetation blankets on bare slopes.