Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-04T21:00:06.425Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Soil moisture dynamics under Caragana korshinskii shrubs of different ages in Wuzhai County on the Loess Plateau, China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 December 2018

Haibin LIANG ,
Yayong XUE ,
Jianwei SHI ,
Zongshan LI ,
Guohua LIU  and
Bojie FU
Haibin LIANG
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China. Email: [email protected] University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China.
Yayong XUE
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of West China's Environmental System (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Jianwei SHI
Affiliation:
Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China.
Zongshan LI*
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China. Email: [email protected]
Guohua LIU
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China. Email: [email protected]
Bojie FU
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China. Email: [email protected]
*
*Corresponding author
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Soil moisture is a key factor affecting vegetation growth and survival in arid and semi-arid regions. Knowledge of deep soil moisture dynamics is very important for guiding vegetation restoration and for improving land management practices on the water-limited Loess Plateau. Temporal changes and vertical variations in deep soil moisture (at soil depths of 0–600cm) combined with soil moisture availability were monitored in situ under Caragana korshinskii shrubs of different ages (named CK-10a, CK-20a and CK-35a) in the Loess hilly region during the growing season of 2013. The soil moisture content (SMC) under C. korshinskii shrubs of different ages was highly consistent with the seasonal precipitation variations and generally decreased as follows: CK-10a>CK-20a>abandoned land>CK-35a. The SMC varied greatly over time during the growing season (P<0.01), decreasing from April to May and then slowly increasing with some fluctuation from June to October. The SMC drastically decreased with depth from 0–300cm and then gradually increased with some fluctuation from 300–600cm. A critical turning point and transition zone connecting the shallow and deep soil moisture occurred at 200–300cm. Therefore, the soil profile was divided into active, secondary active and relatively steady soil layers in terms of soil moisture. The SMC fluctuated at depths of 0–100cm and 300–400cm and was relatively stable in the deeper soil layers. The amount of available soil moisture gradually decreased as the forest stand age increased, especially at CK-35a, where most of the soil moisture was unavailable for plant use. In addition, our study indicates that a large-scale restoration strategy with pure shrubland or woodland may not be suitable for soil moisture recovery in arid environments.

Keywords

Caragana korshinskii Kom.dynamic variationLoess Plateausoil moisture
Type
Articles
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 109 , Issue 3-4: Earth Surface Processes and Environmental Sustainability in China , September 2018 , pp. 387 - 396
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Society of Edinburgh 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

6. References

Bao, J. T., Wang, J., Li, X. R., Zhang, Z. S. & Su, J. Q. 2015. Age-related changes in photosynthesis and water relations of revegetated Caragana korshinskii in the Tengger desert, Northern China. Trees 29, 1749–1760.Google Scholar
Brocca, L., Tullo, T., Melone, F., Moramarco, T. & Morbdelli, R. 2012. Catchment scale soil moisture spatial–temporal variability. Journal of Hydrology 422, 63–75.Google Scholar
Cao, S. X., Chen, L., Shankman, D., Wang, C. M., Wang, X. B. & Zhang, H. 2011. Excessive reliance on afforestation in China's arid and semi-arid regions: lessons in ecological restoration. Earth Science Reviews 104, 240–245.Google Scholar
