Effects of vegetation restoration on the spatial distribution of soil moisture at the hillslope scale in semi-arid regions

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

YANG, L.

State Key Lab. of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, CAS, Beijing, Chine

CHEN, L.

State Key Lab. of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, CAS, Beijing, Chine

WEI, W.

State Key Lab. of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, CAS, Beijing, Chine

Description :
The study area is located in Longtan watershed, in Gansu Province. The aim of this study was to compare the spatial patterns in soil moisture in shallow and deep soil layers at the hillslope scale under the influence of large-scale vegetation restoration. The results showed that: (1) the topographic wetness index was positively correlated with soil moisture near the surface (0–1 m), but negatively correlated with soil moisture at depths below 2 m; and (2) the negative relationship was found between biomass and soil moisture content in deep layers. Soil moisture in shallow layers was more likely to be affected by topographic factors. However, it is highlighted that the biomass determines spatial variation of deep soil moisture. Therefore, vegetation restoration changed spatial pattern of deep soil moisture.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2015, vol. 124, p. 138-146, nombre de pages : 9, Références bibliographiques : 38 ref.

Date :
2015

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena

Langue :
Anglais