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Spatial distribution of soil moisture and fine roots in rain-fed apple orchards employing a Rainwater Collection and Infiltration (RWCI) system on the Loess Plateau of China

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  • Song, Xiaolin
  • Gao, Xiaodong
  • Zhao, Xining
  • Wu, Pute
  • Dyck, Miles

Abstract

Water is a key factor for the sustainable development of rain-fed apple orchards on the Loess Plateau. This study was conducted to investigate the spatial distribution of soil moisture and roots in the soil profiles of an apple orchard employing a Rainwater Collection and Infiltration (RWCI) system on the Loess Plateau of China. The results showed that: 1) There was a low soil moisture content (SMC) zone between depths of 40 and 80cm and the RWCI treatment significantly increased SMC in these depths; 2) The RCWI system increased SMC in the 20–140cm depth interval and depths greater than 140cm when the RCWI pit depths were 60cm (RWCI60) and 80cm (RWCI80), respectively; 3) The total dry root density under the control (CK), RWCI60 and RWCI80 treatments was 372.12, 594.76 and 491.82g/m3, respectively. The mass percentage root distributions in the 0–100, 100–200 and 200–300cm depths were: CK (69.88%, 13.74% and 16.38%); RWCI60 (70.35%, 24.08% and 5.58%); and RWCI80 (46.54%, 15.04% and 38.42%), respectively. We found that root mass was concentrated close to the wetted soil depths affected by the RWCI treatment. The RWCI system apparently reduced drought stress through increased water and nutrients uptake because of increased subsoil SMC in the RWCI treatments. This study of the RWCI systems and the effects of the RCWI pit depth are important with respect to increasing the efficient use of rainwater, reducing drought stress and demonstrating the effectiveness of RWCI water saving technology in the rain-fed orchards in the Loess Plateau, China.

Suggested Citation

  • Song, Xiaolin & Gao, Xiaodong & Zhao, Xining & Wu, Pute & Dyck, Miles, 2017. "Spatial distribution of soil moisture and fine roots in rain-fed apple orchards employing a Rainwater Collection and Infiltration (RWCI) system on the Loess Plateau of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 170-177.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:184:y:2017:i:c:p:170-177
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2017.02.005
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    1. Gong, Daozhi & Kang, Shaozhong & Zhang, Lu & Du, Taisheng & Yao, Limin, 2006. "A two-dimensional model of root water uptake for single apple trees and its verification with sap flow and soil water content measurements," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 83(1-2), pages 119-129, May.
    2. Sokalska, D.I. & Haman, D.Z. & Szewczuk, A. & Sobota, J. & Deren, D., 2009. "Spatial root distribution of mature apple trees under drip irrigation system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(6), pages 917-924, June.
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    7. Zhang, Binbin & Hu, Yajin & Hill, Robert Lee & Wu, Shufang & Song, Xiaolin, 2021. "Combined effects of biomaterial amendments and rainwater harvesting on soil moisture, structure and apple roots in a rainfed apple orchard on the Loess Plateau, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    8. Zhang, Xiaoyuan & Wang, Ke & Duan, Cuihua & Li, Gaoliang & Zhen, Qing & Zheng, Jiyong, 2023. "Evaporation effect of infiltration hole and its comparison with mulching," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    9. Ding, Wenbin & Wang, Fei & Dong, Yunyun & Jin, Kai & Cong, Chenyu & Han, Jianqiao & Ge, Wenyan, 2021. "Effects of rainwater harvesting system on soil moisture in rain-fed orchards on the Chinese Loess Plateau," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    10. Zhang, Zhongdian & Huang, Mingbin, 2021. "Effect of root-zone vertical soil moisture heterogeneity on water transport safety in soil-plant-atmosphere continuum in Robinia pseudoacacia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    11. Zhang, Binbin & Su, Shunshun & Duan, Chenxiao & Feng, Hao & Chau, Henry Wai & He, Jianqiang & Li, Yi & Hill, Robert Lee & Wu, Shufang & Zou, Yufeng, 2022. "Effects of partial organic fertilizer replacement combined with rainwater collection system on soil water, nitrate-nitrogen and apple yield of rainfed apple orchard in the Loess Plateau of China: A 3-," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    12. Xuerui Gao & Ai Wang & Yong Zhao & Xining Zhao & Miao Sun & Junkai Du & Chengcheng Gang, 2018. "Study on Water Suitability of Apple Plantations in the Loess Plateau under Climate Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-21, November.
    13. Guo, Fu-Xing & Wang, Yan-Ping & Hou, Ting-Ting & Zhang, Lin-Sen & Mu, Yan & Wu, Fu-yong, 2021. "Variation of soil moisture and fine roots distribution adopts rainwater collection, infiltration promoting and soil anti-seepage system (RCIP-SA) in hilly apple orchard on the Loess Plateau of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    14. Sun, Miao & Gao, Xuerui & Zhang, Yulin & Song, Xiaolin & Zhao, Xining, 2022. "A new solution of high-efficiency rainwater irrigation mode for water management in apple plantation: Design and application," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    15. Lusheng Li & Lili Zhao & Jiankun Ge & Hongchen Li & Peiwen Yang, 2022. "Age- and Drought-Related Variation in Plant-Available Water of Rain-Fed Jujube Orchards on the Loess Plateau of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-14, September.

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