Chen, H. S., Shao, M. A. & Li, Y. Y. 2008. Soil desiccation in the Loess Plateau of China. Geoderma 143, 91–100.Google Scholar
Famiglietti, J. S., Ryu, D., Berg, A. A., Rodell, M. & Jackson, T. J. 2008. Field observations of soil moisture variability across scales. Water Resources Research 44, W01423.Google Scholar
Fan, J., Wang, Q. J., Scott, B. & Shao, M. A. 2016. Soil water depletion and recharge under different land cover in China's Loess Plateau. Ecohydrology: Ecosystems, Land and Water Process Interactions, Ecohydrogeomorphology 9, 396–406.Google Scholar
Fang, X. N., Zhao, W. W., Wang, L. X., Feng, Q., Ding, J. Y., Liu, Y. X. & Zhang, X. 2016. Variations of deep soil moisture under different vegetation types and influencing factors in a watershed of the Loess Plateau, China. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 20, 3309–3323.Google Scholar
Feng, X. M., Sun, G., Fu, B. J., Su, C. H., Liu, Y. & Lamparski, H. 2012. Regional effects of vegetation restoration on water yield across the Loess Plateau. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 16, 2617–2628.Google Scholar
Fu, B. J., Wang, J., Chen, L. & Qiu, Y. 2003. The effects of land use on soil moisture variation in the Danangou catchment of the Loess Plateau, China. Catena 54, 197–213.Google Scholar
Gao, L., Shao, M. A., Peng, X. H. & She, D. L. 2015. Spatio-temporal variability and temporal stability of water contents distributed within soil profiles at a hillslope scale. Catena 132, 29–36.Google Scholar
Gao, L. & Shao, M. A. 2012. Temporal stability of soil water storage in diverse soil layers. Catena 95, 24–32.Google Scholar
Gao, X. D., Wu, P. T., Zhao, X. N., Shi, X. G., Wang, J. W. & Zhang, B. Q. 2011. Soil moisture variability along transects over a well-developed gully in the Loess Plateau, China. Catena 87, 357–367.Google Scholar
Guo, Z. S. 2009. Using depth of soil water and water consumption by little leaf Peashrub in the semiarid area of loess hilly region. Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation 29, 69–72. [In Chinese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Guo, Z. S. & Shao, M. A. 2010. Effect of artificial Caragana korshinskii forest on soil water in the semiarid area of loess hilly region. Scientia Silvae Sinicae 46, 1–7. [In Chinese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Heathman, G. C., Cosh, M. H., Merwade, V. & Han, E. 2012. Multi-scale temporal stability analysis of surface and subsurface soil moisture within the Upper Cedar Creek Watershed, Indiana. Catena 95, 91–103.Google Scholar
Huang, X., Shi, Z. H., Zhu, H. D., Zhang, H. Y., Ai, L. & Yin, W. 2016. Soil moisture dynamics within soil profiles and associated environmental controls. Catena 136, 189–196.Google Scholar
Jia, Z. Q. 2006. Soil moisture dynamic variation law of typical shrub-grass vegetation in loess hill area of northwestern Shanxi. Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation 26, 10–15. [In Chinese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Jian, S. Q., Zhao, C. Y., Fang, S. M. & Yu, K. 2014. Soil water content and water balance simulation of Caragana korshinskii Kom. in the semiarid Chinese Loess Plateau. Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics 62, 89–96.Google Scholar
Li, X. R., Zhang, Z. S., Tan, H. J., Gao, Y. H., Liu, L. C. & Wang, X. P. 2014. Ecological restoration and recovery in the wind-blown sand hazard areas of northern China: relationship between soil water and carrying capacity for vegetation in the Tengger Desert. Science China Life Sciences 57, 539–548.Google Scholar
Li, X. Y., Gao, S. Y., Xu, H. Y. & Liu, L. Y. 2006. Growth of Caragana korshinskii using runoff–collecting micro catchments under semiarid condition. Journal of Hydrology 328, 338–346.Google Scholar
