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Effect of Shrub Components on Soil Water and Its Response to Precipitation at Different Time Scales in the Loess Plateau

Author

Listed:
  • Jianbo Liu

    (Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China)

  • Guangyao Gao

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
    National Observation and Research Station of Earth Critical Zone on the Loess Plateau in Shaanxi, Xi’an 710061, China)

  • Bing Zhang

    (Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China)

Abstract

Water shortages have become the major limiting factor for ecological protection and sustainable development in the Loess Plateau. Few studies have focused on the effects of different plant components on soil water and its response to precipitation at different time scales. This study conducted an observation of shrub plants with three treatments (natural condition (NC), canopy + roots after removing the litter (CR), and only roots (OR)) to monitor the dynamics of soil water during the rainy season of an extreme drought year in 2015. The results showed that the soil moisture content (SMC) and soil water storage ( W ) had a trend of OR > CR > NC. The response of the SMC to precipitation was gradually decreased and delayed for longer with increasing soil depth. Daily precipitation >10 mm was the threshold to trigger an SMC response below 20 cm of depth. The thresholds of precipitation to increase W were 2.09–2.54 mm at the daily scale and 29.40–32.56 mm at the monthly scale. The effect of precipitation on W and its change (∆ W ) also depended on the time scales. At the daily scale, precipitation only explained 1.6%, 0.9%, and 2.4% of the W variation in NC, CR, and OR, respectively. However, precipitation was more important for ∆ W , making a contribution of 57.6%, 46.2%, and 56.6%, respectively, and the positive ∆ W induced by precipitation happened more easily and frequently at deeper depths in OR. At the monthly scale, the contribution of precipitation to ∆ W increased to 75.0%, 85.0%, and 86%, respectively. The ∆ W of the whole rainy season was OR > NC > CR. Precipitation of the monthly scale displayed higher contributions to soil water than that of the daily scale. Plant components had different influences on soil water and its response to precipitation, which was strengthened by the roots, weakened by the canopy, and neutralized by the litter. Regular cutting of the canopy at the single-shrub scale may help increase water storage, which is useful for vegetation management and hydrologic regulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Jianbo Liu & Guangyao Gao & Bing Zhang, 2023. "Effect of Shrub Components on Soil Water and Its Response to Precipitation at Different Time Scales in the Loess Plateau," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:6:p:4722-:d:1090446
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xia Zhang & Guo Yu & Zhan Li & Peng Li, 2014. "Experimental Study on Slope Runoff, Erosion and Sediment under Different Vegetation Types," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(9), pages 2415-2433, July.
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