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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2024, Vol. 60 ›› Issue (4): 79-90.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.LYKX20230156

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Soil Moisture Dynamics and the Influencing Factors in the Sparse Strip-Planted Prunus sibirica Plantation in the Loess Region of Ningxia

Xinsheng Han1,2,Hao Xu1,*(),Jinjun Cai3,Liguo Dong1,Yongzhong Guo1,Yueling Wang1,Haixia Wan1,Yu An1   

  1. 1. Institute of Forestry and Grassland Ecology, Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences Ningxia Key Laboratory of Desertification Control and Soil and Water Conservation Research Center for Ecological Restoration and Multi-Functional Forestry of Ningxia Yinchuan 750002
    2. China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin Beijing 100038
    3. Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Yinchuan 750002
  • Received:2023-04-17 Online:2024-04-25 Published:2024-05-23
  • Contact: Hao Xu E-mail:hz92@163.com

Abstract:

Objective: With the sparse strip-planted Prunus sibirica plantation in the loess hilly region of southern Ningxia as an example, this study aims to reveal the spatio-temporal dynamics of soil moisture in different depths inside the forest belt (IFB) and between the forest belts (BFB) and the key environmental factors in order to provide a scientific basis for the restoration of forest-grass vegetation and efficient utilization of rainfall resources in the semi-arid area. Method: From 2020 to 2022, two sets of 200 cm-depth soil moisture sensors were respectively installed at sites of IFB and BFB in Pengyang County, Ningxia, to monitor the changes of volumetric soil moisture and soil temperature by stratified hourly method. At the same time, a meteorological station was set up to continuously monitor the meteorological conditions, such as near-surface precipitation, air temperature, and air relative humidity. Correlation analysis was applied to explore the response of soil moisture to the previous day's soil moisture, soil temperature and meteorological factors. Result: Both 2020 and 2021 were ordinary years, with precipitation of 467.4 mm and 440.8 mm, respectively, while 2022 was a dry year with precipitation of 354.8 mm. The mean volumetric soil moisture in ordinary year (2021, 17.0%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that in dry year (2022, 14.3%). Volumetric soil moisture increased linearly with soil depth, and its slope in BFB was higher than that in IFB, and the slope in ordinary year was higher than that in dry year. Volumetric soil moisture in 0–120 cm soil layer was higher in IFB (15.3%) than that in BFB (14.0%), while that in 120–200 cm soil layer was higher in BFB (17.6%) than that in IFB (16.8%). The coefficient of variation (CV) of volumetric soil moisture in 0–60 cm soil layer was higher in BFB (42.9%) than tht in IFB (37.8%), while that in 60~200 cm soil layer was higher in IFB (23.2%) than that in BFB (19.1%). The seasonal patterns of soil moisture variation were able to be divided into the relative stable period (from March to April), the depletion period (from May to August), the recovery period (from September to November) and the decline period (from December to February of the next year). The maximum value of soil moisture mostly appeared in April, and the minimum value appeared in August (the ordinary year) and December (the dry year). The vertical patterns of soil moisture variation in the soil profile were divided into the rapidly changing layer (0–50 cm), the active layer (50–90 cm), the sub-active layer (90–170 cm) and the relatively stable layer (170–200 cm). The correlation analysis showed that the daily soil moisture was most correlated with the soil moisture at the previous day (positively) and the soil temperature (negatively). The monthly soil moisture was most correlated with the soil temperature (negatively). Conclusion: The soil moisture IFB or BFB of the sparse banded A. sibirica plantation in the loess area of Ningxia fluctuates strongly in seasons and profiles. The fluctuation in the dry year is deeper than that in the ordinary year. The previous day's soil moisture, soil temperature and meteorological factors are the key factors affecting soil moisture in each profile level on a daily and monthly scale in low-flow and ordinary-flow years. Among them, the previous day's soil moisture and soil temperature are the main factors, and soil moisture in 120 cm depth is higher in IFB than that in BFB. The results of this study have a great guiding significance for scientific restoration of degraded vegetation and efficient utilization of soil moisture after horizontal ditch soil preparation in the semi-arid loess area of Ningxia.

Key words: Prunus sibirica plantation, soil moisture, soil temperature, meteorological factors, horizontal ditch soil preparation, semi-arid loess area

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