Liang, H. B., Shi, J. W., Niu, J. J., Gu, W. T. & Guo, B. 2014. Study on the characteristics of the soil moisture variation in different-aged Caragana korshinskii Kom. in Loess hilly region, northwestern Shanxi. Journal of Arid Land Resources and Environment 28, 143–148. [In Chinese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Liu, Y. P., Tong, J. & Li, X. N. 2005. Analysing the silt particles with the Malvern Mastersizer 2000. Water Conservancy Science and Technology and Economy 11, 329–331. [In Chinese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Lv, W. Q., Wang, L., Dang, H. Z., Zhou, Z. F. & He, X. D. 2015. The spatial variability characteristics of soil water availability under vegetation ribbon on the slope of Loess Plateau. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 29, 233–240. [In Chinese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Mendham, D. S., White, D. A., Battaglia, M., McGrath, J. F., Short, T. M., Ogden, G. N. & Kinal, J. 2011. Soil water depletion and replenishment during first- and early second-rotation Eucalyptus globulus plantations with deep soil profiles. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 151, 1568–1579.Google Scholar
Niu, X. W., Ding, Y. C., Zhang, Q. & Xu, Q. 2003. Studies on the characteristics of Caragana root development and some relevant physiology. Acta Botanica Boreali-Occidentalia Sinica 23, 860–865. [In Chinese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Qiu, Y., Fu, B. J., Wang, J. & Chen, L. D. 2001. Spatial variability of soil moisture content and its relation to environmental indices in a semi-arid gully catchment of the Loess Plateau, China. Journal of Arid Environment 49, 723–750.Google Scholar
Ruan, C. J. & Li, D. Q. 1999. Soil moisture and its influence on Sea buckthorn growth in semi-arid loess hilly region. Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation 19, 27–30. [In Chinese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Ruiz, T. G., Zaragoza, S. R. & Cerrato, R. F. 2007. Fertility islands around Prosopis laevigata and Pachycereus hollianus in the drylands of Zapotitlán Salinas, Mexico. Journal of Arid Environments 72, 1202–1212.Google Scholar
Shao, M. A., Guo, Z. S., Xia, Y. Q. & Wang, Y. P. 2010. Vegetation carrying capacity of soil water in the Loess Plateau. Beijing: Science Press. [In Chinese.]Google Scholar
Shi, J. W., Qin, Q. & Chen, J. W. 2015. Estimating fine root longevity among different branching order root for Caragana Korshinskii plantation using Minirhizotron. Acta Ecologica Sinica 35, 4045–4052. [In Chinese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Starks, P. J., Heathman, G. C., Jackson, T. J. & Cosh, M. H. 2006. Temporal stability of soil moisture profile. Journal of hydrology 324, 400–411.Google Scholar
Su, H., Li, Y., Liu, W., Xu, H. & Sun, O. J. 2014. Changes in water use with growth in Ulmus pumila in semiarid sandy land of northern China. Trees 28, 41–52.Google Scholar
Sun, C. Z., Huang, B. L., Chen, H. B., Liu, Z. W. & Wen, Z. M. 1998. Interaction between soil water conditions and different kinds of artificial plant cover in the Loess Plateau. Journal of Beijing Forestry University 20, 7–14. [In Chinese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Wang, J., Zhu, Q. K., Liu, Z. Q., Kuang, G. M. & Zhao, H. 2011. Dynamics of soil water content under different forestland in the loess hilly region. Research of Soil and Water Conservation 18, 220–223. [In Chinese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Wang, L., Wang, Q. J., Wei, S. P., Shao, M. A. & Li, Y. 2008. Soil desiccation for loess soils on natural and regrown areas. Forest Ecology and Management 255, 2467–2477.Google Scholar
Wang, X. Y., Zhang, W. J., Wang, Z. Q., Liu, X. P. & Wang, S. F. 2014. Soil moisture status under deep-rooted and shallow-rooted vegetation in the semiarid area of Loess Plateau in China. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies 23, 511–520.Google Scholar
