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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2013, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (7): 16-25.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20130703

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Spatial Characteristics of Soil Moisture of Apple Orchards in the Loess Plateau of Shaanxi Province

Wang Yanping1, Han Mingyu2, Zhang Linsen3, Mao Chenpeng1, Lei Yushan4   

  1. 1. College of Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-Environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture Yangling 712100;
    2. Division of Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University Yangling 712100;
    3. College of Horticulture, Northwest A & F University Yangling 712100;
    4. Rural Science and Technology Development Center of Shaanxi Xi'an 710054
  • Received:2012-04-20 Revised:2013-02-18 Online:2013-07-25 Published:2013-07-23

Abstract:

By means of fixed-point monitoring, in this paper, we investigated variation in soil moisture at apple orchards in different regions, with different growth years and different site types, as well as ordinary and dwarf apple trees were studied in Shaanxi Province by fixed spot surveillance. The results showed that soil water storage of the apple orchards in Shaanxi reduced gradually from south to north, and the soil water deficit was exacerbated. In the dry season, the degree of soil water deficit was up to 18.5%-47.5% in hilly and gully regions of Northern Shaanxi, was 7.8%-20.3% in valley and gully region of the Loess Plateau, and was only 1.2%~6.3% in Guanzhong Plain. In growth season, variation range of soil moisture content reduced with increased soil depth in the apple orchards. The change of soil moisture content mainly occurred in 0-2.2 m in hilly and gully region of Northern Shaanxi and the coefficients of variation (CV) were 12.67%-35.32%, in 0-1.8 m in valley and gully region of the Loess Plateau with CV of 11.72%-24.54%, and in 0-1.2 m in Guanzhong Plain with CV of 13.63%-20.76%. Soil water storage declined with increase of growth years in the apple orchards within a region. In hilly and gully region of Northern Shaanxi, soil moisture content was highest in sloping land, followed by platform, and then terraced field. In valley and gully region of the Loess Plateau, soil moisture content in highland was highest, followed by flat land, and then platform. Soil moisture of dwarfing orchards was higher than ordinary orchards with the same stand density, but soil water storage of dwarf orchard with higher stand density was lower than ordinary orchards with lower stand density.

Key words: Loess Plateau of Shaanxi Province, apple orchards, soil water, soil desiccation

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