Tilting‐Tracking Photovoltaic Systems Mitigate Soil Degradation Risks While Maintain Native Vegetation Productivity Across All Reshaped Micro‐Zones in a Desert Steppe

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ABSTRACT Unlike fixed photovoltaic systems, which can only form one ground rainwater accumulation micro‐zone, the tilting‐tracking photovoltaic systems (TT‐PVS) can create two rainwater accumulation micro‐zones (west and east edges). However, the impacts of TT‐PVS on ecological restoration in arid areas remain poorly understood. This study assessed TT‐PVS impacts on soil quality and plant growth in a desert steppe. Soil quality indices (SQIs) were quantified by analyzing soil enzyme activities and physicochemical properties across micro‐zones (Beneath panel, West edge, East edge, and Between panels) reshaped by TT‐PVS and a Control without PV system installed in a desert steppe, alongside correspondingly determined plant growth (above‐ground biomass, below‐ground biomass, height, and coverage). Results showed that TT‐PVS increased soil moisture and reduced soil temperature of four reshaped positions compared to control, with the highest soil moistures at West and East edges. Soil enzyme activity, physicochemical properties, and the final SQIs were also higher in the TT‐PVS micro‐zones than those of control, but their change patterns differed from soil moisture. Nevertheless, structural equation models revealed that soil moisture indirectly affects the SQI by regulating soil enzyme activities and chemical properties. Eventually, the improvement of SQI significantly promoted plant growth, but soil moisture exhibited no direct impact on plant growth. Therefore, due to the turbulent environment caused by raindrops, positions East and West edges with higher soil moisture cannot effectively promote plant growth. Whatever, unlike fixed photovoltaic systems, TT‐PVS distributed precipitation more evenly, mitigating soil degradation risks while maintaining vegetation productivity in all micro‐zones in desert steppes.

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