Wang, Y. Q., Shao, M. A. & Liu, Z. P. 2010a. Large-scale spatial variability of dried soil layers and related factors across the entire Loess Plateau of China. Geoderma 159, 99–108.Google Scholar
Wang, Y. Q., Shao, M. A. & Shao, H. B. 2010b. A preliminary investigation of the dynamic characteristics of dried soil layers on the Loess Plateau of China. Journal of Hydrology 381, 9–17.Google Scholar
Wang, Y. Q., Shao, M. A., Liu, Z. P. & Warrington, D. N. 2012a. Regional spatial pattern of deep soil water content and its influencing factors. Hydrological Sciences Journal 57, 265–281.Google Scholar
Wang, Y. Q., Shao, M. A., Liu, Z. P. & Zhang, C. C. 2012b. Changes of deep soil desiccation with plant growth age in the Chinese Loess Plateau. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions 9, 12029–60.Google Scholar
Wang, Y. Q., Shao, M. A. & Liu, Z. P. 2013. Vertical distribution and influencing factors of soil water content within 21-m profile on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Geoderma , 300–310.Google Scholar
Xu, B. C. & Shan, L. 2004. A comparative study on water use characteristics and eco-adaptability of Hippophae rhamnoides and Caragana korshinskii in semi-arid loess hilly-gully region. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology 15, 2025–2028. [In Chinese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Yang, L., Wei, W., Chen, L. D. & Mo, B. R. 2012a. Response of deep soil moisture to land use and afforestation in the semi-arid Loess Plateau, China. Journal of Hydrology 475, 111–122.Google Scholar
Yang, L., Wei, W., Chen, L. D., Jia, F. Y. & Mo, B. R. 2012b. Spatial variations of shallow and deep soil moisture in the semi-arid Loess Plateau, China. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions 16, 3199–3217.Google Scholar
Yang, L., Wei, W., Chen, L. D., Chen, W. L. & Wang, J. L. 2014a. Response of temporal variation of soil moisture to vegetation restoration in semi-arid Loess Plateau, China. Catena 115, 123–133.Google Scholar
Yang, L., Chen, L. D., Wei, W., Yu, Y. & Zhang, H. D. 2014b. Comparison of deep soil moisture in two re-vegetation watersheds in semi-arid regions. Journal of Hydrology 513, 314–321.Google Scholar
Yang, W. Z. & Shao, M. A. 2000. Soil water study of Loess Plateau. Beijing: Science Press. [In Chinese.]Google Scholar
Yang, Z. P., Zhang, Q., Wang, Y. L., Zhang, J. J. & Ji, R. R. 2010. Soil water dynamics under artificial Caragana microphylla shrub in the loess hilly region of Northwest Shanxi Province. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture 18, 352–355. [In Chinese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Yang, Z. P., Zhang, Q., Wang, Y. L., Zhang, J. J. & Chen, M. C. 2011. Spatial and temporal variability of soil properties under Caragana microphylla shrubs in the northwestern Shanxi Loess Plateau, China. Journal of Arid Environments 75, 538–544.Google Scholar
Zhang, Z. S., Li., X. R., Liu, L. C., Jia, R. L., Zhang, J. G. & Wang, T. 2009. Distribution, biomass, and dynamics of roots in a revegetated stand of Caragana korshinskii in the Tengger Desert, northwestern China. Journal of Plant Research 122, 109–119.Google Scholar
Zhao, C. L., Shao, M. A., Jia, X. X. & Zhang, C. C. 2016. Particle size distribution of soils (0-500cm) in the Loess Plateau, China. Geoderma Regional 7, 251–258.Google Scholar
Zheng, H., Gao, J. X., Teng, Y. G., Feng, C. Y. & Tian, M. R. 2015. Temporal variations in soil moisture for three typical vegetation types in Inner Mongolia, Northern China. PLOS One 10, 1–16.Google Scholar
Zheng, Y., Xie, Z., Gao, Y., Jiang, L. H., Shimizu, H. & Tobe, K. 2004. Germination responses of Caragana korshinskii Kom. to light, temperature and water stress. Ecological Research 19, 553–558.Google Scholar
Zhu, H. D., Shi, Z. H., Fang, N. F., Wu, G. L., Guo, Z. L. & Zhang, Y. 2014. Soil moisture response to environmental factors following precipitation events in a small catchment. Catena 120, 73–80.Google Scholar