Yaoyao et al. (2025) Rainfall determines the temporal stability of soil water content following the conversion of deep rooted to shallow rooted vegetation in arid regions

Identification

• Journal: CATENA
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-11-21
• Authors: Yuan Yaoyao, Tian Hanyang, Qiao Jiangbo, Gao Jiakai, Zhu Yuanjun, Jia Xiaoxu, Mingan Shao
• DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2025.109664

Research Groups

• State Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Control, College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
• University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
• College of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471023, China
• Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

Short Summary

This study evaluated the spatiotemporal dynamics of soil water content (SWC) and its influencing factors after converting deep-rooted to shallow-rooted vegetation in arid regions. It found that the temporal stability of SWC increased with the duration of conversion, with rainfall being the primary influencing factor.

Objective

• To evaluate the spatiotemporal dynamic characteristics of soil water content (SWC) and its influencing factors after the conversion from deep-rooted to shallow-rooted vegetation.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Plot-level comparison of different vegetation types (deep-rooted apple orchard, converted croplands of 2, 4, and 6 years, and continuous cropland) in arid regions, focusing on the 0–10 meter soil layer.
• Temporal Scale: Data collected between 2022 and 2024.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not specified.
• Data sources: In-situ measurements of soil water content (SWC) in the 0–10 meter soil layer using a neutron probe.

Main Results

• The mean soil water content (SWC) followed the order: 18.20 % (Apple orchard, AO) < 21.21 % (Cropland converted for 2 years, CCA2) < 22.24 % (CCA4) < 22.25 % (CCA6) < 24.11 % (Continuous cropland, CL).
• With increasing soil depth, the mean SWC of CCA2 and CCA4 initially increased and then decreased, while that of CCA6 showed a continuous upward trend.
• The temporal stability of SWC gradually increased with the number of years after conversion to cropland.
• The representative depths for temporal stability were 320 cm for CCA2, 340 cm for CCA4, and 380 cm for CCA6.
• Rainfall was identified as the main factor affecting the temporal stability of SWC, outweighing the influence of soil particle composition and soil infiltration capacity.

Contributions

• This study enhances the understanding of soil moisture processes following the conversion from deep-rooted to shallow-rooted vegetation in arid regions.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Yaoyao2025Rainfall,
  author = {Yaoyao, Yuan and Hanyang, Tian and Jiangbo, Qiao and Jiakai, Gao and Yuanjun, Zhu and Xiaoxu, Jia and Shao, Mingan},
  title = {Rainfall determines the temporal stability of soil water content following the conversion of deep rooted to shallow rooted vegetation in arid regions},
  journal = {CATENA},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/j.catena.2025.109664},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2025.109664}
}