Plant diversity in field margin systems in the hilly regions of northern Henan

Based on field investigation, plant species abundance and indices of evenness, diversity and dominance were analyzed in field margin systems in the hilly regions of northern Henan. The results show that species abundance is highest for shrub-grassland, followed by aqueduct margin, sparse forests, roadsides, orchard border and cropland border. Species abundance is significantly higher for shrub-grassland and lower for cropland border compared to other field margin systems. Evenness index is highest for sparse forests, followed by shrub-grassland, aqueduct margin, roadsides, cropland border and orchard border. Evenness index is significantly higher for sparse forests and lower for orchard border. Diversity and dominance indices are highest for aqueduct margin, followed by sparse forests, shrub-grassland, orchard border, roadsides and then cropland border. Diversity and dominance indices are significantly higher for aqueduct margin and lower for cropland border. There are much more common species among shrub-grassland, roadsides, aqueduct margin, sparse forests and orchard border, with similarity coefficients above 0.7. There are less common species between cropland border and the other field margin systems, with similarity coefficients below 0.7. The lowest similarity coefficient (0.47) is between cropland border and shrub-grassland.