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Effect of Land Use Type on Soil Moisture Dynamics in the Sloping Lands of the Black Soil (Mollisols) Region of Northeast China

Author

Listed:
  • Zhi Zhang

    (College of Forestry, The Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China)

  • Yanling Zhang

    (Soil and Water Conservation Monitoring Center of Songliao Basin, Songliao Water Resources Commission, Changchun 130021, China)

  • Mark Henderson

    (Mills College, Northeastern University, Oakland, CA 94613, USA)

  • Guibin Wang

    (College of Forestry, The Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China)

  • Mingyang Chen

    (College of Forestry, The Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China)

  • Yu Fu

    (College of Forestry, The Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China)

  • Zeyu Dou

    (College of Forestry, The Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China)

  • Wanying Zhou

    (College of Forestry, The Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China)

  • Weiwei Huang

    (College of Forestry, The Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China)

  • Binhui Liu

    (College of Forestry, The Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China)

Abstract

This study investigates the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of soil moisture on slopes of China’s northeastern black soil region, focusing on the effects of terrain adjustment and vegetation. Soil moisture dynamics in the 0–60 cm soil layer were measured at 10 cm intervals using the TRIME-PICO64 TDR ® device on slopes with similar gradients representing three land use types: transverse ridge tillage (TRT) farmland, terraced fields (TFs) farmland, and pure forest woodland (WL). The results indicate significant variations in soil moisture content and water storage across different land use types in the order of TF > TRT > WL. The study further identified that soil bulk density, porosity, and water-holding indicators were in the order of WL > TF > TRT, inconsistent with the soil moisture results, indicating that soil quality cannot be the sole reason for the differences in moisture. The moisture differences between farmland types (TRT and TF) and WL are substantial, especially during the rainy season. In the rainy season (0–60 cm) and the dry season (30–60 cm), significant differences in moisture content are observed ( p < 0.05). Significant differences in moisture content between farmland types are found at 0–40 cm during the rainy season and at 0–10 cm during the dry season. In the rainy season, soil moisture for TRT and TFs first decreases from 26.76% and 30.85% to 22.44% and 25.38%, then slightly increases to 27.01% and 27.07% along the slope. Meanwhile, WL displays the opposite pattern on upper, relatively steep slopes, with soil moisture increasing from 16.66% to 17.81%, and exhibits a pattern of change similar to TRT and TFs on lower, gentler slopes. TFs consistently show higher soil moisture and water storage at all slope positions than TRT and WL. TFs improve soil quality, reduce erosion and sedimentation, and shift the lowest soil moisture content to a lower slope position. During the dry season, soil moisture differences between slope positions for TRT and WL were small. In general, terracing can effectively modulate moisture distribution along slopes, increasing moisture by an average of 0.26~12.43%, while afforestation, despite improving soil quality, leads to an 18.14~31.13% reduction in soil moisture content, with the impact being particularly significant during the rainy season. These findings provide important insights for optimizing land use and ecological construction, including keeping the balance between soil and water conservation, especially for sub-humid slope terrain areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhi Zhang & Yanling Zhang & Mark Henderson & Guibin Wang & Mingyang Chen & Yu Fu & Zeyu Dou & Wanying Zhou & Weiwei Huang & Binhui Liu, 2024. "Effect of Land Use Type on Soil Moisture Dynamics in the Sloping Lands of the Black Soil (Mollisols) Region of Northeast China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:8:p:1261-:d:1446962
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mohammad Ghorbani & Elnaz Amirahmadi & Petr Konvalina & Jan Moudrý & Marek Kopecký & Trong Nghia Hoang, 2023. "Carbon Pool Dynamic and Soil Microbial Respiration Affected by Land Use Alteration: A Case Study in Humid Subtropical Area," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-13, February.
    2. X.W. Chen & A.Z. Liang & S.X. Jia & X.P. Zhang & S.C. Wei, 2014. "Impact of tillage on physical characteristics in a Mollisol of Northeast China," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 60(7), pages 309-313.
    3. Guibin Wang & Binhui Liu & Mark Henderson & Yu Zhang & Zhi Zhang & Mingyang Chen & Haoxiang Guo & Weiwei Huang, 2023. "Effect of Terracing on Soil Moisture of Slope Farmland in Northeast China’s Black Soil Region," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-18, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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